Forest Conservation in India

Forest Conservation in India

Importance of Forests

• Cover 21.67% of India's geographical area (as of 2019)
• Support 27% of India's population directly or indirectly
• Provide 28% of the country's oxygen
• Absorb 11% of the country's carbon dioxide
• Home to 8% of the world's biodiversity

Forest Types in India

• Tropical rainforests (Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands)
• Deciduous forests (Central India, Eastern India, and Northern India)
• Temperate forests (Himalayan region)
• Alpine forests (Himalayan region above 3,500 meters)

Forest Conservation Efforts

• National Forest Policy (1988) aims to increase forest cover to 33% of the country's area
• Joint Forest Management (JFM) involves local communities in forest management
• Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act (2016) provides funding for afforestation and reforestation
• Green India Mission aims to increase forest cover by 5 million hectares by 2020

Wildlife Conservation in India

Wildlife Conservation Efforts

• Wildlife Protection Act (1972) prohibits hunting and trade of endangered species
• Project Tiger (1973) aims to conserve tiger habitats and populations
• Project Elephant (1992) aims to conserve elephant habitats and populations
• National Wildlife Conservation Board advises the government on wildlife conservation
• Wildlife Institute of India provides training and research in wildlife conservation

Protected Areas in India

• National Parks: 103 (as of 2019)
• Wildlife Sanctuaries: 537 (as of 2019)
• Conservation Reserves: 218 (as of 2019)
• Community Reserves: 65 (as of 2019)

Threats to Forest and Wildlife Conservation

• Deforestation and habitat fragmentation
• Human-wildlife conflict
• Poaching and wildlife trafficking
• Climate change
• Mining and infrastructure development

Forest Conservation in India

Importance of Forests

• Forests cover 21.67% of India's geographical area
• 27% of India's population depends directly or indirectly on forests
• Forests provide 28% of the country's oxygen
• They absorb 11% of the country's carbon dioxide
• India's forests are home to 8% of the world's biodiversity

Forest Types in India

• Tropical rainforests are found in Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands
• Deciduous forests are found in Central India, Eastern India, and Northern India
• Temperate forests are found in the Himalayan region
• Alpine forests are found in the Himalayan region above 3,500 meters

Forest Conservation Efforts

• The National Forest Policy aims to increase forest cover to 33% of the country's area
• Joint Forest Management involves local communities in forest management
• The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act provides funding for afforestation and reforestation
• The Green India Mission aims to increase forest cover by 5 million hectares by 2020

Wildlife Conservation in India

Wildlife Conservation Efforts

• The Wildlife Protection Act prohibits hunting and trade of endangered species
• Project Tiger aims to conserve tiger habitats and populations
• Project Elephant aims to conserve elephant habitats and populations
• The National Wildlife Conservation Board advises the government on wildlife conservation
• The Wildlife Institute of India provides training and research in wildlife conservation

Protected Areas in India

• There are 103 national parks in India
• There are 537 wildlife sanctuaries in India
• There are 218 conservation reserves in India
• There are 65 community reserves in India

Threats to Forest and Wildlife Conservation

• Deforestation and habitat fragmentation threaten forests and wildlife
• Human-wildlife conflict is a major threat
• Poaching and wildlife trafficking are significant threats
• Climate change affects forests and wildlife
• Mining and infrastructure development threaten forests and wildlife

Project Tiger

Introduction

• Launched in 1973 to conserve the tiger population and its habitat in India
• A flagship program of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Objectives

• Ensure the survival and maintenance of a viable tiger population in India
• Preserve the ecosystem and biodiversity of tiger habitats
• Reduce human-tiger conflict and promote coexistence

Features

• Established nine tiger reserves covering over 15,000 sq.km
• Implements habitat management, anti-poaching, and human-tiger conflict mitigation measures
• Involves local communities in conservation efforts through eco-development programs
• Monitors and researches tiger populations using camera traps, DNA analysis, and other methods

Achievements

• Increased tiger population in India from 1,400 in 2006 to 2,967 in 2018
• Habitat protection and restoration efforts led to the recovery of degraded forests
• Reduced human-tiger conflict through village relocation and creation of buffer zones
• Community-based eco-tourism generated income and employment opportunities for local people

Challenges

• Habitat fragmentation and degradation due to infrastructure development and agricultural expansion
• Poaching and human-tiger conflict threaten tiger populations
• Climate change and changing prey dynamics may impact tiger populations in the long term
• Funding and resource constraints hinder effective implementation of conservation efforts

Learn about the importance of forests in India, including their coverage, population support, and role in oxygen production and carbon dioxide absorption. Explore the different types of forests in India, including tropical rainforests and deciduous forests.