Geography PDF - Important Terms & Biodiversity

Important Terms Biodiversity: Rich and varied plant and animal species that exist in a particular area. Ecosystem: Interrelationship between all the plants and animals in a given area. Vulnerable Species: Species which are rapidly declining and are likely to become endangered in the near future. e...

Important Terms Biodiversity: Rich and varied plant and animal species that exist in a particular area. Ecosystem: Interrelationship between all the plants and animals in a given area. Vulnerable Species: Species which are rapidly declining and are likely to become endangered in the near future. e.g., Blue sheep, Asiatic elephant. Endemic Species: Species which are confined to certain areas, isolated by natural or geographical barriers. Extinct Species: Species which are not found on the earth. e.g., Asiatic cheetah, Pink head duck. Flora: Natural vegetation cover consisting of forests, grasslands and shrubs. Fauna: Animals found on the earth in natural environment. Reserved Forests: Forests meant for conservation of timber and other forest products. Protected Forests: Forest area which is protected from depletion. Unclassed Forests: Forests and wastelands that is common to government, private individuals and communities. Importance Of Forest For Human Being ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: ​ It supports a variety of Industries. ​ It provide livelihood for many communities. ECOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE: ​ Improve the quality of environment. ​ Modify local climate, controls soil erosion. ​ Regulate stream flow, provide fertility to the soil. ​ Provide environmental stability and maintain ecological balance. Today, environmental stability and maintenance of ecological balance are more important than the direct economic benefit. FLORA AND FAUNA IN INDIA: India is one of the world's richest countries in terms of its vast array of biological diversity, and has nearly 8 per cent of the total number of species in the world (estimated to be 1. 6 million). This is possibly twice or thrice the number yet to be discovered. These diverse flora and fauna are under great stress mainly due to insensitivity to our environment. At least 10 percent of India's recorded wild flora and 20 per cent of its mammals are on the threatened list. Many of these would now be categorized as critical that is on the verge of extinction like the cheetah, pink-headed duck, mountain quail, forest spotted owlet, and plants like madhuca insignis (a wild variety of mahua) and hubbardia heptaneuron, (a specie of grass). Over 81, 000 species of fauna and 47, 000 species of flora are found in this country so far. Fauna or Animal Life More than 81,000 species Flora or Plant Life More than 47,000 species Indigenous Flowering Plants About 15,000 species Endangered Wild Flora About 10% Endangered Mammals About 20% Vanishing Forests The dimensions of deforestation in India are staggering. The forest cover in the country is estimated at 0pt7,293 sq km, which is 19.39 per cent of the total geographical area. (dense forest 11.48 per cent open forest 7.76 per cent and mangrove 0.15 per cent). According to the State of Forest Report (1999), the dense forest cover has increased by 10,098 sq km since 1997. However, this apparent increase in the forest cover is due to plantation by different agencies. The State of Forest Report does not differentiate between natural forests and plantations. Therefore, these reports fail to deliver. List of Critically Endangered Species: Cheetah, pink-headed Duck, Mountain Quail, Forest Spotted Owl, madhucha insignis (wild mahua), hubbardia heptaneuron (a grass species) CLASSIFICATION BASED ON THE INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES (IUCN): Normal Species: Species whose population levels are considered to be normal for their survival, such as cattle, sal, pine, rodents, etc. Endangered Species: These are species which are in danger of extinction. The survival of such species is difficult if the negative factors that have led to a decline in their population continue to operate. The examples of such species are black buck, crocodile, Indian wild ass, Indian rhino, lion tailed macaque, sangai (brow anter deer in Manipur), etc. Vulnerable Species: These are species whose population has declined to levels from where it is likely to move into the endangered category in the near future if the negative factors continue to operate. The examples of such species are blue sheep, Asiatic elephant, Gangetic dolphin, etc. Rare Species: Species with small population may move into the endangered or vulnerable category if the negative factors affecting them continue to operate. The examples of such species are the Himalayan brown bear, wild Asiatic buffalo, desert fox and hornbill, etc. Endemic Species: These are species which are only found in some particular areas usually isolated by natural or geographical barriers. Examples of such species are the Andaman teal, Nicobar pigeon, Andaman wild pig, mithun in Arunchal Pradesh. Extinct Species: These are species which are not found after searches of known or likely areas where they may occur. A species may be extinct from a local area, region, country, continent or the entire earth. Examples of such species are the Asiatic cheetah, pink head duck. Number of Endangered Species: 79 species of mammals, 44 of birds, 15 of reptiles, and 3 of amphibians, 1,500 plant species are considered endangered. Vanishing Forests: Forest cover 0pt7,293 sq km, which is 19.39% of the total geographical area. Dense forest: 11.48% Open forest: 7.76% Mangrove: 0.15% Causes Of Depletion Of Flora And Fauna Forest And Wildlife Resources of Class 10 Causes Of Depletion Of Flora And Fauna Agricultural Expansion: Between 1951 and 1980, according to the Forest Survey of India, over 26,200 sq. km. of forest area was converted into agricultural land all over India. Substantial parts of the tribal belts, especially in the northeastern and central India, have been deforested or degraded by shifting cultivation (jhum), a type of ‘slash and burn’ agriculture. Enrichment Plantation: Promotion of a few favoured species, in many parts of India, has been carried through the ironically-termed “enrichment plantation”, in which a single commercially valuable species was extensively planted and other species eliminated. Development Projects: Large-scale development projects have also contributed significantly to the loss of forests. Since 1951, over 5,000 sq km of forest was cleared for river valley projects. Clearing of forests is still continuing with projects like the Narmada Sagar Project in Madhya Pradesh, which would inundate 40,000 hectares of forest. Mining: The Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal is seriously threatened by the ongoing dolomite mining. It has disturbed the natural habitat of many species and blocked the migration route of several others, including the great Indian elephant. Unequal Access to Resources: The richest five per cent of Indian society probably cause more ecological damage because of the amount they consume than the poorest 25 per cent. The former shares minimum responsibilities for environmental well-being. SOCIAL EFFECT OF RESOURCE DEPLETION: In many societies, women bear the major responsibility of collection of fuel, fodder, water and other basic subsistence needs. As these resources are depleted, the drudgery of women increases and sometimes they have to walk for more than 10 km to collect these resources. This causes serious health problems for women and negligence of home and children because of the increased hours of work, which often has serious social implications. The indirect impact of degradation such as severe drought or deforestation-induced floods, etc. also hits the poor the hardest. Poverty in these cases is a direct outcome of environmental destruction. The destruction of forests and wildlife is not just a biological issue. The biological loss is strongly correlated with the loss of cultural diversity. Such losses have increasingly marginalised and impoverished many indigenous and other forest-dependent communities, who directly depend on various components of the forest and wildlife for food, drink, medicine, culture, spirituality, etc. CONSERVATION OF FOREST AND WILDLIFE IN INDIA: Conservation in the background of rapid decline in wildlife population and forestry has become essential. Conservation preserves the ecological diversity and our life support systems - water, air and soil. It also preserves the genetic diversity of plants and animals for better growth of species and breeding. ​ In the 1960s and 1970s, conservationists demanded a national wildlife protection programme. The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act was implemented in 1972, with various provisions for protecting habitats. An all India list of protected species was also published. ​ Central and many state governments have established national parks and wildlife sanctuaries and several projects for protecting specific animals, the tiger, the one-horned rhinoceros, the Kashmir stag, hangul, three types of crocodiles - fresh water crocodile, saltwater crocodile and the Gharial, the Asiatic lion, and others. Most recently the Indian elephant, black buck (chinkara), the great Indian bustard (godawan) and the snow leopard, etc. have been given full or partial legal protection against hunting and trade throughout India. ​ In the notification under Wildlife Act of 1980 and 1986, several hundred butterflies, moths, beetles, and one dragonfly have been added to the list of protected species. In 1991, for the first time plants were also added to the list, starting with six species. ​ "Project Tiger", one of the well-published wildlife campaigns in the world, was launched in 1973. There are 27 tiger reserves in India covering an area of 37,761 sq.km. Types And Distribution Of Forest Forest And Wildlife Resources of Class 10 TYPES OF FORESTS IN INDIA: Reserved Forests: Permanently earmarked either to production of timber or other forest produce, right of grazing and cultivation is seldom allowed, covers 0pt.4% of total forest area. More than half of the total forests are regarded as the most valuable, as far as the conservation of forest and wildlife resources are concerned. Protected Forests: Right of grazing and cultivation is allowed, subject to a few minor restrictions, covers 29% of the total forest area, almost one third of the total forest area is protected forest as declared by the Forest Department. This forest land is protected from any further depletion. Unclassed Forests: Consists largely of inaccessible forests or unoccupied wastes, covers 16% of the total forest area, forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private individuals and communities. NEW TRENDS IN CONSERVATION POLICY: Increase Biodiversity: The conservation projects are now focusing on biodiversity rather than on a few of its components. There is now a more intensive search for different conservation measures. Increasingly, even insects are beginning to find a place in conservation planning. In the notification under Wildlife Act of 1980 and 1986, several hundred butterflies, moths, beetles, and one dragonfly have been added to the list of protected species. In 1991, for the first time plants were also added to the list, starting with six species. Community and Conservation: ​ In some areas of India, local communities are struggling to conserve these habitats along with government officials, recognising that only this will secure their own long-term livelihood. ​ In Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, villagers have fought against mining by citing the Wildlife Protection Act. In many areas, villagers themselves are protecting habitats and explicitly rejecting government involvement. The inhabitants of five villages in the Alwar district of Rajasthan have declared 1,200 hectares of forest as the Bhairodev Dakav ‘Sonchuri’, declaring their own set of rules and regulations which do not allow hunting, and are protecting the wildlife against any outside encroachments. ​ Nature worship is an age old tribal belief based on the premise that all creations of nature have to be protected. Such beliefs have preserved several virgin forests in pristine form called Sacred Groves (the forests of God and Goddesses). These patches of forest or parts of large forests have been left untouched by the local people and any interference with them is banned. Certain societies reserve a particular tree which they have preserved from time immemorial. ​ The Mundas and the Santhal of Chhota Nagpur region worship mahua (Bassia latifolia) and kadamba (Anthocaphalus cadamba) trees, and the tribals of Orissa and Bihar worship the tamarind (Tamarindus indica) and mango (Mangifera indica) trees during weddings. To many of us, peepal and banyan trees are considered sacred. ​ Indian society comprises several cultures, each with its own set of traditional methods of conserving nature and its creations. Sacred qualities are often ascribed to springs, mountain peaks, plants and animals which are closely protected. You will find troops of macaques and langurs around many temples. They are fed daily and treated as a part of temple devotees. In and around  Bishnoi villages in Rajasthan, herds of blackbuck, (chinkara), nilgai and peacocks can be seen as an integral part of the community and nobody harms them. ​ The famous Chipko movement in the Himalayas has not only successfully resisted deforestation in several areas but has also shown that community afforestation with indigenous species can be enormously successful. ​ Farmers and citizen’s groups like the Beej Bachao Andolan in Tehri and Navdanya have shown that adequate levels of diversified crop production without the use of synthetic chemicals are possible and economically viable. ​ In India joint forest management (JFM) programme furnishes a good example for involving local communities in the management and restoration of degraded forests. The programme has been in formal existence since 1988 when the state of Orissa passed the first resolution for joint forest management. JFM depends on the formation of local (village) institutions that undertake protection activities mostly on degraded forest land managed by the forest department. In return, the members of these communities are entitled to intermediary benefits like non-timber forest produces and share in the timber harvested by ‘successful protection’. ​ The clear lesson from the dynamics of both environmental destruction and reconstruction in India is that local communities everywhere have to be involved in some kind of natural resource management. But there is still a long way to go before local communities are at the centre-stage in decision-making. Accept only those economic or developmental activities, that are people centric, environment-friendly and economically rewarding. Project Tiger: In 1973, the tiger population had dwindled to 1,827 from an estimated 55,000 at the turn of the century. Threats for Tiger Population: ​ Poaching for trade, ​ Shrinking habitat, ​ depletion of prey base species ​ growing human population etc. “Project Tiger”, one of the well publicized wildlife campaigns in the world, was launched in 1973 Success Rate: Tiger Population: 19854,002 19894,334 19933,600 Important Tiger Reserves: ​ Corbett national Park in Uttranchal ​ Sunderbans National Park in West Bengal ​ Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh ​ Sariska Wildlife sanctuary in Rajasthan ​ Manas Tiger reserve in Assam ​ Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala JOINT FOREST MANAGEMENT: ​ In India joint forest management (JFM) programme furnishes a good example for involving local communities in the management and restoration of degraded forests. ​ The programme has been in formal existence since 1988 when the state of Orissa passed the first resolution for joint forest management JFM depends on the formation of local (village) institutions that undertake protection activities mostly on degraded forest land managed by the forest department. ​ In return, the members of these communities are entitled to intermediary benefits like non-timber forest produces and share in the timber harvested by 'successful protection'. ​