Forest and Wildlife Resources PDF

Flora and Fauna in India Narak! My Lord, you are the creator of music If you look around, you will be able to find in the world of Lepchas that there are some animals and plants which Oh Narak! My Lord, let me dedicate are unique in your area. I...

Flora and Fauna in India Narak! My Lord, you are the creator of music If you look around, you will be able to find in the world of Lepchas that there are some animals and plants which Oh Narak! My Lord, let me dedicate are unique in your area. In fact, India is one myself to you of the world’s richest countries in terms of Let me gather your music from the its vast array of biological diversity, and has springs, the rivers, the mountains, the forests, nearly 8 per cent of the total number of the insects and the animals species in the world (estimated to be 1.6 Let me gather your music from the sweet million). This is possibly twice or thrice the breeze and offer it to you number yet to be discovered. You have already studied in detail about the extent Source: Lepcha folk song from northern part of and variety of forest and wildlife resources West Bengal in India. Yo u m a y h a v e realised the importance of these resources in our daily life. These diverse flora and fauna are so We share this planet with millions of other well integrated in our daily life that we take living beings, starting from micro-organisms these for granted. But, lately, they are under and bacteria, lichens to banyan trees, great stress mainy due to insensitivity to elephants and blue whales. This entire our environment. habitat that we live in has immense biodiversity. We humans along with all living organisms form a complex web of ecological Over 81,000 species of fauna and 47,000 system in which we are only a part and very species of flora are found in this country much dependent on this system for our own so far? Of the estimated 47,000 plant existence. For example, the plants, animals species, about 15,000 flowering species and micro-organisms re-create the quality of are endemic (indigenous) to India. the air we breathe, the water we drink and the soil that produces our food without which we cannot survive. Forests play a key role in Find out stories prevalent in your region the ecological system as these are also the which are about the harmonious relationship primary producers on which all other living between human beings and nature. beings depend. Some estimates suggest that at least 10 per cent of India’s recorded wild flora and Biodiversity or Biological Diversity is 20 per cent of its mammals are on the immensely rich in wildlife and cultivated threatened list. Many of these would now be species, diverse in form and function but categorised as ‘critical’, that is on the verge closely integrated in a system through of extinction like the cheetah, pink-headed multiple network of interdependencies. duck, mountain quail, forest spotted owlet, and plants like madhuca insignis (a wild 2015-16 variety of mahua) and h u b b a r d i a Let us now understand the different heptaneuron,(a species of grass). In fact, no categories of existing plants and animal one can say how many species may have species. Based on the International Union already been lost. Today, we only talk of the for Conservation of Nature and Natural larger and more visible animals and plants Resources (IUCN), we can classify as that have become extinct but what about follows – smaller animals like insects and plants? Normal Species: Species whose population levels are considered to be normal for their survival, such as cattle, sal, pine, Do you know that among the larger rodents, etc. animals in India, 79 species of mammals, Endangered Species: These are species 44 of birds, 15 of reptiles, and 3 of which are in danger of extinction. The amphibians are threatened? Nearly 1,500 survival of such species is difficult if the plant species are considered endangered. negative factors that have led to a decline in Flowering plants and vertebrate animals their population continue to operate. The have recently become extinct at a rate examples of such species are black buck, estimated to be 50 to 100 times the crocodile, Indian wild ass, Indian rhino, lion average expected natural rate. tailed macaque, sangai (brow anter deer in Manipur), etc. Vulnerable Species: These are species Vanishing Forests whose population has declined to levels from The dimensions of deforestation in India are where it is likely to move into the endangered staggering. The forest and tree cover in the category in the near future if the negative country is estimated at 78.92 million hectare, factors continue to operate. The examples of which is 24.01 per cent of the total such species are blue sheep, Asiatic elephant, geographical area (dense forest 12.24 per Gangetic dolphin, etc. cent; open forest 8.99 per cent; and mangrove 0.14 per cent). According to the R a r e S p e c i e s : Species with small State of Forest Report (2013), the dense forest population may move into the endangered cover has increased by 10,098 sq km since or vulnerable category if the negative factors 1997. However, this apparent increase in the affecting them continue to operate. The forest cover is due to plantation by different examples of such species are the Himalayan agencies. 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 Fig. 2.1 cheetah, pink head duck. FOREST AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES 15 2015-16  Fig. 2.2: A few extinct, rare and endangered species Asiatic Cheetah: where did they go? depleted our forests and wildlife. The greatest damage inflicted on Indian forests was during The world’s fastest land mammal, the the colonial period due to the expansion of the cheetah (Acinonyx jubantus), is a unique and railways, agriculture, commercial and scientific specialised member of the cat family and forestry and mining activities. Even after can move at the speed of 112 km./hr. The Independence, agricultural expansion cheetah is often mistaken for a leopard. Its continues to be one of the major causes of distinguishing marks are the long teardrop- depletion of forest resources. Between 1951 and shaped lines on each side of the nose from 1980, according to the Forest Survey of India, the corner of its eyes to its mouth. Prior to over 26,200 sq. km. of forest area was converted the 20th century, cheetahs were widely into agricultural land all over India. Substantial distributed throughout Africa and Asia. parts of the tribal belts, especially in the north- Today, the Asian cheetah is nearly extinct eastern and central India, have been deforested due to a decline of available habitat and or degraded by shifting cultivation (jhum), a type prey. The species was declared extinct in of ‘slash and burn’ agriculture. India long back in 1952. Are colonial forest policies What are the negative factors that cause such to be blamed? fearful depletion of the flora and fauna? Some of our environmental activists say that If you look around, you will be able to find the promotion of a few favoured species, in out how we have transformed nature into a many parts of India, has been carried resource obtaining directly and indirectly from through the ironically-termed “enrichment the forests and wildlife – wood, barks, leaves, plantation”, in which a single commercially rubber, medicines, dyes, food, fuel, fodder, valuable species was extensively planted manure, etc. So it is we ourselves who have and other species eliminated. For instance, 16 CONTEMPORARY INDIA – II 2015-16  teak monoculture has damaged the natural the fact remains that a substantial part of the forest in South India and Chir Pine (Pinus fuel-fodder demand is met by lopping rather roxburghii) plantations in the Himalayas than by felling entire trees. The forest have replaced the Himalayan oak (Quercius ecosystems are repositories of some of the spp.) and Rhododendron forests. country’s most valuable forest products, minerals and other resources that meet the demands of the rapidly expanding industrial- Large-scale development projects have also urban economy. These protected areas, thus contributed significantly to the loss of forests. mean different things to different people, and Since 1951, over 5,000 sq km of forest was therein lies the fertile ground for conflicts. cleared for river valley projects. Clearing of forests is still continuing with projects like the The Himalayan Yew in trouble Narmada Sagar Project in Madhya Pradesh, The Himalayan Yew (Taxus wallachiana) is a which would inundate 40,000 hectares of medicinal plant found in various parts of forest. Mining is another important factor Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh. behind deforestation. The Buxa Tiger Reserve A chemical compound called ‘taxol’ is in West Bengal is seriously threatened by the extracted from the bark, needles, twigs and ongoing dolomite mining. It has disturbed the roots of this tree, and it has been successfully natural habitat of many species and blocked used to treat some cancers – the drug is now the migration route of several others, including the biggest selling anti-cancer drug in the the great Indian elephant. world. The species is under great threat due Many foresters and environmentalists hold to over-exploitation. In the last one decade, the view that the greatest degrading factors thousands of yew trees have dried up in behind the depletion of forest resources are various parts of Himachal Pradesh and grazing and fuel-wood collection. Though, there Arunachal Pradesh. may be some substance in their argument, yet, Tribal girls using bamboo saplings in a nursery at Mukhali near Silent Valley Tribal women selling minor forest produce Leaf litter collection by women folk Fig. 2.3 FOREST AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES 17 2015-16  Habitat destruction, hunting, poaching, men. In many societies, women bear the major over-exploitation, environmental pollution, responsibility of collection of fuel, fodder, water poisoning and forest fires are factors, which and other basic subsistence needs. As these have led to the decline in India’s biodiversity. resources are depleted, the drudgery of women Other important causes of environmental increases and sometimes they have to walk for destruction are unequal access, inequitable more than 10 km to collect these resources. consumption of resources and differential This causes serious health problems for women sharing of responsibility for environmental and negligence of home and children because well-being. Over-population in third world of the increased hours of work, which often has countries is often cited as the cause of serious social implications. The indirect impact environmental degradation. However, an of degradation such as severe drought or average American consumes 40 times more deforestation-induced floods, etc. also hits the resources than an average Somalian. Similarly, poor the hardest. Poverty in these cases is a the richest five per cent of Indian society direct outcome of environmental destruction. probably cause more ecological damage Therefore, forest and wildlife, are vital to the because of the amount they consume than the quality of life and environment in the poorest 25 per cent. The former shares subcontinent. It is imperative to adapt to sound minimum responsibilities for environmental forest and wildlife conservation strategies. well-being. The question is: who is consuming what, from where and how much? Conservation of Forest and Wildlife in India Conservation in the background of rapid decline in wildlife population and forestry has Do you know that over half of India’s become essential. But why do we need to natural forests are gone, one-third of its conserve our forests and wildlife? Conservation wetlands drained out, 70 per cent of its preserves the ecological diversity and our life surface water bodies polluted, 40 per cent support systems – water, air and soil. It also of its mangroves wiped out, and with preserves the genetic diversity of plants and continued hunting and trade of wild animals for better growth of species and animals and commercially valuable breeding. For example, in agriculture, we are plants, thousands of plant and animal still dependent on traditional crop varieties. species are heading towards extinction? Fisheries too are heavily dependent on the maintenance of aquatic biodiversity. In the 1960s and 1970s, conservationists demanded a national wildlife protection Have you noticed any activity which leads programme. The Indian Wildlife (Protection) to the loss of biodiversity around you? Write Act was implemented in 1972, with various a note on it and suggest some measures to provisions for protecting habitats. An all-India prevent it. list of protected species was also published. The thrust of the programme was towards protecting the remaining population of certain The destruction of forests and wildlife is not endangered species by banning hunting, just a biological issue. The biological loss is giving legal protection to their habitats, and strongly correlated with the loss of cultural restricting trade in wildlife. Subsequently, diversity. Such losses have increasingly central and many state governments marginalised and impoverished many established national parks and wildlife indigenous and other forest-dependent sanctuaries about which you have already communities, who directly depend on various studied. The central government also components of the forest and wildlife for food, announced several projects for protecting drink, medicine, culture, spirituality, etc. specific animals, which were gravely Within the poor, women are affected more than threatened, including the tiger, the one- 18 CONTEMPORARY INDIA – II 2015-16  Fig. 2.4: Rhino and deer in Kaziranga National Park horned rhinoceros, the Kashmir stag or dropped to 3,600. There were 39 tiger hangul, three types of crocodiles – fresh water reserves in India covering an area of crocodile, saltwater crocodile and the Gharial, 32137.14 sq km* Tiger conservation has the Asiatic lion, and others. Most recently, the been viewed not only as an effort to save Indian elephant, black buck (chinkara), the an endangered species, but with equal great Indian bustard (godawan) and the snow importance as a means of preserving leopard, etc. have been given full or partial biotypes of sizeable magnitude. Corbett legal protection against hunting and trade National Park in Uttarakhand, Sunderbans throughout India. National Park in West Bengal, Bandhavgarh Project Tiger National Park in Madhya Pradesh, Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan, Manas Tiger is one of the key wildlife species in Tiger Reserve in Assam and Periyar Tiger the faunal web. In 1973, the authorities Reserve in Kerala are some of the tiger realised that the tiger population had reserves of India. dwindled to 1,827 from an estimated 55,000 at the turn of the century. The major threats to tiger population are numerous, The conservation projects are now focusing such as poaching for trade, shrinking on biodiversity rather than on a few of its habitat, depletion of prey base species, components. There is now a more intensive growing human population, etc. The trade search for different conservation measures. of tiger skins and the use of their bones in Increasingly, even insects are beginning to find traditional medicines, especially in the a place in conservation planning. In the Asian countries left the tiger population on notification under Wildlife Act of 1980 and the verge of extinction. Since India and 1986, several hundred butterflies, moths, Nepal provide habitat to about two-thirds beetles, and one dragonfly have been added to of the surviving tiger population in the the list of protected species. In 1991, for the world, these two nations became prime first time plants were also added to the list, targets for poaching and illegal trading. starting with six species. “Project Tiger”, one of the well- publicised wildlife campaigns in the world, was launched in 1973. Initially, it showed success as the tiger population went up to Collect more information on the wildlife 4,002 in 1985 and 4,334 in 1989. But in sanctuaries and national parks of India and 1993, the population of the tiger had cite their locations on the map of India. Source : *Natinal Tiger Coservation Authority, Ministry of Environment Forest, Govternment of India, 2009-10 FOREST AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES 19 2015-16  Can you find out the reasons for the above mentioned problems? Types and Distribution of Forest and (iii) Unclassed Forests: These are other Wildlife Resources forests and wastelands belonging to Even if we want to conserve our vast forest and both government and private individuals wildlife resources, it is rather difficult to and communities. manage, control and regulate them. In India, Reserved and protected forests are also much of its forest and wildlife resources are referred to as permanent forest estates either owned or managed by the government maintained for the purpose of producing through the Forest Department or other timber and other forest produce, and for government departments. These are classified protective reasons. Madhya Pradesh has the under the following categories. largest area under permanent forests, constituting 75 per cent of its total forest area. (i) Reserved Forests: More than half of the Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, total forest land has been declared Uttarakhand, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West reserved forests. Reserved forests are Bengal, and Maharashtra have large regarded as the most valuable as far as the percentages of reserved forests of its total forest conservation of forest and wildlife resources area whereas Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, are concerned. Himachal Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan have (ii) Protected Forests: Almost one-third of the a bulk of it under protected forests. All North- total forest area is protected forest, as declared eastern states and parts of Gujarat have a very by the Forest Department. This forest land are high percentage of their forests as unclassed protected from any further depletion. forests managed by local communities. 20 CONTEMPORARY INDIA – II 2015-16 Community and Conservation and treated as a part of temple devotees. In Conservation strategies are not new in our and around Bishnoi villages in Rajasthan, country. We often ignore that in India, forests herds of blackbuck, (chinkara), nilgai and peacocks can be seen as an integral part of are also home to some of the traditional communities. In some areas of India, local the community and nobody harms them. communities are struggling to conserve these habitats along with government officials, recognising that only this will secure their own Write a short essay on any practices which long-term livelihood. In Sariska Tiger Reserve, you may have observed and practised in Rajasthan, villagers have fought against your everyday lives that conserve and protect mining by citing the Wildlife Protection Act. In the environment around you. many areas, villagers themselves are protecting habitats and explicitly rejecting government The famous Chipko movement in the involvement. The inhabitants of five villages in Himalayas has not only successfully resisted the Alwar district of Rajasthan have declared deforestation in several areas but has also shown 1,200 hectares of forest as the Bhairodev that community afforestation with indigenous Dakav ‘Sonchuri’, declaring their own set of species can be enormously successful. rules and regulations which do not allow Attempts to revive the traditional conservation hunting, and are protecting the wildlife against methods or developing new methods of any outside encroachments. ecological farming are now widespread. Farmers and citizen’s groups like the Beej Bachao Sacred groves - a wealth of diverse Andolan in Tehri and Navdanya have shown and rare species that adequate levels of diversified crop Nature worship is an age old tribal belief production without the use of synthetic based on the premise that all creations of chemicals are possible and economically viable. nature have to be protected. Such beliefs In India joint forest management (JFM) have preserved several virgin forests in programme furnishes a good example for pristine form called Sacred Groves (the involving local communities in the forests of God and Goddesses). These management and restoration of degraded patches of forest or parts of large forests have forests. The programme has been in formal been left untouched by the local people and existence since 1988 when the state of Odisha any interference with them is banned. passed the first resolution for joint forest Certain societies revere a particular tree management. JFM depends on the formation which they have preserved from time of local (village) institutions that undertake immemorial. The Mundas and the Santhal of protection activities mostly on degraded forest Chota Nagpur region worship mahua (Bassia land managed by the forest department. In latifolia) and kadamba (Anthocaphalus return, the members of these communities are cadamba) trees, and the tribals of Odisha and entitled to intermediary benefits like non-timber Bihar worship the tamarind (Tamarindus forest produces and share in the timber indica) and mango (Mangifera indica) trees harvested by ‘successful protection’. during weddings. To many of us, peepal and The clear lesson from the dynamics of both banyan trees are considered sacred. environmental destruction and reconstruction Indian society comprises several in India is that local communities everywhere cultures, each with its own set of traditional have to be involved in some kind of natural methods of conserving nature and its resource management. But there is still a long creations. Sacred qualities are often way to go before local communities are at the ascribed to springs, mountain peaks, plants centre-stage in decision-making. Accept only and animals which are closely protected. You those economic or developmental activities, will find troops of macaques and langurs that are people centric, environment-friendly around many temples. They are fed daily and economically rewarding. FOREST AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES 21 2015-16  “The tree is a peculiar organism of unlimited kindness and benevolence and makes no demand for its sustenance, and extends generously the products of its life activity. It affords protection to all beings, offering shade even to the axemen who destroy it”. Gautama Buddha (487 B.C.) EXERCISES EXERCISES EXERCISES EXERCISES E XERCISES 1. Multiple choice questions. (i) Which of these statements is not a valid reason for the depletion of flora and fauna? (a) Agricultural expansion. (b) Large scale developmental projects. (c) Grazing and fuel wood collection. (d) Rapid industrialisation and urbanisation. (ii) Which of the following conservation strategies do not directly involve community participation? (a) Joint forest management (c) Chipko Movement (b) Beej Bachao Andolan (d) Demarcation of Wildlife sanctuaries 2. Match the following animals with their category of existence. Animals/Plants Category of existence Black buck Extinct Asiatic elephant Rare Andaman wild pig Endangered Himalayan brown bear Vulnerable Pink head duck Endemic 3. Match the following. Reserved forests other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private individuals and communities Protected forests forests are regarded as most valuable as far as the conservation of forest and wildlife resources Unclassed forests forest lands are protected from any further depletion 4. Answer the following questions in about 30 words. (i) What is biodiversity? Why is biodiversity important for human lives? (ii) How have human activities affected the depletion of flora and fauna? Explain. 5. Answer the following questions in about 120 words. (i) Describe how communities have conserved and protected forests and wildlife in India? (ii) Write a note on good practices towards conserving forest and wildlife. 22 CONTEMPORARY INDIA – II 2015-16