NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science Geography Chapter 2 - Forest and Wildlife Resources

Forest and Wildlife Resources: In this article we have presented detailed answers to question of NCERT Class 10 Social Science Geography Chapter 2. These solutions are very helpful for students who are preparing themselves for board exams. Each of the questions have detailed and extra information so that students can learn a bit more and can acquire extra knowledge.

Exercise: Page No 22

1. Multiple choice questions.

Question:

i.) Which of these statements is not a valid reason for the depletion of flora and fauna?

1. Agricultural expansion.
2. Large scale developmental projects.
3. Grazing and fuel wood collection.
4. Rapid industrialization and urbanization.

Answer:

c.) Grazing and fuel wood collection

Explanation:

The colonial era was the most detrimental to Indian forests because of the growth of mining, scientific and commercial forestry, agricultural practices, and railroads. Even after India attained independence, large-scale agricultural expansion, mining operations, and construction projects contributed to the extinction of both plants and animals. India's flora and fauna have declined due to forest fires, environmental pollution, unsustainable resource usage, poaching, hunting, and habitat degradation.

The unequal distribution of environmental responsibility, unequal resource consumption, and unequal access to resources are key factors contributing to the global loss of flora and fauna. Dolomite mining poses a severe threat to the Buxa Tiger Reserve. Forty thousand hectares of forest would be flooded due to the Narmada Sagar Project.

Question:

ii.) Which of the following conservation strategies do not directly involve community participation?

1. Joint forest management
2. Beej Bachao Andolan
3. Chipko Movement
4. Demarcation of Wildlife sanctuaries

Answer:

d.) Demarcation of wildlife sanctuaries

Explanation:

Joint Forest Management: A forest conservation policy is known as "joint forest management" involves the government and local communities working together to preserve forests.

Chipko Movement: There was a movement to preserve the forests in India. In 1973, it started. People were worried about the Alaknanda floods due to the disturbance caused by deforestation.

Beej Bachao Andolan: Beej Bachao Andolan is a forest conservation initiative that aims to preserve traditional seeds and support the regional customs of the populations that live there.

The movements mentioned above all engaged communities. But the government and forest department set up boundaries around animal sanctuaries to restrict residents' access to forest regions.

2.) Match the following animals with their category of existence.

Answer:

3.) Match the following

Answer:

4.) Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

Question:

i.) What is biodiversity? Why is biodiversity important for human lives?

Answer:

The term "biodiversity" is a measure of genetic, species, and ecosystem-level variation that refers to the diversity of life forms on Earth. Biodiversity is abundant in tropical areas. 90% of all species on the planet are found in tropical areas, which occupy 10% of the planet's surface.

The effects of biodiversity on human life:

1. A wide variety of plant species meet human nutritional needs.
2. Their impact on commerce and industry
3. Recreational pursuits
4. Environmental services

Question:

ii.) How have human activities affected the depletion of flora and fauna? Explain.

Answer:

1. Projects in the river valley impact flora and fauna.
2. Many unlawful mining operations have destroyed the local vegetation and fauna.
3. Excessive development projects for recreational purposes have harmed the forests.
4. Too many human activities in the forest area due to population growth and a lack of space are the root of the human-animal conflict.

5.) Answer the following questions in about 120 words.

Question:

i.) Describe how communities have conserved and protected forests and wildlife in India.

Answer:

The well-known Chipko movement in the Himalayas has effectively put a stop to deforestation in several regions and shows the enormous potential of community afforestation using native plants. Some tribes have a unique bond with a tree that they have preserved for centuries. Many of us revere the banyan and peepal trees. The mahua (Bassia latifolia) and kadamba (Anthocaphalus cadamba) trees are sacred to the Mundas and Santhal of the Chota Nagpur region. The tamarind (Tamarindus indica) and mango (Mangifera indica) trees are revered by the tribal people of Odisha and Bihar during wedding ceremonies.

Locals in many areas actively oppose government involvement while conserving habitats. The Wildlife Protection Act has been used by villagers in Rajasthan's Sariska Tiger Reserve as a weapon in their fight against mining. Five villages in Rajasthan's Alwar district have declared one thousand two hundred hectares of forests as the Bhairodev Dakav "Sonchuri" have also established their own rules and regulations that ban hunting and prevent outside interference with the wildlife.

Question:

ii.) Write a note on good practices towards conserving forest and wildlife.

Answer:

The Joint Forest Management (JFM) program in India is a significant instance of including local communities in managing and restoring damaged forests. The program has existed since Odisha passed the initial resolution for cooperative forest management in 1988. JFM relies on establishing local organizations at the regional (village) level to carry out protection duties, primarily in forest areas managed by the forest department. Residents of these towns are then entitled to additional benefits like non-timber forest products and timber cuts obtained through "successful protection" in return.

A clear lesson may be learned from India's dynamics of environmental destruction and repair: natural resource management must engage local populations everywhere. However, it will be some time before local communities become a significant factor in making choices. Accept only those economic or developmental projects that have a human, environmental, and economic objective.