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In this post, we cover Geography Chapter 2 – Forest and Wildlife Resources, where we learn about biodiversity, the depletion of flora and fauna, conservation efforts, and the role of people and communities.

๐ŸŒฑ I. What is Biodiversity?

Biodiversity refers to the variety of living organisms (flora and fauna) in a particular region or ecosystem.

✅ Importance of Biodiversity:

  • Maintains ecological balance

  • Supports food chains

  • Provides medicine, timber, fuel, etc.

๐Ÿšจ II. Depletion of Forest and Wildlife

๐Ÿงพ Causes of Depletion:

  1. Deforestation for agriculture, urbanization, and industries

  2. Mining and infrastructure development

  3. Overgrazing by livestock

  4. Illegal hunting and poaching

  5. Forest fires and natural calamities

  6. Pollution and climate change

๐Ÿž️ III. Types of Forest and Wildlife Resources in India

India is one of the 12 mega-diversity countries of the world with:

  • About 47,000 plant species

  • Around 90,000 animal species

๐Ÿพ IV. Classification of Species (Based on IUCN)

CategoryMeaningExample
Normal speciesCommon, no immediate threatCattle, sal, pine
Endangered speciesLikely to become extinct soonBlack buck, Indian rhino
Vulnerable speciesDecreasing population, may become endangeredAsiatic elephant
Rare speciesVery few individualsHimalayan brown bear
Endemic speciesFound only in specific regionsAndaman wild pig
Extinct speciesNo longer foundAsiatic cheetah, pink head duck

⚠️ V. Conservation of Forest and Wildlife

✅ Government Initiatives:

  • Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972):

    • Banned hunting of endangered species

    • Created national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and biosphere reserves

  • Project Tiger (1973) – To protect Bengal Tigers

  • Forest Conservation Act

  • National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)

๐Ÿž️ VI. Types of Forest Reserves in India

CategoryFeatures
Reserved ForestsMost restricted and protected; no exploitation allowed
Protected ForestsSome protection; grazing may be allowed
Unclassed ForestsNo clear ownership; community or government-managed

๐ŸŒฟ VII. Role of Communities in Conservation

๐Ÿง‘‍๐ŸŒพ Examples of Community Participation:

  • Bishnoi Movement (Rajasthan): Protected trees and wildlife since 18th century

  • Chipko Movement (Uttarakhand): Hugging trees to prevent cutting

  • Joint Forest Management (JFM) (1988): Local people and forest officials work together for conservation

๐Ÿ“œ VIII. Sacred Forests and Cultural Beliefs

  • Forests and animals are considered sacred in many tribal and religious traditions.

  • Sacred groves in Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh are protected by communities.

๐Ÿ“ IX. Important Terms to Remember

TermMeaning
BiodiversityVariety of plant and animal life in an ecosystem
DeforestationLarge-scale removal of forests
Endangered SpeciesAnimals or plants at risk of extinction
PoachingIllegal hunting of animals
JFMJoint Forest Management – community-led forest conservation
Project TigerGovernment initiative to save Bengal tigers

๐Ÿ” X. Key Points to Remember

  • Biodiversity is essential for ecological balance.

  • Forest and wildlife are under serious threat due to human activity.

  • Conservation efforts include laws, government schemes, and community participation.

  • Sacred beliefs also contribute to preservation.