FOREST AND WILD LIFE RESOURCES
CHAPTER 2
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.
INDIA IS RICH IN BIODIVERSITY
INDIA HAS 8% OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF
SPECIES IN THE WORLD
81,000 SPECIES OF FAUNA
47000 SPECIES OF FLORA
15000 FLOWERING SPECIES ARE ENDEMIC TO
INDIA
FLORA AND FAUNA
Flora is a collective term used to denote
plants of a particular region. The whole
plant kingdom is represented by this
name. The term flora in Latin means
“Goddess of the flower”
The term Fauna is used to
denote species of animals of a
particular region or period.
THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY
• 10% wild flora and 20% mammals are on the
threatened list.
• 79 species of mammals, 44 of birds, 15 of reptiles,
and 3 of amphibians are threatened
• 1500 plant species are endangered.
• The forest and tree cover is only in 78.92 million
hectares
• The share of forest land is only 24% of the total
area.
SPECIES CATEGORISED AS CRITICAL
CHEETAH
FOREST SOTTED OWLET
MOUNTAIN QUAIL PINK HEADED DUCK
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.
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
DEVELOPMENTAL ACTIVITIES
• A) River valley Projects
• B) Mining activities
• C) Grazing and fuel wood collection
• D) hunting and poaching
• E) over-exploitation
• F) environmental pollution
• G) poisoning and forest fires
Maintaining ecologicalbalance 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 OF FOREST AND
WILDLIFE
• 1. Indian wildlife (Protection ) Act1972.
2. List of protected species was published
3. Banned hunting and restricted trade in wildlife.
4. Established wildlife sanctuaries and national parks.
5. Projects for protecting specific animals.
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:
PROJECT TIGER
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
2. Protected Forests
Almost one-
third of the
total forest
area is
Protected
Forest,
as
declared by
the Forest
Department.
This forest
land are
3. Unclassed Forests
These are
forest other
s
wetlands and
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
verynorthern
high states andof parts
theirofforests
Gujarat
have a
percentage as
managed by
unclassed forests local
communitie
s.
Regulated and Planned Cutting of Trees
Control over Forest Fire
Reforestation and Afforestation
Check over Forest Clearancefor
Agricultural and Habitation Purposes
Proper of Forest and
Utilization 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
THAN
K
YOU!!
