NCERT Solutions for Social Science Class 10 Geography Chapter 2 - Forests And Wildlife Resources
Exercises, Page - 22
1. Multiple choice questions.
(i) Which of these statements is not a valid reason for the depletion of flora and fauna ?
(a) Agricultural expansion.
(b) Large scale development projects.
(c) Grazing and fuel wood collection.
(d) Rapid industrialisation and urbanisation.
Answer: (b) Large scale development projects
(ii) Which of the following conservation strategies do not directly involve community participation ?
(a) Joint forest management
(b) Beej Bachao Andolan
(c) Chipko Movement
(d) Demarcation of Wildlife sanctuaries
Answer: (d) Demarcation of Wildlife sanctuaries
2. Match the following animals with their category of existence.
Answer:
- Black buck - Endangered
- Asiatic elephant - Vulnerable
- Andaman wild pig - Endemic
- Himalayan brown bear - Rave
- Pink head duck - Extinct
3. Match the following.
Answer:
- Reserved forests - forests are regarded as most valuable as far as the conservation of forest and wildlife resources
- Protected forests - forest lands are protected from any further depletion
- Unclassed forests - other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private individuals and communities
4. Answer the following questions in about 30 words.
(i) What is biodiversity ? Why is biodiversity important for human lives ?
Answer:
Biodiversity is a combination of two words. Bio menas life and diversity means variety. This Biodiversity is the number and variety of organisms found within a specified region. It refers to varities of plants, animals and micro-organisms.
Importance of Biodiversity in Human life :-
- Biodiversity is our living wealth.
- Biodiversity has ecological, economic and scientific importance.
- Species of many kinds develop life support system. These affect climate and ecosystem.
- It produces crops diversity. It is an integral part of human culture
(ii) How have human activities affected the depletion of flora and fauna ? Explain.
Answer:
Many factors have caused the depletion of flora and fauna. Man has disturbed the ecological balance. Human activities causing depletion of flora and fauna. Human activities have depleted our forests and wildlife.
- Expansion of railways, agriculture, commercial and scientific forestry are the major cause of depletion of fauna and flora.
- Large scale development projects have contributed to loss of forests, like on Narmada (Sardar Sarovar Project).
- Mining is another factor of deforestation. It has disturbed ntural habitats.
5. Answer the following questions in about 120 words.
(i) Describe how communities have conserved and protected forests and wildlife in India ?
Answer:
In India, forests are home to some communities. These conserve habitats.
Examples :
- In Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, villagers have fought against mining by citing the Wildlife Protection Act.
- The inhabitants of five villages in the Alwar district of Rajasthan have declared 1,200 hectares of forests as the Bhairodev Dakav 'Sonchuri', declaring their own set of rules and regulations. They do not allow hunting, and are protecting the wildlife against any outside encroachments.
- Nature worship is an age old tribal belief based on the premise that all creations of nature have to be protected. Such beliefs have preserved several virgin forests in pristine form called Sacred Groves (the forests of God and Goddesses).
- Worship of Trees certain socities revere a particular tree which they have preserved from time immemorial. The Mundas and the Santhal of Chhota Nagpur region worship mahua (Bassia latifolia) and Kadamba (Anthocaphalus cadamba) trees, and the tribals of Orissa and Bihar worship the tamarind (Tamarindus indica) and mango (Mangifera indica) trees during during weddings. To many of us, peepal and banyan trees are considered sacred.
- Indian society comprises several cultures, each with its own set of traditional methods of conserving nature and its creations. Sacred qualities are often ascribed to springs, mountain peaks, plants and animals which are closely protected. You will find troops of macaques and langurs around many temples. They are fed daily are treated as a part of temple devotees.
- In an around Bishnoi villages in Rajasthan, herds of Black bucks (chinkara), nilgai, and peacocks and protected from hunting.
(ii) Write a note on good practices towards conserving forest and wild life.
Answer:
Conservation of wildlife and forest has become essential due to declining the number of these. It preserves our ecological diversity and our life support system.
- The famous Chipko movement in the Himalayas has resisted deforestation.
- Afforestation has also helped in conservation.
- New methods of ecological farming are now widespread.
- Farmers and citizens' group like Beej Bachao Andolan in Tehri are Navdanya have helped traditional conservation.
- Join forest Management (JFM) involves local communities in conservation of forets.
- Timber Forests are protected.
- Many development activities are environmen friendly.