Forest and Wildlife Resources

Social Science Class 10 Important Questions Geography Chapter 2 Forest and Wildlife Resources

Question 1.
Name four animals and two species of flora which are on the verge of extinction?
Year of Question :(2014)

Answer: Animals and plants on the verge of extinction: Four animals: Cheetah, pink-headed duck, mountain quail, forest spotted owlet Two plants

• Wild mahua (madhuca insignis)
• hubbardia heptaneuron (a species of grass)

Question 2.
Name six groups of flora and fauna under which they are classified by International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN)?
Year of Question :(2017)

Answer:

• Normal species Species, whose population levels are considered to be normal for their survival
• Endangered species Species, which are in danger of extinction because their population is declining. For example, Black buck, Indian rhino, lion-tailed macaque and Indian wild ass
• Vulnerable resources These are the species whose population has declined so much that they are likely to move into endangered category in the near future, if negative factors continue to operate. For example, Blue sheep, Asiatic elephant, Gangetic dolphin
• Rare species Species with small population. If care is not taken they may also become endangered species. For example, Himalayan Brown bear, desert fox, wild Asiatic buffalo, hornbill
• Endemic species Species which are only found in particular areas usually isolated by natural or geographical barriers. For example, Andaman teal, Nicobar pigeon, Andaman wild pig
• Extinct species These are species which are not found after searches of known or likely areas where they may occur, i.e., the species which were existing earlier, but are not seen today

Question 4.
Name any four resources which are obtained from our biodiversity?
Year of Question :(2012)

Answer: The resources are: wood, rubber, medicines and dyes

Question 5
Write four major reasons for the depletion of forest cover?
Year of Question :(2014)

Answer:

• Deforestation for agricultural purposes
• Shifting cultivation which is still practised in substantial parts of tribal belts
• Large-scale development of river valley projects
• Mining activities have also resulted in deforestation. For example, the tiger reserve in West Bengal is seriously threatened by the ongoing dolomite mining
• Environmental pollution and forest fires have also led to depletion of forests

Question 6.
Write three adverse impacts of dolomite mining in the Buxar Tiger Reserve on the ecosystem?
Year of Question :(2010)

Answer: Adverse effects of dolomite mining in the Buxar Tiger Reserve

• It has caused ecological damage
• It has blocked the migration route of several species
• It has disturbed the natural habitat of many species

Question 7.
List six factors which have led to the decline in Indias biodiversity?
Year of Question :(2019)

Answer:

• Habitat destruction
• Over-exploitation
• Environmental pollution
• Forest fires
• Hunting and Poaching
• Poisoning

Question 8.
Write four most important causes of environmental destruction/degradation?
Year of Question :(2010)

Answer:

• Unequal access to resources
• Inequitable consumption of resources
• Differential sharing of responsibility for environmental well being
• Over-population

Question 9.
"The destruction of biodiversity is highly correlated with the loss of cultural diversity." Give four facts to support this statement?
Year of Question :(2010)

Answer: Such losses have

• Increasingly marginalised and impoverished many forest dependent communities
• Among the poor, women are affected more than men, for women bear the major responsibility of basic subsistence needs. With the depletion of these resources, the drudgery of women increased for they had to walk for more than 10 km to collect these resources which, in turn, affected their health and negligence of home and children
• The indirect impact of degradation, eg. drought or floods etc. also hits the poor the hardest
• Poverty is a direct outcome of environmental destruction

Question 10.
Why do we need to conserve our biodiversity?
Year of Question :(2003)

Answer: Conservation of biodiversity is necessary because it

• Preserves the ecological diversity
• Preserves our life support systems, i.e., water, air and soil
• Preserves the genetic diversity of plants and animals for better growth and breeding of species
• Fisheries too are heavily dependent on the maintenance of aquatic biodiversity

Question 11.
List various provisions made by "The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972" for protecting habitats?
Year of Question :(2010)

Answer:

• An All India list of protected species was published
• The thrust was on protecting the remaining population of certain endangered species by
• banning hunting
• giving legal protection to their habitats and
• restricting trade in wildlife

Question 12.
Write four steps taken by the Government for conservation of wildlife?
Year of Question :(2014)

Answer: Five steps that have been taken to protect the wildlife in India

• Under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972, an All India list of protected species was published. The thrust was on protecting the remaining population of certain endangered species by
• banning hunting
• giving legal protection to their habitats and
• restricting trade in wildlife
• Many wildlife sanctuaries have been developed and National Parks have been set up
• Many projects have been started for protecting specific animals which were gravely threatened, eg. Project Tiger, One-horned Rhino, the Kashmir Stag (hangul), three types of crocodiles -the fresh water, salt-water and Gharials, the Asiatic Lion, etc
• Most recently, some animals have been given full or partial legal protection against hunting and trading throughout India, eg., Indian elephant, black buck, great Indian bustard and the snow leopard, etc
• Setting up of biosphere reserves for conserving flora and fauna in their natural surroundings and protection of wetland ecosystems is another step taken in this direction

Question 13.
Which agency manages forests in India? Name three broad categories in which the forests are classified?
Year of Question :(2016)

Answer: The forests in India are owned and managed by the Government through the Forest Department They are classified under the following categories

• Reserved Forests
• Protected Forests
• Unclassed Forests

Question 14.
What are Permanent Forest Estates and why? Which state has maximum forest cover falling under this category? Write its percentage share in the total forest area of this state?
Year of Question :(2019)

Answer: Reserved and protected forests are referred to as the Permanent Forest Estates maintained for the purpose of producing timber and other forest produce. Madhya Pradesh has the largest area under permanent forests, constituting 75% of its total forest area

Question 15.
Write the major differences between reserved and protected forests?
Year of Question :(2010)

Answer: Difference between Reserved and Protected forests

Reserved forests Protected forests

They cover more than half of the total forest area

Almost V3 of the total forest area is protected forest

2. They are most valuable from the point of view of forest and wildlife conservation

2. These forest lands are protected from any further depletion

Question 16.
Name five states which have large reserved and protected forests respectively?
Year of Question :(2013)

Answer: Five states having large percentages of reserved forests are: Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Maharashtra. Protected Forests: Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Orissa and Rajasthan

Question 17.
What are unclassed forests? Name two areas which have high percentages of their forests as unclassed forests?
Year of Question :(2016)

Answer: Unclassed forests are the other forests and waste lands belonging to both Government and private individuals as well as local communities. Two areas with high percentage of unclassed forests are: North-Eastern states and parts of Gujarat

Question 18.
Write three examples of conservation of biodiversity at community level?
Year of Question :(2016)

Answer: Three examples of community participation

• 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 1200 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 Chipko Movement in the Himalayas has successfully resisted deforestation and has also shown that community afforestation with indigenous species can be a great success

Question 19.
Explain the Beej Bachao Andolan and Navdanya concept?
Year of Question :(2014)

Answer: Farmers and Citizens groups like the Beej Bachao Andolan in Tehri and Navdanya have shown that adequate levels of diversified crop production without the use of synthetic chemicals are possible and economically viable

Question 20.
Write two characteristics of Joint Forest Management Programme and its two benefits for the community. Which Indian state started this programme first of all and when?
Year of Question :(2019)

Answer: Joint Forest Management Programme involves local communities in the management and restoration of degraded forests. It was first started in Orissa in 1988. Two characteristics: It depends on-

• the formation of local (village) institutions that undertake protection activities mostly on degraded forest land managed by the Forest Department and
• the local communities also work towards restoration of such degraded forests
Two benefits:
• The members of these communities are entitled to intermediary benefits like non-timber forest products
• They are also entitled to share in the timber harvested by successful protection

Question 21.
What is biodiversity? Why is biodiversity important for human lives? Give three points?
Year of Question :(2010)

Answer: Biodiversity denotes variety of living beings, including all types of organisms, plants and wildlife, diverse in form and functions but closely integrated in a system through multiple network of interdependencies. Its importance: We humans along with all living organisms form a complex web of ecological systems in which we are only a part and are dependent on this system for our own existence. For example, the plants, animals and micro-organisms recreate

• the quality of the air we breathe
• the water we drink and
• the soil that produces our food without which we cannot survive. Forests play a key role in the ecological system as these are also the primary producers on which all other living beings depend not only for food but indirectly for many other forest produces which are used for varied purposes. So this biodiversity maintains an ecological balance and our life support systems (air, water and soil)

Question 22.
Write a brief note on Project Tiger?
Year of Question :(2014)

Answer: Project Tiger was one of the well-published wildlife campaigns in the world, launched in 1973. Initially it had shown an increase in tiger population till 1989 but in 1993 the tiger population dropped. There are 27 tiger reserves in India covering an area of 37,761 sq km. Tiger conservation has been viewed not only as an effort to save the endangered species but with equal importance as a means of preserving biotypes of sizeable magnitude. Corbett National Park, (Uttarakhand), Sundarbans National Park (West Bengal), Bandhavgarh National Park (Madhya Pradesh), Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary (Rajasthan) Manas Tiger Reserve (Assam) and Periyar Tiger Reserve (Kerala) are some of the reserves in India

Question 23.
Give an account of the forest cover in India?
Year of Question :(2010)

Answer: The dimensions of deforestation in India are staggering. The forest and tree cover in the country is estimated at 79.42 million hectare, which is 24.16% of the total geographical area (dense forest 12.2%; open forest 9.14%; and mangrove 0.14%). According to the State of Forest Report (2015), the dense forest cover has increased by 3,775 sq km since 2013. However, this apparent increase in the forest cover is due to conservation measures, management interventions and plantation, etc., by different agencies

Question 24.
Give an account of the Himalayan Yew highlighting its importance?
Year of Question :(2014)

Answer: The Himalayan Yew is in trouble. The Himalayan Yew (Taxuswallachiana) is a medicinal plant found in various parts of Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh. A chemical compound called taxol is extracted from the bark, needles, twigs and roots of this tree, and it has been successfully used to treat some cancers-the drug is now the biggest selling anti-cancer drug in the world. The species is under great threat due to over-exploitation. In the last one decade, thousands of yew trees have dried up in various parts of Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh

Question 25.
Give the main characteristics of the Asiatic Cheetah. Where has it gone?
Year of Question :(2018)

Answer: The worlds fastest land mammal, the cheetah (Acinonyxjubantus), is a unique and specialised member of the cat family and can move at the speed of 112 km./hr. The cheetah is often mistaken for a leopard. Its distinguishing marks are the long teardrop shaped lines on each side of the nose from the comer of its eyes to its mouth. Prior to the 20th century, cheetahs were widely distributed throughout Africa and Asia. Today, the Asian cheetah is nearly extinct due to a decline of available habitat and prey. The species was declared extinct in India long back in 1952

Question 26.
33% of area should be under forests. Justify the statement highlighting the environmental values of forests?
Year of Question :(2010)

Answer: Forest area in the country is far lower than the desired 33% of geographical area, as outlined in the National Forest Policy (1952). Forests are considered essential for maintenance of the ecological balance. The livelihood of millions of people who live on the fringes of these forests depend upon it. Forests play a key role in the ecological system as these are also the primary producers on which all other living beings depend. The forest preserves the ecological diversity and our life support systems-water, air and soil. It also preserves the genetic diversity of plants and animals for better growth of species and breeding. The destruction of forests have marginalised and impoverished many indigenous forest dependent communities. The indirect impact of degradation is severe drought or induced floods. Poverty is a direct outcome of environmental destruction

Question 27.
Assess the need for the conservation of forests and wildlife in India?
Year of Question :(2014)

Answer: There is a need to conserve the forests and wildlife in India

• Conservation of biodiversity is necessary because it preserves the ecological diversity
• Forests and wildlife preserve our life support systems, i.e., water, air and soil. For example, the plants, animals and micro-organisms recreate the quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink and the soil that produces our food without which we cannot survive
• It also preserves the genetic diversity of plants and animals for better growth and breeding of species. For example, in agriculture we are still dependent on traditional crop varieties
• Fisheries too are heavily dependent on the maintenance of aquatic biodiversity
• Forests are primary producers on which all other living beings depend not only for food but indirectly for many other forest produces which are used for varied purposes

Question1.
What is Biodiversity and why is it important for human life?

Answer: Biodiversity refers to the variety of all life forms on Earth, including plants, animals, and microorganisms

• It is important because
• It helps maintain the balance of ecosystems
• Plants and animals provide us with air, water, and food
• Forests play a key role by producing oxygen and maintaining soil quality
• It supports the food chain and human survival

Question2.
What are the main threats to Tiger populations in India?

Answer:

• Poaching for trade (tiger skins, bones for traditional medicine)
• Habitat loss due to human activities like deforestation
• Decline in prey species, which reduces food for tigers
• Human population growth causing pressure on wildlife areas

Question3.
What was the significance of Project Tiger?

Answer:

• Launched in 1973 to protect tigers in India
• Aimed to restore the dwindling population of tigers
• Helped in setting up tiger reserves like Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand and Sunderbans
• National Park in West Bengal
• India and Nepal have nearly two-thirds of the worlds tiger population

Question4.
What are the types of Forests in India?

Answer:

Reserved Forests:

• Make up over half of Indias total forest area
• These forests are highly protected for conserving wildlife and timber production.
• Protected Forests:
• Cover about one-third of forest land
• Protected from further destruction
• Unclassed Forests
• Managed by local communities and government
• Often located in the northeastern states

Question5.
How have local communities helped in conserving forests and wildlife in India?

Answer:

• Communities in Rajasthan declared Bhairodev Dakav Sonchuri to protect 1,200 hectares of forest.
• The Chipko Movement in the Himalayas successfully resisted deforestation
• Beej Bachao Andolan in Tehri promoted ecological farming and conservation of traditional seeds
• Sacred groves, like the ones in Odisha and Bihar, are forests protected by religious beliefs

Question6.
Why is the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 important?

Answer:

• Implemented to protect endangered species
• Created an all-India list of protected species
• Legal measures were introduced to ban hunting, protect habitats, and regulate trade in wildlife. Helped establish National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries across the country

Question7.
How do forests and wildlife resources support human life?

Answer:

• Forests clean the air, regulate climate, and prevent soil erosion
• Wildlife maintains balance in ecosystems, supporting biodiversity
• Products from forests like timber, medicinal plants, and fruits contribute to the economy
• Aquatic biodiversity is essential for fisheries, which provide food and livelihoods

Question8.
What are Sacred Groves and their role in conservation?

Answer:

• Sacred Groves are forest patches protected by local religious beliefs
• These groves are left untouched by humans, and interference is forbidden
• They help preserve rare and endangered plant species
• Found in states like Rajasthan, where local communities protect animals like the blackbuck

Q1. Explain the importance of forests in our lives.

Ans: Forests play a vital role in our lives as :
They are the house of all the resources and necessities.
They are the natural air purifiers, they provide food and are the natural habitat to animals.
They contain natural medications and provide us with fuel wood.
The cattle graze in the forests and get their food as well.
Forests maintain a balanced life on our planet.

Q2. Describe how communities have conserved and protected forests and wildlife in India?

Ans: In the Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan, villagers have fought against mining activities.
The Chipko Movement which was conducted in the Himalayas, has successfully resisted deforestation in several areas.
The Beej Bachao Andolan in the Tehri district of Uttarakhand conserved local seed diversity and forest.

Q3. What has been the contribution of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act in protecting animal habitats in India?

Ans: The contribution of the India Wildlife Protection Act can be seen through the following points
An all-India list of protected species was published. The act banned the hunting of certain endangered species.
It also gave legal protection to their habitats and restricted wildlife trade. Many national parks and wildlife sanctuaries were established in which commercial activities were forbidden.
Central Government also announced several projects for protecting specific animals, which were gravely threatened. These include the tiger, the one-horned rhinoceros, the Kashmir stag or hangul.

Q4. Write any five reasons for depletion of forest in India.

Ans: Development during the colonial period: Railway network, commercial agriculture, scientific forestry and mining.
Agriculture expansion: According to the forest survey of India over 26000 square kilometers of forest area was converted into agricultural land.
Shifting cultivation: Northeastern and Central India have been deforested 2.2 Million hectares of forest area was deforested and burned.
Large-scale development projects: Since 1951 over 500 square kilometer forest cleared for river valley project Narmada Sagar projects in Madhya Pradesh.
Overpopulation: Overpopulation leads to increased demand for land for housing, agriculture, and other activities, contributing to deforestation.

Q5. Write a short note Joint forest management

Ans: Joint Forest Management (JFM) Programme: The Joint Forest Management Programme was initiated to involve local communities in the management and restoration of degraded forests. In 1988, Odisha passed the first resolution for JFM, establishing a framework for collaboration between local communities and the forest department. Under this programme, local or village institutions take on protection activities for degraded forest lands managed by the forest department. As a result of their efforts, local communities gain access to non-timber forest products and a share of the timber harvested, particularly from areas where they have successfully protected and managed the forests. This participatory approach aims to restore forest health, enhance biodiversity, and improve the livelihoods of local communities.

Q6. One of the methods of sustainable forest management is the diversification of plants and wildlife. Which of the following methods can be similarly categorised under sustainable forest management?

a. Felling of trees
b. Categorising Forests under Reserved Forests
c. Logging of woods for Industrial usage
d. Making the government a stakeholder in forest management
Ans: (b) Categorizing forests under Reserved Forests.

Q7. Which of the following conservation strategies do not directly involve community participation?

a. Joint forest management
b. Chipko Movement
c. Beej Bachao Andolan
d. Demarcation of wildlife sanctuaries
Ans: (d) Demarcation of wildlife sanctuaries.

• CBSE Class 10 SA-1 Social Science Set 1 QP
• CBSE Class 10 Social Geography Forest and Wildlife Resources Notes