Forest and Wildlife Resources — Competency Based Questions

Answers

2.
(a) The Bishnoi community's practice of revering and protecting blackbucks, nilgai, and peacocks demonstrates a deep-rooted cultural belief where nature and its creatures are considered sacred and integral to their community. This reverence translates into active conservation actions.
(b) Sacred Groves are patches of forest or parts of large forests that have been left untouched by local people due to nature worship beliefs. They are often considered the abode of deities and are protected from any interference. Examples include the worship of Mahua and Kadamba trees by the Mundas and Santhals, or tamarind and mango trees by tribals of Odisha and Bihar.
(c) Protecting traditional conservation practices is important because they often embody sustainable resource management techniques, have deep cultural significance, and foster a harmonious relationship between humans and nature, which can be lost if these practices are disregarded.

3.
(a) Reserved Forests are those forests that are declared as reserved by the Forest Department, where activities like grazing and timber extraction are usually prohibited or restricted to maintain their conservation value.
(b) Reserved forests are considered most valuable for conservation because they are regarded as the most valuable areas for the conservation of forest and wildlife resources, often implying stricter protection measures and focus on ecological integrity.
(c) Protected Forests are forest lands declared by the Forest Department that are protected from any further depletion, though they may allow regulated use. Unclassed Forests are other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private individuals and communities, often with less structured management and protection.

4.
(a) If both Assertion and Reason are true and the Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion.

5.
(a) The core principle of the Chipko movement was to resist deforestation and the felling of trees by physically hugging the trees to protect them.
(b) The Chipko movement highlighted community participation by showing how local communities, particularly women, could actively engage in protecting their forest resources through direct action and peaceful resistance.
(c) The success of community afforestation with indigenous species suggests that local knowledge and participation are highly effective for sustainable forest regeneration and resource management, which can lead to long-term ecological health and livelihood security.

6.
(a) Biodiversity, or Biological Diversity, encompasses the immense variety of life on Earth, including the diversity of species, genes, and ecosystems.
(b) Two ways human activities contribute to the depletion of flora and fauna are habitat destruction (due to agriculture, urbanization, industrialization) and over-exploitation (through poaching, illegal trade, unsustainable harvesting).
(c) Conservation of biodiversity is essential for maintaining life support systems as it ensures the continued functioning of ecological processes like air purification, water cycling, and soil formation, which are vital for human survival.

7.
(a) The primary objective of the Joint Forest Management (JFM) programme is to involve local communities in the protection and management of degraded forest lands.
(b) The JFM programme involves local communities by forming village institutions that undertake forest protection activities. These institutions work in collaboration with the forest department, ensuring community participation in conservation efforts.
(c) Local communities involved in JFM are entitled to intermediary benefits such as non-timber forest produces and a share in the timber harvested from the protected forests.

8.
(a) If both Assertion and Reason are true and the Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion.

9.
(a) Unclassed Forests are forests and wastelands that belong to both government and private individuals and communities, and are typically managed with less formal structure than reserved or protected forests.
(b) In regions like Northeast India, local communities often manage unclassed forests through traditional practices, focusing on sustainable harvesting of minor forest produce and ensuring the ecological integrity of these forests.
(c) Involving local communities in forest resource management is important because they possess traditional knowledge, have a direct stake in the forest's well-being, and their participation ensures that conservation efforts are more effective, sustainable, and culturally appropriate.

10.
(a) The Lepcha folk song suggests a deep spiritual and harmonious connection with nature, viewing all elements of the natural world – from springs and rivers to animals and the breeze – as manifestations of a divine creator and sources of music.
(b) Traditional songs and stories can contribute to the conservation of nature by instilling a sense of reverence, respect, and connection to the environment in younger generations, thereby promoting a culture of conservation.
(c) The Bishnoi community in Rajasthan actively protects wildlife like blackbucks, nilgai, and peacocks, treating them as integral parts of their community and prohibiting any harm to them.

11.
(a) Two specific animals that have been given legal protection under the Wildlife Protection Act are the tiger and the one-horned rhinoceros.
(b) Restricting trade in wildlife is significant for conservation because it reduces the demand for endangered species and their products (like skins or bones), thereby decreasing the incentive for poaching and illegal trafficking, which are major threats to their survival.
(c) The legal protection of habitats complements the protection of endangered species by ensuring that they have safe and suitable environments to live, breed, and thrive, which is essential for their long-term survival and population recovery.

12.
(a) If both Assertion and Reason are true and the Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion.

13.
(a) The specific forest area mentioned in the NCERT text where villagers resisted mining is the Bhairodev Dakav ‘Sonchuri’ in the Alwar district of Rajasthan.
(b) The villagers used the Wildlife Protection Act by citing its provisions to support their conservation efforts and legally challenge the mining activities that threatened their protected forest area.
(c) Community-led conservation initiatives are significant because they empower local populations to protect their natural resources, foster a sense of ownership and responsibility, and ensure that conservation efforts are context-specific and effectively implemented on the ground.

14.
(a) Reserved Forests are considered the most valuable for conservation and are subject to stricter regulations, often prohibiting human activities like grazing or timber felling, to preserve their ecological integrity. Protected Forests, while also managed for conservation, may allow for regulated use of forest produce and are protected from further depletion.
(b) Madhya Pradesh has the largest percentage of its total forest area under permanent forests.
(c) Permanent forest estates are maintained for the purpose of producing timber and other forest produce, and for protective reasons, ensuring a sustained supply of resources while also safeguarding the forest ecosystem.

15.
(a) Two specific animal conservation projects launched by the central government are Project Tiger and the conservation project for the one-horned rhinoceros.
(b) It is important to launch specific conservation projects for individual endangered species because these species often face unique threats and require targeted strategies for their protection, which might not be covered by general conservation measures.
(c) The inclusion of insects and plants in conservation planning is a significant development because it recognizes that biodiversity conservation must be holistic, encompassing all levels of life. Protecting insects and plants is crucial as they form the base of many food webs and are vital for ecosystem functioning.

16.
(a) If both Assertion and Reason are true and the Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion.

17.
(a) 'Project Tiger' was launched in 1973. The estimated tiger population at that time was 1,827, a drastic fall from an estimated 55,000 at the turn of the century.
(b) Two major threats that led to the decline in the tiger population were poaching for trade (especially for skins and bones used in traditional medicines) and shrinking habitats due to human encroachment.
(c) Saving the tiger is vital for the entire forest ecosystem because tigers, as apex predators, play a crucial role in maintaining the health and balance of the ecosystem by regulating prey populations. Their conservation also leads to the protection of the entire habitat, including numerous other species.

18.
(a) The movement that advocates for adequate levels of diversified crop production without synthetic chemicals is Navdanya.
(b) This approach contributes to environmental conservation by reducing pollution from synthetic chemicals, promoting soil health, conserving water, and preserving biodiversity through diverse crop cultivation.
(c) The 'Beej Bachao Andolan' (Save the Seeds Movement) is a campaign that emphasizes the importance of saving and preserving traditional, diverse crop varieties and promoting their cultivation, thereby safeguarding agricultural biodiversity and ensuring food security based on sustainable practices.

19.
(a) Approximately two-thirds of the world's surviving tiger population is estimated to be in India and Nepal.
(b) India and Nepal are particularly targeted for illegal tiger trade because they harbor a significant portion of the global tiger population, making them sources for illegal poaching and trade.
(c) Effective conservation efforts for tigers in India and Nepal have global implications as they contribute significantly to the survival of the species worldwide. Successes in these countries can serve as models and inspire conservation initiatives in other regions, helping to prevent the extinction of tigers globally.

20.
(a) If both Assertion and Reason are true and the Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion.