Class 10 : Social Science (In English) – Lesson 7. Forest and Wildlife Resources
EXPLANATION & SUMMARY
🌍 Importance of Forests and Wildlife
🌲 Forests are the lungs of the Earth, absorbing CO₂ and producing O₂.
🐅 Wildlife maintains the food chain balance ensuring ecological stability.
🧪 They provide timber, medicines, fruits, fuelwood, fodder, and raw materials for industries.
💧 Forests help in soil conservation, water recharge, climate regulation.
🎭 Cultural, religious and spiritual values: peacock (national bird), cow (sacred), elephant (worshipped).
⚠️ Causes of Depletion
🚜 Agricultural expansion cleared forests for crops.
🏗️ Industrialisation & urbanisation through mining, dams, and factories.
🔥 Forest fires both natural and man-made.
👥 Population growth leading to more demand for land and wood.
🪓 Overexploitation by timber mafia, fuel collection, and overgrazing.
🌾 Shifting cultivation (jhum) in northeast causing deforestation.
📊 Result: Loss of species such as Asiatic cheetah and pink-headed duck, with many others endangered.
📖 Legal and Institutional Measures
📜 Indian Forest Act (1927): Divided forests into reserved, protected, and unclassed categories.
🦉 Wildlife Protection Act (1972): Banned hunting, created sanctuaries, national parks, and biosphere reserves.
🗺️ National Forest Policy (1988): Emphasised conservation with community participation.
🌐 International cooperation through IUCN, WWF, CBD.
🌳 Classification of Forests
🟢 Reserved Forests – strict protection, no human activity allowed.
🟡 Protected Forests – controlled activities under regulation.
🟠 Unclassed Forests – community or local ownership, esp. in northeast.
🦁 India’s Biodiversity Richness
🌺 Over 47,000 plant species and 90,000 animal species.
🐘 From elephants in tropical forests → camels in deserts → snow leopards in Himalayas → corals in coastal waters.
🌊 Marine biodiversity includes dolphins, crocodiles, turtles, and fishes.
🦉 Conservation Projects
🐯 Project Tiger (1973): Established tiger reserves like Corbett, Kanha, Sundarbans.
🦏 Project Rhino: One-horned rhino recovery in Assam’s Kaziranga.
🦁 Gir Lion Project: Saved Asiatic lions in Gujarat.
🦅 Eco-development projects linking conservation with local development.
👩🌾 Role of People and Communities
🌳 Chipko Movement (1970s): Villagers hugged trees to stop felling.
🪔 Sacred Groves: Forest patches preserved due to religious faith in Meghalaya, Himachal, MP.
👥 Joint Forest Management (JFM, 1980s): Government + villagers jointly manage and share benefits.
🛡️ Tribal practices respected seasonal hunting bans and avoided overexploitation.
🐾 Threatened Species in India
❌ Extinct: Asiatic cheetah, pink-headed duck.
🟥 Critically Endangered: Great Indian bustard, Gangetic dolphin.
🟧 Endangered: Snow leopard, lion-tailed macaque.
🟨 Vulnerable: One-horned rhinoceros, Asiatic lion.
🟩 Least Concern: Deer, monkeys, jackals.
🌏 Challenges and Future Steps
⚔️ Conflict between development needs vs. conservation priorities.
🌐 Climate change intensifying deforestation and biodiversity loss.
📚 Need for environmental awareness in schools and media.
🤝 Community participation and global partnerships for long-term success.
🌱 Sustainable practices and eco-friendly technologies as the way forward.
📝 Summary
Forests and wildlife are crucial renewable resources that sustain life on Earth by providing oxygen, regulating climate, conserving soil, and maintaining biodiversity. India, with immense diversity in flora and fauna, faces depletion due to agriculture, industrialisation, shifting cultivation, and population pressure.
Legal measures like the Indian Forest Act (1927), Wildlife Protection Act (1972), and National Forest Policy (1988) have been instrumental in forest and species protection. Classification into reserved, protected, and unclassed forests ensures regulation, while conservation projects like Project Tiger and Project Rhino have revived threatened species.
Community participation has played a major role, with the Chipko Movement, sacred groves, and Joint Forest Management setting examples. Yet, challenges remain with climate change, overexploitation, and developmental pressures. The future of conservation lies in sustainable use, awareness, and cooperation between government, communities, and international organisations.
⚡ Quick Recap
🌲 Forests = lungs of the Earth, wildlife = ecological balance.
🚜 Main threats: agriculture, industries, fires, shifting cultivation.
📜 Laws: Indian Forest Act (1927), Wildlife Protection Act (1972).
🟢 Forest types: reserved, protected, unclassed.
🐅 Projects: Tiger, Rhino, Gir Lion.
👩🌾 People’s role: Chipko, sacred groves, JFM.
❌ Extinct species: Asiatic cheetah, pink-headed duck.
✅ Way forward: sustainable use + awareness + global cooperation.
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QUESTIONS FROM TEXTBOOK
Question 1. Multiple choice questions
(i) 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:
✅ The correct option is (d) Demarcation of Wildlife sanctuaries.
🟢 Joint forest management = direct participation of people.
🟢 Beej Bachao Andolan = farmers saving indigenous seeds.
🟢 Chipko Movement = villagers hugging trees to prevent felling.
🔴 Demarcation of wildlife sanctuaries = government-led step, no community involvement.
Question 2. Match the following.
Reserved forests → Forest lands are protected from any further depletion.
Protected forests → Forests are regarded as most valuable as far as the conservation of forest and wildlife resources.
Unclassed forests → Other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private individuals and communities.
Answer:
🟢 Reserved forests → Protected from further depletion.
🟡 Protected forests → Regarded as most valuable for conservation.
🟠 Unclassed forests → Belonging to govt., private individuals, and communities.
Question 3. Answer the following questions in about 30 words.
(i) What is biodiversity? Why is biodiversity important for human lives?
Answer:
🌱 Biodiversity refers to the variety of plant and animal species in an ecosystem.
🌍 It ensures ecological balance, provides oxygen, food, medicines, raw materials, supports pollination, soil fertility, and maintains the life-support system for humans.
(ii) How have human activities affected the depletion of flora and fauna? Explain.
Answer:
🚜 Agricultural expansion cleared forests.
🏗️ Mining, industries, dams, and urbanisation destroyed habitats.
🪓 Overexploitation of timber, fuelwood, and hunting reduced species.
🌾 Shifting cultivation and grazing damaged ecosystems.
🔥 Forest fires and pollution further accelerated depletion.
Question 4. Answer the following questions in about 120 words.
(i) Describe how communities have conserved and protected forests and wildlife in India.
Answer:
🌳 Chipko Movement (1970s, Uttarakhand): Villagers hugged trees to stop commercial logging.
🪔 Sacred Groves: Communities in Meghalaya, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh preserved forests due to religious beliefs.
👥 Joint Forest Management (JFM, 1980s): Government shared forest management with villagers, giving them forest produce benefits.
🛡️ Tribal traditions: Many tribes protect species by observing seasonal hunting restrictions and treating trees as sacred.
🐅 Local resistance: Communities oppose destructive projects (like large dams or mining) to save biodiversity.
👉 These practices highlight people’s role as active guardians of nature.
(ii) Write a note on good practices towards conserving forest and wildlife.
Answer:
🌲 Afforestation and reforestation on degraded land.
🚫 Banning hunting and poaching of endangered species.
🏞️ Establishment of national parks, sanctuaries, and biosphere reserves.
🌱 Promotion of organic farming and sustainable agriculture.
♻️ Encouraging recycling and reduced use of wood-based products.
👩🏫 Awareness campaigns and eco-clubs in schools.
👨👩👧 Community participation in conservation programmes like JFM.
🌍 Following global treaties (CBD, IUCN) and national projects like Project Tiger.
👉 Such practices ensure ecological balance, species survival, and sustainability for future generations.
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OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS FOR EXAMS
🔵 Q1. Which Act provides the main legal framework for wildlife protection in India?
🟡 Options:
(A) Forest Conservation Act, 1980
(B) Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
(C) Environment Protection Act, 1986
(D) Biodiversity Act, 2002
🟢 Answer: (B) Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
🌍 Q2. Which movement involved villagers hugging trees to stop felling?
🟡 Options:
(A) Appiko Movement
(B) Narmada Bachao Andolan
(C) Chipko Movement
(D) Beej Bachao Andolan
🟢 Answer: (C) Chipko Movement
🌱 Q3. Forests help prevent floods mainly because they:
🟡 Options:
(A) Add salt to soil
(B) Bind soil and allow infiltration
(C) Reflect sunlight
(D) Reduce biodiversity
🟢 Answer: (B) Bind soil and allow infiltration
🦁 Q4. Which is not a community-based conservation initiative?
🟡 Options:
(A) Joint Forest Management
(B) Beej Bachao Andolan
(C) Chipko Movement
(D) Demarcation of sanctuaries
🟢 Answer: (D) Demarcation of sanctuaries
🗺️ Q5. Unclassed forests are found mostly in:
🟡 Options:
(A) Western Ghats
(B) Thar Desert
(C) North-Eastern states
(D) Coastal Odisha
🟢 Answer: (C) North-Eastern states
🐯 Q6. The main aim of Project Tiger is:
🟡 Options:
(A) Increase lion population
(B) Protect tiger and its habitat
(C) Expand timber production
(D) Encourage shifting cultivation
🟢 Answer: (B) Protect tiger and its habitat
🌳 Q7. Forest patches protected due to religious faith are called:
🟡 Options:
(A) Sacred groves
(B) Social forests
(C) Shelterbelts
(D) Woodlots
🟢 Answer: (A) Sacred groves
🐦 Q8. Which category faces the highest extinction risk?
🟡 Options:
(A) Vulnerable
(B) Near Threatened
(C) Critically Endangered
(D) Least Concern
🟢 Answer: (C) Critically Endangered
🔥 Q9. Which is a natural cause of forest loss?
🟡 Options:
(A) Mining
(B) Illegal logging
(C) Overgrazing
(D) Forest fire by lightning
🟢 Answer: (D) Forest fire by lightning
👥 Q10. Joint Forest Management (JFM) involves:
🟡 Options:
(A) Private companies only
(B) People + Forest Department partnership
(C) Only wildlife tourism
(D) Only NGOs
🟢 Answer: (B) People + Forest Department partnership
🌲 Q11. Which forest category is most protected by law?
🟡 Options:
(A) Reserved
(B) Protected
(C) Unclassed
(D) Village forests
🟢 Answer: (A) Reserved
🕊️ Q12. Which species is extinct in India?
🟡 Options:
(A) Asiatic Lion
(B) One-horned Rhinoceros
(C) Asiatic Cheetah
(D) Indian Elephant
🟢 Answer: (C) Asiatic Cheetah
📊 Q13. Which is an economic benefit of forests?
🟡 Options:
(A) Soil erosion
(B) Medicinal plants & timber
(C) Urbanisation
(D) Road building
🟢 Answer: (B) Medicinal plants & timber
👩🌾 Q14. Which group is known for protecting wildlife in Rajasthan?
🟡 Options:
(A) Bishnois
(B) Bhils
(C) Santhals
(D) Todas
🟢 Answer: (A) Bishnois
🌿 Q15. Which Indian state has the largest area of reserved forests?
🟡 Options:
(A) Madhya Pradesh
(B) Kerala
(C) Gujarat
(D) Assam
🟢 Answer: (A) Madhya Pradesh
🏞️ Q16. Which national park is famous for Asiatic Lions?
🟡 Options:
(A) Corbett
(B) Kanha
(C) Gir
(D) Kaziranga
🟢 Answer: (C) Gir
🐘 Q17. Which Indian project focused on conserving the one-horned rhinoceros?
🟡 Options:
(A) Project Tiger
(B) Project Rhino
(C) Project Elephant
(D) Project Crocodile
🟢 Answer: (B) Project Rhino
🌏 Q18. Which international organisation publishes the Red Data Book of threatened species?
🟡 Options:
(A) UNESCO
(B) WWF
(C) IUCN
(D) UNEP
🟢 Answer: (C) IUCN
📖 Q19. Which Act classifies Indian forests into reserved, protected, and unclassed?
🟡 Options:
(A) Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
(B) Indian Forest Act, 1927
(C) Forest Rights Act, 2006
(D) Environment Protection Act, 1986
🟢 Answer: (B) Indian Forest Act, 1927
🔵 Q20. Mention two reasons for the decline of India’s biodiversity.
🟢 Answer:
🚜 Agricultural expansion and deforestation.
🏭 Mining, industries, and urbanisation leading to habitat loss.
🔵 Q21. What are sacred groves? Give one example.
🟢 Answer:
🌳 Forest patches preserved due to religious beliefs.
🪔 Example: Khasi and Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya.
🔵 Q22. Name two international efforts for biodiversity conservation.
🟢 Answer:
🌍 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
🐼 World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
🔵 Q23. Write two traditional practices of communities in protecting forests.
🟢 Answer:
🪔 Bishnois protect blackbuck and trees in Rajasthan.
👩🌾 Tribes of Meghalaya maintain sacred groves.
🌟 SECTION C — Short Answer (3 marks each)
🔵 Q24. How do forests help in climate regulation?
🟢 Answer:
⛅ Absorb CO₂ and release O₂, mitigating global warming.
💧 Maintain rainfall pattern through evapotranspiration.
🌡️ Control local temperature and humidity.
🔵 Q25. Explain three benefits of Joint Forest Management (JFM).
🟢 Answer:
👥 Brings villagers and government together.
🌾 Provides villagers with fuelwood and fodder.
🌱 Improves forest protection and regeneration.
🔵 Q26. List any three factors responsible for forest degradation.
🟢 Answer:
🪓 Overexploitation of timber.
🔥 Forest fires.
🚜 Shifting cultivation and grazing.
🔵 Q27. How has Chipko Movement contributed to conservation?
🟢 Answer:
🌲 Villagers hugged trees to prevent felling in Uttarakhand.
👩🌾 Women played key role in saving forests.
✊ Inspired similar movements across India.
🔵 Q28. Mention three wildlife projects launched in India.
🟢 Answer:
🐯 Project Tiger.
🦏 Project Rhino.
🐘 Project Elephant.
🌟 SECTION D — Long Answer (5 marks each)
🔵 Q29. “Forests are essential for ecological balance.” Justify with five points.
🟢 Answer:
🌍 Absorb carbon dioxide, reduce global warming.
💧 Prevent floods and conserve water.
🌾 Provide food, timber, and medicines.
🐝 Support biodiversity and pollination.
🧱 Prevent soil erosion and landslides.
🔵 Q30. Explain the classification of forests in India.
🟢 Answer:
🟢 Reserved forests: Most protected, 50% share.
🟡 Protected forests: Limited activities allowed, 30%.
🟠 Unclassed forests: Community or private ownership, 20%.
👉 This classification ensures proper conservation and management.
🔵 Q31. Explain five community-led initiatives that helped conserve forests and wildlife.
🟢 Answer:
🌲 Chipko Movement.
🌳 Appiko Movement in Karnataka.
🪔 Sacred groves in Meghalaya & Himachal Pradesh.
👥 Joint Forest Management (JFM).
🐾 Bishnoi tradition of protecting wildlife in Rajasthan.
🔵 Q32. Suggest five measures for sustainable use of forest resources.
🟢 Answer:
🌱 Afforestation and reforestation.
♻️ Reduce, reuse, recycle wood-based products.
🚫 Ban on hunting and poaching.
👩🏫 Environmental education and awareness.
🌍 International cooperation and eco-development projects.
🌟 SECTION E — Case/Source-Based (4 marks each)
🔵 Q33. Case: A community resists mining in a forest area.
(i) Which principle of conservation is shown? (1)
(ii) Why did they resist? (1)
(iii) Suggest two alternatives to mining. (2)
🟢 Answer:
(i) 👥 Community participation in conservation.
(ii) 🌲 Mining destroys forests and displaces people.
(iii) ♻️ Sustainable livelihoods, eco-tourism.
🔵 Q34. Case: A district report shows decline of tigers despite a reserve.
(i) Which project aims to protect tigers? (1)
(ii) Give one reason for decline. (1)
(iii) Suggest two steps to strengthen the project. (2)
🟢 Answer:
(i) 🐯 Project Tiger.
(ii) 🪓 Poaching and habitat loss.
(iii) 👮 Stricter anti-poaching laws, 🏞️ habitat improvement.
🔵 Q35. Source: “Sacred forests preserved in Meghalaya.”
(i) What are they called? (1)
(ii) Which value do they reflect? (1)
(iii) Give two ecological benefits. (2)
🟢 Answer:
(i) 🪔 Sacred groves.
(ii) 🌍 Respect for nature.
(iii) 🐝 Refuges for biodiversity, 💧 conserve soil and water.
🌟 SECTION F — Map/Skill-Based (5 marks)
🔵 Q36. On an outline map of India, mark and label any four:
🐯 Corbett Tiger Reserve (Uttarakhand)
🦁 Gir National Park (Gujarat)
🦏 Kaziranga National Park (Assam)
🐘 Simlipal Wildlife Sanctuary (Odisha)
🪔 Khasi Hills sacred groves (Meghalaya)
🔵 Q37. For visually impaired candidates: Write any four locations of protected areas in India.
🟢 Answer:
Corbett Tiger Reserve (Uttarakhand)
Gir National Park (Gujarat)
Kaziranga National Park (Assam)
Simlipal Wildlife Sanctuary (Odisha)
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ONE PAGE REVISION SHEET
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MISCONCEPTIONS “ALERTS”
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MIND MAPS
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