Class 10 Geography · Chapter 2 NotesForest and Wildlife Resources
Study Class 10 Geography Chapter 2 Forest and Wildlife Resources. Learn about biodiversity, conservation, Project Tiger, forest types, and community efforts.
This chapter explores India's rich biological diversity and the urgent need to conserve it. You will learn how forests and wildlife are interlinked with human survival, why species are declining, and how the government and local communities are working to protect them. The chapter covers the classification of forests into reserved, protected and unclassed categories, the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, and major conservation projects like Project Tiger. It also highlights the role of community-led efforts such as the Chipko movement, sacred groves, and joint forest management. Understanding these topics helps you appreciate the delicate balance between development and environmental protection. By the end, you will be able to explain the importance of biodiversity, describe conservation strategies, and recognise how people's participation is crucial for saving our natural heritage.
What you'll learn
1Define biodiversity and explain its importance for human life.
2Describe the steps taken by the government to conserve forests and wildlife.
3Classify forests into reserved, protected and unclassed categories.
4Explain the objectives and impact of Project Tiger.
5Identify community-led conservation efforts like Chipko movement and sacred groves.
6Analyse the role of joint forest management in restoring degraded forests.
Chapter at a glance
01Forest Types and Distribution in India
02Wildlife Resources and Biodiversity Conservation
03Wildlife Resources and Biodiversity Conservation
04Deforestation Causes and Environmental Consequences
05Forest and Wildlife Management Strategies
Detailed chapter notes
01
Biodiversity and Its Importance
Biodiversity, or biological diversity, refers to the immense variety of plants, animals and micro-organisms that live on Earth. These living beings are closely connected through a web of interdependence. Humans are only a part of this system and depend on it for survival. For example, plants and micro-organisms help maintain the quality of air, water and soil. Forests act as primary producers, supporting all other life forms. India is one of the world's richest countries in terms of biological diversity, with many species still undiscovered. However, this diversity is under threat due to human insensitivity towards the environment.
Biodiversitythe variety of life forms in a given habitat.
Interdependenceall living beings rely on each other for survival.
02
Conservation of Forest and Wildlife
Conservation became essential as wildlife populations and forest cover declined rapidly. Conserving forests and wildlife preserves ecological diversity and our life-support systems—water, air and soil. It also protects the genetic diversity of plants and animals, which is vital for agriculture, fisheries and breeding programmes. In the 1960s and 1970s, conservationists demanded a national wildlife protection programme. The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act was implemented in 1972, banning hunting, giving legal protection to habitats, and restricting trade in wildlife. National parks and sanctuaries were established, and projects for specific endangered species like the tiger, rhinoceros, and Kashmir stag were launched.
Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972key legislation for wildlife protection.
Projects for endangered speciestiger, one-horned rhinoceros, Kashmir stag, crocodiles, Asiatic lion, etc.
03
Project Tiger
Project Tiger, launched in 1973, is one of the world's most well-known wildlife campaigns. It was started when the tiger population had dwindled to 1,827 from an estimated 55,000 at the turn of the century. Major threats included poaching for trade, shrinking habitat, depletion of prey base, and growing human population. The trade of tiger skins and bones for traditional medicines pushed the species to the verge of extinction. India and Nepal, which together provide habitat to about two-thirds of the world's surviving tiger population, became prime targets for poaching. Project Tiger aims not only to save the tiger but also to preserve biotypes of sizeable magnitude. Tiger reserves include Corbett, Sunderbans, Bandhavgarh, Sariska, Manas and Periyar.
In India, most forest and wildlife resources are owned or managed by the government through the Forest Department. These are classified into three categories: Reserved Forests, Protected Forests, and Unclassed Forests. Reserved forests cover more than half of the total forest land and are considered most valuable for conservation. Protected forests cover almost one-third of the forest area and are protected from further depletion. Unclassed forests include other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private individuals and communities. Reserved and protected forests are together called permanent forest estates. Madhya Pradesh has the largest area under permanent forests, constituting 75 per cent of its total forest area. North-eastern states and parts of Gujarat have a high percentage of unclassed forests managed by local communities.
Reserved Forestsmost valuable for conservation, over half of total forest land.
Protected Forestsabout one-third of forest area, protected from depletion.
Unclassed Forestsowned by government, private individuals and communities.
05
Community and Conservation
Conservation is not new in India; traditional communities have long protected their habitats. In Sariska Tiger Reserve, villagers fought against mining using the Wildlife Protection Act. In Alwar district, Rajasthan, five villages declared 1,200 hectares as the Bhairodev Dakav 'Sonchuri', with their own rules banning hunting and protecting wildlife from outside encroachment. The Chipko movement in the Himalayas resisted deforestation and showed that community afforestation with indigenous species can succeed. Farmers' groups like Beej Bachao Andolan and Navdanya promote diversified crop production without synthetic chemicals. Joint forest management (JFM) involves local communities in restoring degraded forests; Odisha passed the first resolution for JFM in 1988. In return, communities get benefits like non-timber forest produce and a share in timber harvested.
Chipko movementresisted deforestation, promoted community afforestation.
Joint Forest Management (JFM)formalised in 1988 in Odisha.
Sacred grovesvirgin forests protected by local communities through nature worship.
06
Sacred Groves and Traditional Beliefs
Nature worship is an age-old tribal belief that all creations of nature must be protected. This has preserved several virgin forests in pristine form, called Sacred Groves—forests of God and Goddesses. These patches are left untouched by local people, and any interference is banned. Certain communities revere specific trees: the Mundas and Santhals of Chota Nagpur worship mahua and kadamba; tribals of Odisha and Bihar worship tamarind and mango during weddings. Peepal and banyan trees are considered sacred by many. Sacred qualities are also ascribed to springs, mountain peaks, plants and animals. For example, troops of macaques and langurs around temples are fed daily, and in Bishnoi villages of Rajasthan, blackbuck, nilgai and peacocks are protected as part of the community.
Sacred Grovesuntouched forests protected by local beliefs.
Which type of forest is found in areas with heavy rainfall in India?
ATropical Rainforests
BDesert Forests
CAlpine Forests
DDry Deciduous Forests
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Answer: (A) Tropical Rainforests
Tropical rainforests grow in areas with high rainfall, mainly found in the Western Ghats and Northeast India.
Question 02
What do we call the variety of different plants and animals found in a particular area?
ABiodiversity
BHabitat
CEcosystem
DWildlife
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Answer: (A) Biodiversity
Biodiversity means the variety of all living things (plants, animals, insects) in an area. It includes different species and their genetic differences.
Question 03
What is the main meaning of deforestation?
ACutting down trees and removing forests
BPlanting new trees in forests
CTaking care of forest animals
DBuilding roads in forests
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Answer: (A) Cutting down trees and removing forests
Deforestation means clearing, removing, or destroying forests, usually by cutting down trees.
Question 04
Which of the following conservation strategies does not directly involve community participation?
AJoint forest management
BBeej Bachao Andolan
CChipko Movement
DDemarcation of Wildlife sanctuaries
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Answer: (D) Demarcation of Wildlife sanctuaries
Demarcation of wildlife sanctuaries is a government-driven initiative, whereas the other options are community-led conservation efforts.
Question 05
Which forest type loses its leaves in the dry season?
AEvergreen Forests
BDeciduous Forests
CConiferous Forests
DTidal Forests
Show answer
Answer: (B) Deciduous Forests
Deciduous forests lose their leaves during the dry season to save water and survive harsh conditions.
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Q1. What are reserved forests and why are they considered the most valuable for conservation?
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Reserved forests are areas where more than half of the total forest land has been declared as reserved by the government. They are regarded as the most valuable for conservation because they are permanently under the control of the Forest Department and are maintained for producing timber and other forest produce, as well as for protective reasons. This ensures their protection from depletion and exploitation.
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Q2. What is biodiversity? Why is biodiversity important for human lives?
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Biodiversity or Biological Diversity is the immense variety of living organisms, including wildlife and cultivated species, diverse in form and function but closely integrated through multiple networks of interdependencies. Biodiversity is important for human lives because it provides essential life support systems like air, water, and soil, and is the basis for food, medicine, and other resources. It also maintains ecological balance and genetic diversity, which are crucial for agriculture and fisheries.
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Q3. What is biodiversity? Why is biodiversity important for human lives?
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Model answer
Biodiversity or Biological Diversity is the immense variety of life forms, including plants, animals, and micro-organisms, that are closely integrated through a network of interdependencies. It is important for human lives because it provides essential life support systems like air, water, and soil, and forms the basis of our food, medicine, and livelihoods. For example, plants and micro-organisms recreate the quality of air we breathe and soil that produces our food, without which we cannot survive.
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Q4. What is the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972? Mention its key provisions.
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The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act was implemented in 1972 to protect wildlife and their habitats. Its key provisions include banning hunting, giving legal protection to habitats, and restricting trade in wildlife. It also published an all-India list of protected species and led to the establishment of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
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Q5. Differentiate between protected forests and unclassed forests.
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Protected forests cover almost one-third of the total forest area and are declared by the Forest Department to be protected from any further depletion. Unclassed forests are other forests and wastelands that belong to both government and private individuals or communities. While protected forests are under government management, unclassed forests may be managed by local communities, especially in northeastern states and parts of Gujarat.
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Biodiversity or biological diversity refers to the immense variety of plants, animals and micro-organisms living in a habitat. It includes the diverse forms and functions of species that are closely integrated through multiple networks of interdependence. Biodiversity is essential for human survival as it provides air, water, food and other life-support systems.
Why is conservation of forests and wildlife important?
Conservation preserves ecological diversity and our life-support systems—water, air and soil. It also protects the genetic diversity of plants and animals for better growth and breeding. For example, agriculture depends on traditional crop varieties, and fisheries rely on aquatic biodiversity. Without conservation, these resources would be depleted, threatening human existence.
What are the three types of forests in India?
Forests in India are classified as Reserved Forests, Protected Forests, and Unclassed Forests. Reserved forests cover more than half of total forest land and are most valuable for conservation. Protected forests cover about one-third and are protected from further depletion. Unclassed forests include other forests and wastelands owned by government, private individuals and communities.
What was Project Tiger and when was it launched?
Project Tiger was launched in 1973 to save the endangered tiger population, which had dwindled to 1,827 from an estimated 55,000. It aimed not only to protect tigers but also to preserve biotypes of sizeable magnitude. Tiger reserves like Corbett, Sunderbans, Bandhavgarh, Sariska, Manas and Periyar were established under this project.
How have communities conserved forests and wildlife in India?
Communities have conserved forests through movements like Chipko, which resisted deforestation, and by declaring protected areas like the Bhairodev Dakav 'Sonchuri' in Rajasthan. Sacred groves are preserved through nature worship. Joint forest management involves local communities in restoring degraded forests, and farmers' groups promote eco-friendly farming.
What are sacred groves?
Sacred groves are virgin forests in pristine form, protected by local communities through nature worship. They are patches of forest left untouched, with any interference banned. Examples include forests dedicated to gods and goddesses, and trees like mahua, kadamba, tamarind, mango, peepal and banyan that are considered sacred.