Forest and Wildlife Resources

1. Forest and Wildlife Resources by:- Jaspinder Singh

2. Introduction All living organisms share planet with millions of other living beings. Our entire habitat has immense biodiversity. Biodiversity: It is a sum total of all varieties of flora and fauna found in a region and their (Flora and Fauna) close integration through multiply network of interdependencies.

3. Levels of Biodiversity(Extra Knowledge) 1) Species Diversity: It refers to the variety of different species (plants, animals, micro-organisms). Example: trees, tigers and bacteria 2) Genetic Diversity: It refers to the variation of genes within species. Example: German Shepherd , Lhasa etc. are all dogs but they look different due to genetic diversity 3) Ecosystem /Community Diversity: It refers to all the different habitat or places that exist. Example :Rivers, mountains, hot desert, cold desert etc. It shows interaction between biotic and abiotic components. India is one of the few countries which has a Forest Policy Since 1894. It was revised in 1952 and again in 1988.Its objectives are Preserve Forests, Check on soil erosion, Save Forests from river, lakes etc. Also, increase in forest tree cover.

4. The plants , animals and micro-organisms re-create/ help to maintain the quality of air, water and soil. Forests are known as the primary producers as other living beings depend on them. Flora and Fauna in India Around 8% of all recorded species of the world are present in India(1.6 million) 47000 species of plants (15000 Flowering species are indigenous to India) 92,037 species of Animals

5. The total area under forest , of India, is 19.39%( 637, 293 sq km) Dense Forest =11.48% Open Forest = 7.76% Mangrove = 0.15% According to State of Forest Report(1992) the area under dense forest was increased by 10, 098 km since 1997.

6. Types of Species Normal Species Vulnerable Species Endangered Species Rare Species Endemic Species Extinct Species

7. Normal species: Species whose population levels are considered to be normal for their survival, such as cattle, sal, pine, rodents, etc. Endangered Species: These are species which are in danger of extinction. The survival of such species is difficult if the negative factors that have led to a decline in their population continue to operate.

8. Endangered Species Black Buck Crocodile Indian Wild Ass Indian Rhino Lion Tailed Sangai Macaque (Brow Antlered Deer)

9. Vulnerable Species: 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. Blue Sheep Asiatic Elephant Gangetic Dolphin

10. Rare Species Species with small population may move into the endangered or vulnerable category if the negative factors affecting them continue to operate. Himalayan Brown Bear Desert Fox Wild Asiatic Buffalo Hornbill

11. Endemic Species These are species which are only found in some particular areas usually isolated by natural or geographical barriers Andaman Teal Nicobar Pigeon Andaman Wild Pig Mithun (Arunachal Pradesh)

12. 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. Pink Head Duck Asiatic Cheetah

13. Depletion of Flora and Fauna Following are the negative factors that cause depletion of flora and fauna Overutilization of forests: Now a days, forests are being over used to fulfil man’s needs in the form of wood, barks, rubber, medicine, food, fuel etc. Colonial Period: The greatest damage to Indian Forests was during colonial period due to the expansion of the railways, agriculture, mining, commercial and scientific forestry.

14. Agricultural Expansion: Even after independence, agricultural expansion continues to be one of the major causes of depletion. According to Forest Survey of India, between 1951 and 1980, over 26200 sq km of forest areas were converted into agricultural land. *Specially North- Eastern and Central India have done deforestation by shifting cultivation. (Slash and Burn Cultivation)

15. Multipurpose River Projects: Multipurpose river projects are also responsible for the loss of forests. Since 1951, over 5000 sq km of forest areas were cleared for river valley projects. *At present, 40,000 hectares of forest would be used for Narmada Sagar Project in Madhya Pradesh.

16. Mining: Mining is another important factor behind deforestation. Mining operation needs big machines, labour, roads, railways etc. All these lead to deforestation. * The BuxaTiger Reserve in West Bengal seriously threatened by the ongoing dolomite mining.

17. Grazing and Fuel Wood Collection: Many foresters and environmentalists hold the view that the greatest degrading factors behind the depletion of forest resources are grazing and fuel-wood collection. Other Factors (Specific to Wildlife): • Habitat Destruction • Hunting • Poaching • Environmental Pollution • Forest Fires • Over-Population(Over-Utilization)

18. The Himalayan Yew • It is a medical tree to treat cancer. • It is found in Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh. • A chemical compound called ‘taxol’ is extracted from the bark, needles, twigs and roots of this tree.

19. Strange Facts Half of India’s natural forests are gone. one-third of its wetlands drained out. 70 per cent of its surface water bodies polluted. 40 per cent of its mangroves wiped out. Continued hunting and trade of wild animals and commercially valuable plants, thousands of plant and animal species are heading towards extinction.

20. Conservation of Forest and Wildlife in India Preserve the ecological diversity. Preserve the genetic diversity for better growth of species and breeding Preserve our life support system i.e. water, air and soil The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act was implemented in 1972 to protect endangered species by banning hunting, giving legal protection to their habitats, and restricting trade in wildlife.

21. India and Nepal provide habitat to about two-thirds of the surviving tiger population in the world. These two nations have become prime targets for poaching and illegal trading as tigers’ skin and bones are used for various purposes. For protecting the same, various National Parks , Wildlife Sanctuary and Reserves have been established by the Government of India such as Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand SunderbansNational Park in West Bengal BandhavgarhNational Park in Madhya Pradesh SariskaWildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan Manas Tiger Reserve in Assam PeriyarTiger Reserve in Kerala

22. Focus on Biodiversity: The conservation projects which have been launched by the government focuses on biodiversity rather than on a few of its components. In the new projects, several hundred butterflies, moths, beetles, and one dragonfly have been added to the list of protected species. In 1991, for the first time plants were also added to the list, starting with six species.

23. Types or Distribution of Forests 1) Reserved Forests are the most restricted forests. They are permanently earmarked either for production or other forest produce. Reserved forests are regarded as the most valuable as far as the conservation of forest and wildlife resources are concerned More than 50% of the total forest land has been declared as reserved forests. Examples : The forests of J and K, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Kerala, T.N.,WB and Maharashtra.

24. 2) Protected Forests This forest land are protected from any further depletion. one-third of the total forest area is protected forest, as declared by the Forest Department. Example: Forest of Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, H.P., Odisha and Rajasthan. Reserved and Protected Forests are known as Permanent Forests M.P. has the largest area under Permanent Forests.

25. 3) Unclassed Forests They consist of inaccessible forests or wastelands. These consist of only 16% of the total forest areas. They are owned by government and private individuals and communities. Example: Forests of North-East States and Parts of Gujarat.

26. Community and Conservation In some areas of India, local communities are conserving these habitats along with government officials, recognizing that only this will secure their own long-term livelihood. In Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, villagers have fought against mining by citing the Wildlife Protection Act. The inhabitants of five villages in the Alwar district of Rajasthan have declared 1,200 hectares of forest as the BhairodevDakav ‘Sonchuri’, declaring their own set of rules and regulations which do not allow hunting, and are protecting the wildlife against any outside encroachments.

27. ChipkoMovement in the Himalayas The ChipkoMovement in India was started bySunderlalBahugunain 1973 aimed at protecting and preserving trees in Chamoli district of Uttar Pradesh (now Uttarakhand)

28. BeejBachaoAndolan Save the Seeds Movement has been working in the Indian state of Uttarakhand since the 1980s to restore traditional, agroecological farming knowledge, practices, and seed diversity – all of which have been disappearing since the start of the “Green Revolution” in the 1960s. The movement is led by activist and farmer Vijay Jardhari, who joined together with local farmers from villages.

29. Navdanya Navdanya is an Earth Centric, Women centric and Farmer led movement for the protection of Biological and Cultural Diversity through organic farming started in 1984 by Vandana Shiva. Navdanya means “nine seeds” Across 22 states in India they grow real living food from Desi living seed.

30. Joint Forest Management (JFM) Programme It is a partnership between State Forest department and Local communities to save forest It was started in West Bengal In 1980s. The JFM model is based on 'co-management' and a 'give and take' relationship between the village communities and the forest department. It marks a total departure from the earlier forest policies practised in India, wherein the forest department managed forests primarily to generate the maximum possible revenue for the State, while excluding village communities and the grass roots from the management process.

31. 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. Several Forests are called 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.

32. The Mundas and the Santhal of Chota Nagpur region worship mahua and kadamba The Tribal of Odisha and Bihar worship the tamarind and mango during weddings. Peepaland banyan trees are considered sacred. Animals like langursnear Temples are fed. Blackbuck, Chinkara(Deer), Nilgaiand Peacocks can be seen as an integral part of the community and nobody harms them in Bishnoi villages in Rajasthan.