Forest and Wildlife Resources

By:- Oakridge International School Newton Campus

Biodiversity

Biodiversity or Biological Diversity is immensely rich in wildlife and cultivated species, diverse in form and function but closely integrated in a system through multiple network of interdependencies.

Flora and Fauna in India

• India is very rich in biological diversity. There are variety of plants and animals found in our country.• India has nearly 8% of the total number of species found in

the world.• About 81,000 species of fauna (animals) and 47,000

species of flora (plants) are found in India.• India is famous for rhino, elephant, tiger, lion, monkey,

snakes, peacock etc.

Some estimates suggest that at least 10 per cent of India’s recorded wild flora and 20 per cent of its mammals are on the threatened list. Many of these would now be categorised 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 2015-16 variety of mahua) and hubbardia heptaneuron, (a species of grass). In fact, no one can say how many species may have already been lost.

Vanishing Forests

The dimensions of deforestation in India is unsteady.

The forest and tree cover in the country is estimated at 78.92 million hectare, which is 24.01 per cent of the total geographical area (dense forest 12.24 per cent; open forest 8.99 per cent; and mangrove 0.14 per cent). According to the State of Forest Report (2013), the dense forest cover has increased by 10,098 square km since 1997.However, this apparent increase in the forest cover is due to plantation by different agencies.

Asiatic cheetah: Where did they go?

• The world’s fastest land mammal, the cheetah (Acinonyx jubantus), is a unique and specialised member of the cat family and can move at the speed of 112 km/hour.

• The cheetah is often mistaken for a leopard. Its distinguishing marks are the long teardrop shaped lines on each side of the nose from the corner of its eyes to its mouth.

• Prior to the 20th century, cheetahs were widely distributed throughout Africa and Asia.

• Today, the Asian cheetah is nearly extinct due to a decline of available habitat and prey. The species was declared extinct in India long back in 1952.

What are the negative factors that cause such fearful depletion of the flora and fauna?

• We have transformed nature into a resource obtaining directly and indirectly from the forests and wildlife

• The greatest damage inflicted on Indian forests was during the colonial period • Even after independence, agricultural expansion continues to be one of the

major causes of depletion of forests • According to the forest survey of India over 26,200 sq.km. of forest area was

converted into agricultural land • Substantial parts of the tribal belts have been deforested or degraded by

sifting cultivation • Jhum which is a type of slash and burn agriculture •  

Are colonial forest policies to be blamed?

• Colonial forestry caused irreparable environmental damage, jeopardized the livelihood of communities who subsisted on forests, and became the role model of India’s post-independence forest management, thus ensuring its insidious continuity.

• The expansion of railways reduced teak and sal forests of peninsular India to such an extent that deodar forests of north India were required to be tapped.

• Trees which were commercially profitable were replaced by other species. This is known as enrichment plantation.

The Himalayan Yew in trouble

• The Himalayan Yew is a medicinal plant that is found in Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh. From the bark, needles, twigs and roots of this tree, a chemical compound called ‘taxol’ is extracted.

• the Himalayan Yew is a species of the Yew trees that grows in the temperate regions of the world. The name is most prominently given to any of various coniferous trees and shrubs in the genus Taxus. It is important because:

• the bark of the tree provides Taxol, an effective medicine to fight cancer.The needles and the bark is also used as a sedative and a remedy for respiratory illness in the Unani medicine.often butter tea is produced from the bark of the tree.people of the Himalayan belt believe that gods and goddesses have their abode in this tree.. The species is under great threat due to over-exploitation. In the last one decade, thousands of yew trees have dried up in various parts of Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh

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• The Indian wildlife act was implemented in 1972• An all India list of protected species was also published• The reason of this program was towards protecting the remaining population of

certain endangered species • Central and state governments established national parks and wildlife sanctuaries • It also announced several projects for protecting specific animals, which were

gravely threatened • Many animals have been given full or partial legal protection against hunting and

trade throughout India

Project Tiger

Project Tiger is a conservation programme launched in 1973 by the Government of India during Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's tenure.From 9 tiger reserves since its formative years, the Project Tiger coverage has increased to 47 at present, spread out in 18 of our tiger range states. This amounts to around 2.08% of the geographical area of our country. From 9 tiger reserves since its formative years, the Project Tiger coverage has increased to 47 at present, spread out in 18 of our tiger range states. This amounts to around 2.08% of the geographical area of our country. The NTCA / Project Tiger also conducts the country level assessment of the status of tiger, prey and habitat once in four years, using the refined methodology, as approved by the Tiger Task Force.

Special thrust on tiger protection and anti-poaching operations:

• The illegal demand for body parts and derivatives of tiger outside the country continues to be a serious threat to wild tigers. Therefore, protection is accorded topmost priority in Project Tiger / NTCA. The States are engaged in an ongoing manner through the NTCA Headquarters as well as its Regional Offices, while issuing alerts, besides closely working with the CBI, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and the Police Departments. The following actions are taken in this context:

• Alerting the States as and when required• Transmitting backward / forward linkages of information relating to poachers• Advising the States for combing forest floor to check traps• Performing supervisory field visits through the National Tiger Conservation Authority and its

regional offices• Providing assistance to States for anti-poaching operations

Due to concerted efforts under Project Tiger, at present India has the distinction of having the maximum number of tigers in the world (1706) as per 2010 assessment, when compared to other tiger range countries. The 2010 country level tiger assessment has also shown a 20% increase of tigers in the country (from 1411 in 2006 to 1706 in 2010). However, there is a decline in tiger occupancy (12.6%) in other areas of tiger States

Types of Forests in India

• Reserved Forests: These forests are earmarked only for production of timber. Grazing of animals and cultivation of crops are not allowed in these forests. About 54% forests are grouped under reserved forests. They are also known as permanent forest estates.• Protected Forests: These forests are protected from further

depletion. Right of grazing and cultivation is allowed with certain restriction. About 29% forests come under protected forests.• Unclassed Forests: There is no restriction in these forests. These

forests belong to government and private individuals. About 16% forests are unclassed forests.

Role of Community in Conserving Forest and Wildlife

Community or local people are very helpful in conserving biodiversity i.e. plants and animals. Many communities live in the forest. Forest is home of many traditional people.a)    In Rajasthan, local people came forward to stop mining activities to protect Sariska Tiger Reserve.b)    People of Alwar District of Rajasthan have declared 1200 hectares of land as ‘Bhairodev Dakav Sonchuri’ in which they don’t allow hunting.c)     In Jharkhand, Munda tribe worship Mahua and Kadamb trees and they protect them from cutting.d)    Famous Chipko Movement in Himalaya was started by local community only. Beej Bachao Andolan and Navdanya movements have also been started in Himalaya.e)    Joint Forest Management (JFM) stated in India is good method of involving local community in forest conservation.

Sacred groves- A wealth of diverse and rare species.• 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 revere a particular tree which they have preserved from time immemorial. The Mundas and the Santhal of Chota Nagpur region worship mahua and kadamba trees, and the tribals of Odisha and Bihar worship the tamarind and mango trees during weddings.

• 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. • In and around Bishnoi villages in Rajasthan, herds of

blackbuck, nilgai and peacocks can be seen as an integral part of the community and nobody harms them.

THE END