Forest & Wildlife Resources Summary Class 10 Social Science Chapter 1

Our country is home to millions of living beings, starting from micro-organisms and bacteria, lichens, to banyan trees, elephants and blue whales. Let's learn about how these resources are conserved. 

Flora and Fauna in India

• India is one of the richest countries in the world regarding biological diversity, hosting nearly 8 per cent of the global species count (around 1.6 million species).
• At least 10 per cent of India's recorded wild plants and 20 per cent of its mammals are considered threatened, indicating a serious conservation issue.
• Several species, such as the cheetah and the pink-headed duck, are classified as ‘critical’ and are close to extinction.

Conservation of Forest and Wildlife in India

Wildlife Conservation

• Conservation helps to protect our natural diversity and essential systems like water, air, and soil.
• In the 1960s and 1970s, conservationists called for a national wildlife protection plan. The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act was enforced in 1972, which included various measures for safeguarding habitats. An all-India list of protected species was also released.
• The goal of this programme was to safeguard the remaining populations of certain endangered species by prohibiting hunting, legally protecting their habitats, and limiting wildlife trade.
• The central and several state governments created national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
• The central government also initiated several projects aimed at protecting specific animals that were highly endangered, such as the tiger, the one-horned rhinoceros, the Kashmir stag (hangul), and three types of crocodiles (the freshwater crocodile, saltwater crocodile, and the Gharial), as well as the Asiatic lion, among others.
• Project Tiger was launched by the Government of India in 1973 to protect the endangered tiger species, as authorities realised that the tiger population had dropped from approximately 55,000 at the beginning of the century to just 1,827.
• In the notifications under the Wildlife Act of 1980 and 1986, many butterflies, moths, beetles, and one dragonfly were added to the list of protected species.
• In 1991, for the first time, plants were also included in the list, starting with six species.

Types and Distribution of Forest and Wildlife Resources

• In India, much of its forest and wildlife resources are either owned or managed by the government through the Forest Department or other government departments.
• The forests are classified under the following categories:
  1. Reserved Forests: These forests are regarded as the most valuable as far as the conservation of forest and wildlife resources is concerned. It covers half of the total forest land.
  2. Protected Forests: This forest land is protected from any further depletion. Almost one-third of the total forest area is protected forest.
  3. Unclassed Forests: These are other forests and wastelands belonging to both the government and private individuals and communities.

Community and Conservation

Community Conservation

• The forests are also home to some of the traditional communities.
• Local communities are struggling to conserve these habitats, along with government officials, to secure their long-term livelihood.
• In Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, villagers have fought against mining by citing the Wildlife Protection Act.
• The famous Chipko movement in the Himalayas has successfully resisted deforestation in several areas. The movement also showed that community afforestation with indigenous species can be enormously successful.
• Farmers and citizens’ groups like the Beej Bachao Andolan in Tehri and Navdanya have shown that adequate levels of diversified crop production without the use of synthetic chemicals are possible and economically viable.
• The Joint Forest Management (JFM) Programme, introduced in 1988 in the state of Odisha shown a good example for involving local communities in the management and restoration of degraded forests.