Forest and wildlife

1. Introduction
2. What is Biodiversity?
3. Flora and Fauna
4. What is Forest?
5. Types of Forests
6. Vanishing Forests
7. What is Wildlife?
8. Importance of Forest and Wildlife
9. Types of species
10. Causes of extinction or depletion of Flora and
Fauna

11. Fact file
12. Need to conserve forest and wildlife
13. Conservation of Forest and Wildlife
14. Forest and Wildlife conservation strategy
15. Role of community in conservation
16. Project Tiger

The planet Earth is the house of millions of living
organisms starting from microorganisms like bacteria
to huge creatures like Banyan tree and Elephants. The
biosphere is full of Biodiversity. Human beings
along with other organisms form a complex web of
ecosystem which is mutually exclusive and all
organisms depend upon each other for their
existence. For example, the plants, animals and
microorganisms recreate the quality of the air we
breathe, the water we drink and the soil that
produces our food without which we cannot survive.

 The variety of Flora and Fauna in
a given geographical area is called
biodiversity of that area.
 Biodiversity refers to the variety of
life. It is seen in the number of
species in an ecosystem or on the
entire Earth.

 The planet Earth is a beautiful place to live in.
No matter where we go on the planet, there are
stunning plants, flowers and animals that catch
are attention.
 Of all the living organisms on the planet, the
most commonly seen by us are the plant life
and the animal life which are known as Flora
and Fauna.

 The term Flora is used to denote plants of a
particular region.
 It usually refers to the native plant life present
but does include new species that have been
introduced as well.
 The Flora of India is one of the richest in the
world due to the wide range of climate,
topology and habitat in the country. There are
estimated to be over 16,000 species of flowering
plants in India.

 The term Fauna is used to denote species of
animals of a particular region or period.
 Fauna by itself was the name of a Roman
goddess representing fertility and the earth .
 Over 81,000 species of Fauna are found in
India. India is home to several well-known
large mammals of around 500 different species
along with species of insects, birds, reptiles and
amphibians.

A forest is a large area of land covered
with trees or other woody vegetation.
Forests are the dominant terrestrial
ecosystem of Earth, and are
distributed across the globe.

Tropical Evergreen Forests
Tropical Deciduous Forests
Tropical Thorn Forests and Scrubs
Montane Forests
Mangrove Forests

 The dimensions of deforestation in India are
staggering. The forest cover in the country is
estimated at 78.29 million hectare, which is
23.81% of the total geographical area.
 According to the state of Forest Report (2011),
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 accurate
information about actual loss of natural forests.

Wildlife means an area where
undomesticated animals living in the
wild including those hunted for food,
sport or profit. Wildlife can be found
in all ecosystems.

1. Forests act as watershed
2. They are habitat for wildlife
3. They give us economic benefits
4. They help in climate control
5. Wildlife help in balancing ecosystem
6. Maintain food chains
7. They also act as a means of recreation

Species whose population levels are
considered to be normal for their survival,
such as cattle, Sal, pine, rodents, etc. They
are often referred to as ‘Common species’.
Normal species are frequently regarded as
being at low risk of extinction simply
because they exist in large numbers, and
hence their conservation status is often
overlooked.

These are the species which are in danger of
extinction. 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, Rafflesia, Baobab tree, etc.
Endangered species usually have a small or
declining population size or a very limited range.

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, Aloe juddii, Aglaia barbanthera,
etc.

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,
hornbill, parachute flower, pelican plant, etc. Rare
species are generally considered threatened
because a small population size is more likely to
not recover from things that could happen.

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 Arunachal Pradesh, Nevada
primrose, wax flower, etc. The ecological
state of species being endemic is known as
Endemism.

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 Asiatic cheetah, pink-head
duck, dinosaurs, franklinia, kokia cookei,
etc.

As the time passes…
…NORMAL SPECIES are
on the way to become
EXTINCT!!

Normal
Species
Endangered Species
Vulnerable
Species
Rare Species
Endemic Species
Extinct Species

Habitat loss is probably the
greatest threat to the variety of
life on this planet today. Habitat
loss and degradation affect 86%
of all threatened birds, 86% of
mammals and 88% of
threatened amphibians. When a
plant or an animal does not
have a habitat, and cannot adapt
to a different environment, it
will become extinct.

The introduction of plant and animal species that
are not endemic to a given locality is both
a natural and human process that often has
disastrous knock-on consequences for local biota,
often including extinction of native taxa.
Introduction of species that are not native to a
given area may occur through regular dispersal
processes over short geographic distances.

Ongoing evolutionary processes are driven by
competition, and over (usually) long periods of
time, plant and animal taxa that are unable to
adapt may be out competed and naturally
displaced from their habitat, and pushed towards
extinction.

Climate Change is caused by a number of things.
The effect that climate has on extinction is very
big. The biodiverse Earth can't keep up with the
rapid changes in temperature and climate. The
species are not used to severe weather conditions
and long seasons, or a changing chemical make-
up of their surroundings. As more species die, it
is only making it more difficult for the survivors
to find food. The warmer climates we are used to
present-day are perfect for diseases and
epidemics to thrive.

Each species has defense mechanisms like
immunities and the ability to fight disease. With
the changing climate and landscape certain
species are losing their ability to fend off disease.
They are becoming more susceptible to disease
and epidemics, which can lead to their eventual
extinction.

→ Transformation of nature into resources.
→ Pollution leading to acid rains.
→ Human activities leading to Global Warming.
→ Unregulated or illegal killing, hunting or
poaching of fauna.
→ Damage of forests during colonial period.
→ Agricultural expansion.
→ Large scale development projects.
→ Mining

FACT FILE
Over half of India's natural forests
are gone, one-third of its wetlands
drained out, 70% of its surface water
bodies polluted, 40% of its
mangroves are wiped out, and with
continued hunting and trade of wild
animals and commercially valuable
plants, thousands of plant and
animal species are heading towards
extinction

 Maintaining ecological balance for supporting
life.
 Preserving different kinds of species
(biodiversity) .
 Preserving economically important plants and
animals.
 Fuel, fodder and domestic needs of the
population
 Needs of village, small scale and large scale
industries.

CONSERVATION IN THE
BACKGROUND OF RAPID DECLINE
IN WILDLIFE POPULATION AND
FORESTRY HAS BECOME ESSENTIAL.

Even if we want to conserve our vast forest and
wildlife resources, it is rather difficult to manage,
control and regulate them. In India much of its forest
and wildlife resources are either owned or managed
by the government through the forest department or
other government departments.
These are classified under the following categories:

1. Reserved Forests
More than half of
the total forest land
has been declared
Reserved Forests.
Reserved forests are
regarded as the
most valuable as far
as the conservation
of forest and wildlife
resources are
concerned.

2. Protected Forests
Almost one-third
of the total forest
area is Protected
Forest, as
declared by the
Forest
Department. This
forest land are
protected from
any further
depletion.

3. Unclassed Forests
These are other
forests and
wetlands
belonging to both
government and
private
individuals and
communities.

 Reserved and protected forests are also known
as Permanent forest estates.
 Reserved and protected forests are maintained
for the purpose of producing timber and other
forest product, and for protective reasons.
 Madhya Pradesh ha the largest area under
permanent forests, constituting 75% of its total
forest cover.
 All northern states and parts of Gujarat have a
very high percentage of their forests as
unclassed forests managed by local
communities.

 Regulated and Planned Cutting of Trees
 Control over Forest Fire
 Reforestation and Afforestation
 Check over Forest Clearance for Agricultural
and Habitation Purposes
 Proper Utilization of Forest and Forests
Products
 Forest Management

Forest conservation act, 1980
The Forest Conservation Act 1980 was enacted
to help conserve the country's forests. It strictly
restricts and regulates the de-reservation of
forests or use of forest land for non-forest
purposes without the prior approval of Central
Government. To this end the Act lays down the
pre-requisites for the diversion of forest land
for non-forest purposes.

 Fourteen biosphere reserves have been set up
in the country.
 Financial and technical assistance is provided
to many botanical gardens by government
since 1992.
 Project tiger, Project Rhino, Project Great
Indian Bustard and many other eco-
developmental projects have been introduced.

 In Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, the
villagers have fought against mining by citing
the wildlife protection act.
 The Chipko movement has successfully
resisted deforestation.
 The rise of Farmers and citizen’s groups like
the Beej Bachao Andolan in Tehri and
Navdanya.

“ Project Tiger “, one of the well- publicized
wildlife campaigns in the world, was
launched in 1973. Initially, it showed
success as the Tiger production went up to
4,002 in 1985 and 4,334 in 1989. Tiger
conservation has been viewed not only as
an effort to save endangered species, but
with equal importance as a means of
preserving biotypes of sizeable magnitude.

DON’T LET THEM BE A HISTORY!!

Forest and wildlife

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