Class X - Forest and Wildlife Resources

Class X - Forest and Wildlife Resources

NCERT EXERCISE

1. Multiple choice questions.

(i) Which of these statements is not a valid reason for the depletion of flora and fauna?
(a) Agricultural expansion.
(b) Large scale developmental projects.
(c) Grazing and fuel wood collection.
(d) Rapid industrialisation and urbanisation.

Ans. (c) Grazing and fuel wood collection

(ii) Which of the following conservation strategies do not directly involve community participation?
(a) Joint forest management (c) Chipko Movement
(b) Beej Bachao Andolan (d) Demarcation of Wildlife sanctuaries

Ans. (d) Demarcation of Wildlife Sanctuaries

2. Match the following animals with their category of existence.

Animals/Plants                                             Category of existence
Black buck                                                                Extinct
Asiatic elephant                                                       Rare
Andaman wild pig                                                   Endangered
Himalayan brown bear                                          Vulnerable
Pink head duck                                                       Endemic

Answer: 

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Animals/Plants Category of existence

Black buck - Endangered

Asiatic elephant - Vulnerable

Andaman wild pig - Endemic

Himalayan brown bear - Rare

Pink head duck - Extinct

3. Match the following.

Reserved forests                         other forests and wastelands belonging to bo government and private individuals and communities
Protected forests                          forests are regarded as most valuable as far as the conservation of forest and wildlife resources
Unclassed forests                       forest lands are protected from any further depletion

Answer: 

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Reserved forests - forests are regarded as most valuable as far as the conservation of forest and wildlife resources

Protected forests - forest lands are protected from any further depletion

Unclassed forests - other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private individuals and communities

Q.4 Answer the following questions in about 30 words

(i) What is biodiversity? Why is biodiversity important for human lives?

 Ans: Biodiversity - We humans along with all living organisms form a complex web of ecological system in which we are only a part and very much dependent on this system for our own existence. For example, the plants, animals and micro-organisms re-create the quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink and the soil that produces our food without which we cannot survive.

 

 (ii) How have human activities affected the depletion of flora and fauna? Explain.

 Ans: If you look around, you will be able to find out how we have transformed nature into a resource obtaining directly and indirectly from the forests and wildlife – wood, barks, leaves, rubber, medicines, dyes, food, fuel, fodder, manure, etc. So it is we ourselves who havedepleted our forests and wildlife. The greatest damage inflicted on Indian forests was during the colonial period due to the expansion of the railways, agriculture, commercial and scientific forestry and mining activities. Even after Independence, agricultural expansion continues to be one of the major causes of depletion of forest resources.

5. Answer the following questions in about 120 words.

(i) Describe how communities have conserved and protected forests and wildlife in India?

 Ans: Conservation strategies are not new in our country. We often ignore that in India, forests are also home to some of the traditional communities. In some areas of India, local communities are struggling to conserve these habitats along with government officials,recognising that only this will secure their own long-term livelihood. In Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, villagers have fought against mining by citing the Wildlife Protection Act. In many areas, villagers themselves are protecting habitats and explicitly rejecting government involvement. The inhabitants of five villages in the Alwar district of Rajasthan have declared 1,200 hectares of forest as the Bhairodev Dakav ‘Sonchuri’, declaring their own set of rules and regulations which do not allow hunting, and are protecting the wildlife against any outside encroachments.The famous Chipkomovement in the Himalayas has not only successfully resisted deforestation in several areas but has also shown that community afforestation with indigenous species can be enormously successful.Farmers and citizen’s groups like the Beej Bachao Andolanin Tehri and Navdanya have shown that adequate levels of diversified crop production without the use of synthetic chemicals are possible and economically viable.In India joint forest management (JFM) programme furnishes a good example for involving local communities in the management and restoration of degraded forests.

 

(ii) Write a note on good practices towards conserving forest and wildlife.

 

Ans: The clear lesson from the dynamics of both environmental destruction and reconstruction in India is that local communities everywhere have to be involved in some kind of natural resource management. But there is still a long way to go before local communities are at the centre-stage in decision-making. Accept only those economic or developmental activities, that are people centric, environment-friendly and economically rewarding.