Long Answer- Class 10 – Social Science -Geography-Chapter 2 Forest and Wild Resources

Class-10- Long Answer-Geography-2- Forest and Wild Resources

Q1.Explain any five different categories of existing plants and animal species based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources with examples.

Ans : a. Normal species : These include those whose population levels are considered to be normal for their survival, such as cattle, sal, pine, rodents, etc.

b. Endangered species : These include those species which are in danger of extinction. The several of such species is difficult if the negative factors that have led to a decline in their population continue to operate. For example, black buck, crocodile, Indian wild ass, etc.

c. Vulnerable species : These include the species whose population has declined to levels from where it is likely to move into the endangered category in the near future if the negative factors continue to operate.

For example, blue sheep, Gangetic dolphin, etc.

d. Rare species : They may move into the endangered or vulnerable category

for example, Himalayan brown bear, wild Asiatic buffalo.

e. Endemic species : These are found in some particular areas usually isolated by natural or geographical barriers.

For example, Andaman teal, Nicobar pigeon.

Q2. How are colonial forest policies responsible for the depletion of forests ?

Ans : Some of the environmental activists say that the promotion of a few favoured species in many parts of India has been carried through the ironically termed “enrichment plantation”, in which a single commercially valuable species was extensively planted and other species eliminated.

For instance teak monoculture has damaged the natural forest in South India and Chir Pine plantations in the Himalayas have replaced the Himalayan oak and Rhododendron forests.

Large scale development projects have also contributed to a great extent to the loss of forests.

Many environmentalists and foresters hold the view that the greatest degrading factors behind the depletion of forests are grazing and fuel wood collection.

Besides, the expansion of the railways, agriculture, commercial, mining activities and scientific forestry during colonial period are responsible for the depletion of forest.

 Q3. How is overpopulation responsible for environmental degradation ?

Ans : The causes of environmental destruction are unequal access, inequitable consumption of resources and differential sharing of responsibility for environmental well-being.

 Over population in third world countries is often cited as the cause of environmental degradation.

However, an average American consumes 40 times more resources than an average Somalian. Similarly, the richest five percent of  the Indian society probably causes more ecological damage because of the amount they consume than the poorest 25 percent.

The former shares minimum responsibilities for environmental well-being. If we talk about India, over half of India’s natural forests are gone, one third of its wetlands drained out, 70 percent of its surface Water bodies polluted, 40 percent of its mangroves wiped out and with continued hunting and trade of wild animals and commercially valuable plants, thousands of plant and animal species are heading towards extinction and who is to blame ? This is only the result of overpopulation and increasing demands.

Q4. Explain any three measures taken by the Indian Government to protect wildlife.

Ans : a. National parks, biosphere and wildlife sanctuaries : To protect the biodiversity, the Indian government has established 100 national parks, 515 sanctuaries and 17 biosphere reserves.

b. The Indian Wildlife Protection Act: The Indian Wildlife Protection Act was implemented in 1972, with various provisions for protecting habitats. An all India list of protected species was also published.

The thrust of the program was towards protecting the remaining population of certain endangered species by banning hunting, giving legal protection to their habitats and restricting trade in wildlife.

c. Project for protecting specific animals : The central government has also announced several projects for protecting specific animals which were greatly threatened, including the tiger, the one-horned rhinoceros, the Kashmir stag or hangul, the three types of crocodiles-the freshwater crocodile, the saltwater crocodile and the Gharial, the Asiatic lion and others.

d. Forest Policy : India is one of the few countries which has a forest policy since 1894. It was revised in 1952 and again in 1988. The main plank of the forest policy is protection, conservation and development of forests.

e. Forest Research Institutes : Indian government has created many forest Research Institutes for the research, protection and development of the forests. IFS Dehradun is the oldest research institution of the country.