Class 10 Geography Chapter 2 Previous Year Questions - Forest and Wildlife Resources

Ans: Many cultures, especially Indian tribal communities, hold sacred groves in high regard as places where the natural world's divinity is recognised and honored. These groves serve as physical representations of the idea that all natural objects are sacred and deserve preservation.

Ans: Communities include trees in their cultural practices in a variety of ways, primarily by giving sacred or symbolic meaning. For example, certain trees, like the tamarind, mango, kadamba, and mahua, have great significance and are worshipped during weddings and other ceremonies in many Indian tribal communities. Similarly, sacred trees like banyan and peepal are frequently connected to places of worship like temples.

Ans: (1) Numerous societies have customs regarding the preservation of particular natural regions, like sacred woods, where particular species of trees or ecosystems are respected. These places hold rituals and ceremonies that uphold the cultural value of honoring and protecting the natural world.
(2) Natural elements such as trees, animals, and other features are frequently symbolic in cultural belief systems. For instance, groups of macaques and langurs that surround numerous temples receive daily food and are regarded as members of the temple community. Herds of blackbuck, nilgai, and peacocks are regarded as essential members of the community in certain villages of Rajasthan.
This perspective demonstrates a shared understanding of how crucial it is to coexist with nature.

Ans: (d)

Statement (I) suggests banning hunting and protecting tiger habitats, which helps in conserving the tiger population and maintaining biodiversity.
Statement (III) about establishing wildlife sanctuaries and national parks provides safe areas for tigers and other wildlife to thrive, promoting biodiversity.
Statement (IV) on converting forests into reserved and protected forests ensures that these areas are safeguarded from exploitation and development.
Statement (II), which proposes prohibiting public visits to forest areas, might not be practical or beneficial for conservation efforts. Allowing controlled visits can raise awareness and support for wildlife protection.

Ans: (d)
Reserved and protected forests are referred to as permanent forest. It is maintained for the purpose of prod ucing ti mber and ot her forest product. 

Ans: (c)

(A) Sariska Tiger Reserve is located in (II) Rajasthan. It is a well-known tiger reserve famous for its tiger population.

(B) Bhairodev Dakav 'Sonchuri' is in (IV) Alwar, which is part of Rajasthan, and this area is noted for its unique wildlife and conservation efforts.

(C) Chipko movement began in (I) Uttarakhand as a grassroots movement to protect trees and forests.

(D) Navdanya is an organization that promotes biodiversity and organic farming, and it is associated with (III) Karnataka.

Ans: Human beings influence the ecology of a region in the following ways:
(1) Human beings inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide which are important for the flora species to exist and survive.
(2) Anthropogenic activities like agriculture, grazing and other activities, industrial development and trade change the ecology of a region permanently.
(3) Humans consume various products of flora and fauna living around them. Their consumption affects the demand of these products. Ecosystems are effectively changed by that.

Ans: A protected area set aside for the preservation and conservation of wildlife and their habitats is known as a wildlife sanctuary. Governments or private organisations created these areas with the intention of protecting biodiversity, fostering ecological balance, and offering refuge to threatened or endangered species.
The difference between wildlife sanctuaries and national parks are:

Ans: The destruction of forests and wildlife is not just a biological issue. The biological loss is strongly correlated with the loss of cultural diversity.
This can be proved using the following points:
(1) The loss of biological diversity has increasingly marginalised and impoverished many native and forest communities which are dependent upon the forest for food, shelter and livelihoods.
(2) These practices are also inherent in their lifestyles and cultures. If the forests are taken away, their cultures are affected directly.
(3) Women are more affected than men because they bear the major responsibility of collecting the produce, fuel, fodder and water. If they are deprived of the same, they will have to work harder and longer thereby affecting their familial roles and health.
(4) This also results in increasing negligence towards the children who carry the culture forward to the next generation. Such losses might lead to the children breaking away from their generational heritage and consequently, complete loss of cultural values.
(5) Various communities have different practices and traditions associated with forests and their different constituents. For example, worship rituals, marriage rituals etc. Loss of forests might also mean loss of these practices.

Ans: (i) In the 1960s and 1970s, the conservationists demanded some rules to protect the wildlife. Conceding to their demand, the government enacted the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. Under this act, an all-India list of protected species was published.
(ii) Hunting was banned to protect the remaining population of some endangered species.
(iii) Trade in wildlife was restricted and the habitats of wildlife were given legal protection. Many national parks and wildlife sanctuaries were established by central state governments and the state governments.
(iv) Several projects were announced for protecting specific animals, e.g. Project Tiger. Project Tiger was launched in 1973 to protect tigers from becoming extinct.

Ans: Biodiversity refers to diverse flora and fauna that exist in a given area. Plants, animals and human beings are interdependent. It is necessary for human beings as we get fresh air, water, food etc., from them. Thus, the existence of human beings depends on them.
Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play. For example, a larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops. Greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms. Healthy ecosystems can better withstand and recover from a variety of disasters. And so, while we dominate this planet, we still need to preserve the diversity in wildlife. Each species depends on the services provided by other species to ensure survival. It is a type of cooperation based on mutual survival that is provided by a balanced eco system. That is why when the ecosystem is disturbed survival of the species becomes difficult.

Ans: Forests and wildlife are vital to the quality of life and environment. This is because the destruction of forests and wildlife leads to:
(i) Loss of cultural diversity - In addition to the loss of flora and fauna in the forest; the communities that depend on various forest produce suffer a lot.
(ii) Impact on women - In almost all rural societies, women bear the responsibility to collect fire wood, fodder and water. Depletion of these resources makes them work much harder and the tasks become more time-consuming. This often leads to various health problems in them.
(iii) Poverty - When the poor tribal population fails to get their supplies of basic items, they have to buy those by spending money that is in short supply. Thus, greater economic pressure is created on them.

Ans: (i) Since 1951, over 5000 sq km of forest was cleared for River Valley Projects.
(ii) Clearing of forests is still continuing with projects like the Narmada Sagar Project in Madhya Pradesh which would inundate 40,000 hectares of forest.
(iii) Mining is another important factor behind deforestation.

Ans: Reasons for the depletion of forest resources in India are:
(i) Extensive use of forest products such as wood, barks, leaves, rubber, medicines, dyes, food, fuel, fodder, manure etc.
(ii) Agricultural expansion, development of railways, mining, commercial and social forestry.
(iii) Substantial forests in the tribal belts of northeastern states have been degraded by shifting cultivation (Jhumming) or slash and burn agriculture.
(iv) Large scale developmental projects like Narmada Sagar Project of Madhya Pradesh which would inundate 40,000 hectares of forests.
(v) Mining is another important factor, as in the Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal is seriously threatened by dolomite mining. It has disturbed the natural habitat of many species and migration route of animals, especially the great Indian elephant.

Ans: The various steps taken to conserve the flora and fauna of the country include:
(i) Implementation of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
(ii) Desired control on deforestation and implementing afforestation programmes.
(iii) Providing legal protection to animals by bringing and implanting laws such as banning of hunting and poaching.  
(iv) Spreading the awareness about the values of forests and its flora and fauna among the public.
(v) Setting up of biosphere reserves; 18 Biosphere Reserves have been set-up in India. Providing financial i and technical assistance to many botanical gardens.
(vi) Implementation of specific focused projects such as: ; Project Tiger, Project Rhino, Project Great Indian Bustard and many other eco developmental projects. 106 national parks, 565 Wildlife sanctuaries and zoological gardens i are set-up to take care of natural heritage.

Ans: Three major reasons which are responsible for the depletion of flora and fauna in India: 

(i) Agricultural expansion: After Independence agricultural expansion became the major cause of depletion of forest resources. Between 1951 and 1980, according to the Forest Survey of India, over 26,200 sq. km of fore are was converted into agricultural land all over India
(ii) Mining: It is another major factor responsible for deforestation, eg. dolomite mining has been seriously three attended the Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal. This ongoing mining has disturbed the natural habitat and blocked the migration route of a great Indian elephant.
(iii) Large-scale development projects: Since 1951, over 5000 sq km of forest was cleared for River Valley Projects Large hydro projects have inundated large forest areas.