Geography: Forest and Wildlife Resources

• Introduction & Importance

  • Rich flora and fauna in India
  • Ecological diversity and interconnected web of life
  • Essential for human survival (air, water, soil)

• Flora and Fauna in India

  • India is one of the world's biodiversity rich countries
  • Over 8% of total species estimated globally
  • Categories of existing plants and animals:
    • Normal Species: Population levels considered normal for survival
    • Endangered Species: In danger of extinction
    • Vulnerable Species: Population declined to levels from which it is likely to move into the endangered category
    • Rare Species: Small population, may move into endangered or vulnerable category
    • Endemic Species: Found only in particular areas isolated by natural or geographical barriers
    • Extinct Species: Not found after searches of known or likely areas

• Vanishing Forests (Causes of Depletion)

  • Deforestation for agriculture and river valley projects
  • Shifting Cultivation (Jhum) in northeastern and central India
  • Mining operations (e.g., Buxa Tiger Reserve threatened by dolomite mining)
  • Overgrazing and fuel-wood collection
  • Environmental Pollution and forest fires
  • Poaching and illegal hunting of wildlife

• Conservation of Forest and Wildlife in India

  • Need for conservation: Preserves ecological diversity and life support systems
  • Wildlife Protection Act 1972:
    • Implementation for protecting habitats
    • All-India list of protected species published
    • Ban on hunting, trade restriction, legal protection to habitats
  • Project Tiger (1973):
    • Special thrust to protect endangered tigers
    • Major reserves: Corbett (Uttarakhand), Sundarbans (WB), Bandhavgarh (MP)

• Types and Distribution of Forests & Wildlife Resources

  • Managed by government departments or local communities:
    • Reserved Forests: Most valuable for conservation of forest and wildlife (more than half of total forest land)
    • Protected Forests: Protected from any further depletion (almost one-third of total forest land)
    • Unclassed Forests: Other forests and waste lands belonging to both government and private individuals/communities

• Community and Conservation

  • Local communities struggling for habitat survival alongside government officials
  • Sacred Groves: Nature worship protecting pristine forests (e.g., Mundas and Santhals worship Mahua and Kadamba)
  • Chipko Movement: Himalayan region movement resisting deforestation successfully
  • Beej Bachao Andolan: Farmers and citizen group in Tehri showing crop diversity without chemicals is economically viable
  • Joint Forest Management (JFM): Involves local communities in the management and restoration of degraded forests (initiated in Odisha, 1988)