About This Section
This is a collection of important questions with complete model answers covering the whole of Chapter 2 — Forest and Wildlife Resources. They are grouped by marks — 1-mark, 3-mark and 5-mark — so you can practise both quick recall and detailed answers before the Board examination.
1-Mark Questions
Q1. In which year was the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act implemented? Ans. 1972.
Q2. In which year was Project Tiger launched? Ans. 1973.
Q3. Name the medicinal plant from which the anti-cancer drug Taxol is obtained. Ans. The Himalayan Yew (Taxus wallichiana).
Q4. Which state passed the first resolution for Joint Forest Management? Ans. Odisha (in 1988).
1-Mark Questions (continued)
Q5. Give one example of an extinct species in India. Ans. The Asiatic cheetah (declared extinct in India in 1952).
Q6. Which forests make up more than half of India's total forest land? Ans. Reserved forests.
Q7. Name the movement in the Himalayas that resisted deforestation. Ans. The Chipko movement.
Q8. Which state has the largest area under permanent forests? Ans. Madhya Pradesh (about 75% of its forest area).
3-Mark Questions
Q9. What is biodiversity and why is it important for human lives? Ans. Biodiversity is the variety of all living organisms — plants, animals and micro-organisms — that are diverse in form and function but interdependent in one ecological system. It is important because living things re-create the quality of the air, water and soil on which humans depend; all species form a web of life, so its loss threatens human survival.
3-Mark Questions (continued)
Q10. How have human activities affected the depletion of flora and fauna? Ans. Through deforestation for agriculture (over 26,000 sq km cleared between 1951-80), colonial expansion of railways, commercial forestry and mining, enrichment plantations of single species, large development projects (e.g. the Narmada Sagar Project inundating about 40,000 hectares of forest), and mining (dolomite mining in the Buxa Tiger Reserve). Unequal, greedy use of resources worsens the loss.
Q11. Distinguish between endangered and endemic species. Ans. Endangered species (e.g. black buck, Indian rhino) are in danger of extinction if the threats continue. Endemic species (e.g. Andaman teal, Nicobar pigeon) are found only in a particular area, isolated by natural or geographical barriers. One is defined by risk, the other by restricted location.
5-Mark Questions
Q12. Describe how communities have conserved and protected forests and wildlife in India. Ans. Communities have conserved nature in many ways: villagers of Sariska fought mining using the Wildlife Protection Act; five villages in Alwar declared 1,200 hectares as the Bhairodev Dakav 'Sonchuri'; the Chipko movement resisted deforestation and promoted afforestation with indigenous species; the Bishnois protect blackbuck, nilgai and peacocks; sacred groves preserve virgin forests through nature worship; and the Beej Bachao Andolan and Navdanya promote chemical-free, diversified farming.
5-Mark Questions (continued)
Q13. Explain India's efforts to conserve forests and wildlife. Ans. India implemented the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which protects habitats, publishes an all-India list of protected species, bans hunting of endangered species and restricts wildlife trade. National parks and sanctuaries were set up, and species-specific projects were launched for the tiger, one-horned rhino, Kashmir stag, crocodiles and Asiatic lion. Project Tiger (1973) aimed to save the tiger. Conservation now covers whole biodiversity, and even insects and plants have been added to protected lists.
Q14. Explain the classification of forests in India. Ans. Forests are classified as Reserved (more than half of forest land; the most valuable for conservation), Protected (almost one-third; protected from further depletion), and Unclassed (other forests and wastelands owned by government, private individuals and communities). Reserved and protected forests together form the permanent forest estate.