Chapter 2: Forest and Wildlife Resources
Complete NCERT textbook questions with model answers for Class 10 Geography Chapter 2. These solutions follow CBSE marking scheme patterns and show how to structure answers for 1, 3, and 5 marks questions. Focus on answer writing technique rather than just memorizing content.
Multiple Choice Questions (1 Mark)
Exam Tip: 1-mark answers should be precise, direct, and not exceed 20-30 words. No explanation needed.
Answer: (c) Agricultural expansion
Answer: (a) Joint Forest Management
Answer: (b) West Bengal
Answer: (d) Nicobar pigeon
Very Short Answer Questions (1 Mark)
Exam Tip: Write one-word or one-sentence answers. No elaboration required.
Answer: Biodiversity refers to the variety of plant and animal life in a particular habitat or the world.
Answer: Bengal Tiger and Indian Rhinoceros.
Answer: Species with small populations that are not currently endangered but are at risk.
Answer: Satpura National Park (originally the first forest reserve).
Answer: A medicinal plant found in the Himalayas, threatened due to over-exploitation.
Short Answer Questions (3 Marks)
Exam Tip: 3-mark answers should be 60-80 words with clear points. Structure: Introduction + 2-3 points + Conclusion.
Answer: Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the near future, while extinct species no longer exist anywhere on Earth, having completely disappeared from their natural habitats.
| Aspect | Endangered Species | Extinct Species |
|---|---|---|
| Status | At very high risk of extinction | No longer exists anywhere |
| Examples from India | • Bengal Tiger • Indian Rhinoceros • Asiatic Lion • Red Panda |
• Indian Cheetah • Pink-headed Duck • Himalayan Quail • Forest Spotted Owlet |
| Causes | Habitat loss, poaching, pollution, climate change | Same causes, but conservation efforts failed |
| Possibility of Recovery | Possible with conservation measures | No possibility of recovery |
The distinction highlights the urgency of conservation - endangered species can still be saved through protection measures, while extinction is permanent.
Answer: The depletion of India's flora and fauna results from multiple interconnected factors including habitat destruction, over-exploitation, environmental pollution, and policy failures that collectively threaten biodiversity.
| Factor Category | Specific Causes | Impact Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Habitat Destruction | • Deforestation for agriculture • Urbanization and infrastructure • Mining and industrialization • River valley projects |
• Loss of 40% forests since 1951 • Fragmentation of wildlife habitats • Displacement of species |
| Over-exploitation | • Poaching and illegal trade • Over-grazing by livestock • Collection of medicinal plants • Unsustainable fishing |
• Tiger population decline • Himalayan Yew depletion • Marine resource depletion |
| Environmental Pollution | • Industrial effluents • Agricultural chemicals • Air and water pollution • Plastic waste |
• Water pollution affects aquatic life • Pesticides harm bird populations • Coral reef destruction |
| Policy & Social Factors | • Ineffective enforcement • Lack of community involvement • Poverty leading to resource exploitation • Population pressure |
• Weak implementation of laws • Conflict between conservation and livelihoods • Encroachment on forest lands |
These factors operate synergistically, creating a crisis where India has lost 79% of its original forest cover and many species face extinction.
Answer: The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 has been instrumental in habitat conservation by providing legal framework, creating protected areas, regulating trade, and involving communities in wildlife protection efforts across India.
| Contribution | Mechanism | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Framework | • Comprehensive law covering all wildlife • Schedules listing protected species • Penalties for violations |
• Unified national approach • Deterrent against poaching • Standardized protection measures |
| Protected Areas Network | • Creation of national parks and sanctuaries • Declaration of tiger reserves • Establishment of biosphere reserves |
• 104 national parks, 566 sanctuaries • 54 tiger reserves established • 18 biosphere reserves created |
| Habitat Management | • Regulation of activities in protected areas • Control of habitat destruction • Restoration of degraded habitats |
• Reduced encroachment • Habitat improvement programs • Corridor creation for migration |
| Community Involvement | • Provisions for community reserves • Recognition of traditional rights • Eco-development programs |
• Reduced human-wildlife conflict • Local support for conservation • Alternative livelihoods created |
While the Act has significantly improved habitat protection, challenges remain in implementation, addressing human-wildlife conflict, and integrating conservation with development needs.
Long Answer Questions (5 Marks)
Exam Tip: 5-mark answers need 120-150 words with proper structure: Introduction, 4-5 main points with examples, and conclusion.
Answer: Community conservation in India represents traditional and innovative approaches where local communities actively protect forests and wildlife through cultural practices, collective management, and sustainable resource use, often achieving better results than state-led initiatives alone.
Examples of Community Conservation in India:
Success Factors: Community conservation works because it combines local knowledge with sustainable practices, creates economic incentives through forest produce, builds cultural and spiritual connections to nature, and empowers local governance. These approaches demonstrate that conservation is most effective when communities become stakeholders rather than spectators.
Answer: Effective forest and wildlife conservation requires integrated approaches combining legal protection, community participation, scientific management, and sustainable development that balance ecological needs with human requirements.
| Practice Category | Specific Practices | Examples/Implementation | Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal & Policy Measures | • Wildlife Protection Act 1972 • Forest Conservation Act 1980 • National Wildlife Action Plans • Biodiversity Act 2002 |
• Creation of protected areas • Regulation of forest land use • Species recovery programs • Access and benefit sharing |
• Legal framework for protection • Reduced habitat destruction • Endangered species recovery • Fair resource distribution |
| Community-Based Approaches | • Joint Forest Management • Eco-development committees • Van Panchayats • Community reserves |
• Village forest protection committees • Alternative livelihood programs • Traditional knowledge integration • Local decision-making |
• Reduced conflict • Sustainable resource use • Cultural preservation • Economic benefits to locals |
| Scientific Management | • Wildlife census and monitoring • Habitat restoration • Corridor creation • Ex-situ conservation |
• Tiger census every 4 years • Mangrove restoration • Elephant corridors • Zoos and botanical gardens |
• Data-driven decisions • Improved habitats • Genetic diversity maintenance • Species reintroduction |
| Sustainable Use Practices | • Sustainable harvesting • Ecotourism • Non-timber forest products • Organic farming |
• Regulated medicinal plant collection • Wildlife tourism with guidelines • Honey, lac, tendu leaf collection • Chemical-free agriculture |
• Economic value of conservation • Reduced pressure on resources • Alternative incomes • Reduced pollution |
| Education & Awareness | • Environmental education • Media campaigns • School programs • Citizen science |
• Nature clubs in schools • Wildlife week celebrations • Documentary films • Bird watching groups |
• Future conservationists • Public support for policies • Behavioral change • Volunteer participation |
Integrated Approach: The most successful conservation integrates these practices, like Project Tiger which combines legal protection, scientific monitoring, community involvement, and habitat management, increasing tiger numbers from 1,411 in 2006 to 2,967 in 2018.
Map-Based Question
Important: Map questions carry 2-3 marks. Always label clearly and include a key/legend if needed.
a) Kaziranga National Park
b) Sundarbans Tiger Reserve
c) Gir National Park
d) Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
e) Bandipur National Park
[Image: Outline map of India showing major wildlife sanctuaries and national parks]
Map showing: Kaziranga (Assam), Sundarbans (West Bengal), Gir (Gujarat), Periyar (Kerala), Bandipur (Karnataka) with other important wildlife areas marked
Answer Key for Map:
- Kaziranga National Park: Assam - Famous for one-horned rhinoceros
- Sundarbans Tiger Reserve: West Bengal - Largest mangrove forest, Royal Bengal Tiger habitat
- Gir National Park: Gujarat - Only natural habitat of Asiatic lions
- Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary: Kerala - Elephant and tiger reserve in Western Ghats
- Bandipur National Park: Karnataka - Part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, tiger habitat
Extra Practice Questions
Answer: The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies species into categories based on their risk of extinction, providing a standardized global system for assessing conservation status and prioritizing protection efforts.
| IUCN Category | Definition | Indian Examples | Conservation Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extinct (EX) | No living individuals exist | • Indian Cheetah • Pink-headed Duck |
Beyond recovery |
| Extinct in Wild (EW) | Exists only in captivity | • Possibly some plant species • (Few animal examples in India) |
Reintroduction possible |
| Critically Endangered (CR) | Extremely high risk of extinction | • Great Indian Bustard • Ganges River Dolphin • Himalayan Yew |
Immediate action needed |
| Endangered (EN) | Very high risk of extinction | • Bengal Tiger • Indian Rhinoceros • Lion-tailed Macaque |
High priority protection |
| Vulnerable (VU) | High risk of endangerment | • Indian Elephant • Sloth Bear • Blue Sheep |
Monitoring required |
| Near Threatened (NT) | Likely to become threatened | • Indian Wolf • Sambar Deer |
Preventive measures needed |
| Least Concern (LC) | Widespread and abundant | • Indian Peafowl • Rhesus Monkey • House Crow |
Low conservation priority |
Conservation Significance: This classification helps prioritize conservation resources, with Critically Endangered and Endangered species receiving maximum protection under projects like Project Tiger and Indian Rhino Vision 2020.
Answer: Launched in 1973, Project Tiger is India's flagship wildlife conservation program that has significantly contributed to tiger protection through habitat preservation, anti-poaching measures, and community involvement, though it continues to face challenges from habitat fragmentation and human-wildlife conflict.
| Aspect | Achievements | Challenges | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat Protection | • 54 tiger reserves covering 75,000 sq km • Core areas with strict protection • Buffer zones for sustainable use • Habitat improvement programs |
• Habitat fragmentation continues • Linear infrastructure projects • Mining in forest areas • Encroachment issues |
Protected area network expanded but connectivity between reserves remains limited |
| Tiger Population | • Increase from 1,411 (2006) to 2,967 (2018) • Successful breeding in reserves • Genetic diversity maintenance • Translocaton programs |
• Local extinctions in some areas • Inbreeding in isolated populations • Poaching still occurs • Human-tiger conflicts increasing |
Population recovering but uneven distribution across states |
| Community Involvement | • Eco-development committees formed • Alternative livelihood programs • Reduced dependency on forests • Education and awareness |
• Limited benefits reaching communities • Displacement issues • Crop and livestock losses • Limited participation in decision-making |
Increased involvement but need for greater benefits sharing and conflict resolution |
| Scientific Management | • Regular tiger census using modern methods • Camera trap monitoring • Research on tiger ecology • Database on tiger mortality |
• Inadequate monitoring in some areas • Lack of trained personnel • Insufficient research funding • Data gaps in some regions |
Improved monitoring but need for more scientific staff and technology |
Future Directions: Project Tiger needs to focus on corridor connectivity between reserves, better conflict mitigation strategies, increased community benefits, climate change adaptation, and integrated landscape management beyond reserve boundaries for long-term tiger conservation.
Answer Writing Checklist
Final Note: These solutions demonstrate how to write answers, not just what to write. Practice adapting this structure to different questions.
