CBSE · Class 10 · Social Science · Geography: Forest and Wildlife ResourcesDiscuss the various measures and community initiatives taken for the conservation of forests and wildlife in India. Highlight the role of local communities in protecting the environment.

Conservation of Forests and Wildlife in India and Community Initiatives

\nConservation preserves the ecological diversity and our life support systems—water, air, and soil. In response to the rapid depletion of flora and fauna, the Indian government and local communities have undertaken various measures and initiatives to protect forest and wildlife resources.

• Government Legislation and Policies:

  • The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act was implemented in 1972, with various provisions for protecting habitats. An all-India list of protected species was published. The thrust of the programme was towards protecting the remaining population of certain endangered species by banning hunting, giving legal protection to their habitats, and restricting trade in wildlife.
  • Central and state governments established national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Projects for protecting specific animals that were gravely threatened, such as Project Tiger (1973), were launched.

• Role of Community and Local People:

  • In India, forests are home to some of the traditional communities. In some areas, local communities are struggling with government officials to protect their habitats recognizing that this alone will secure their own long-term livelihood.
  • The Sariska Tiger Reserve: In 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 that harms nature.
  • Sacred Groves: Nature worship is an age-old tribal belief based on the premise that all creation of nature has to be protected. Such beliefs have preserved several virgin forests in pristine form called Sacred Groves (or forests of God and Goddesses). These patches of forest or parts of large forests have been left untouched by local people and any interference with them is banned.

• Chipko Movement:

  • The famous Chipko Movement in the Himalayas successfully resisted deforestation in several areas and showed that community afforestation with indigenous species can be successfully carried out.

• Joint Forest Management (JFM):

  • Joint Forest Management program furnishes a good example for involving local communities in the management and restoration of degraded forests. Started in Odisha in 1988, JFM depends on the formation of local (village) institutions that undertake protection activities mostly on degraded forest land managed by the forest department. In return, the members of these communities are entitled to intermediary benefits like non-timber forest produces and share in the timber harvested by 'successful protection'. \nIn conclusion, effective conservation cannot be achieved without the active participation of local communities who depend on these natural resources for their daily sustenance.