Forest and Wildlife Resources
"The forests are the LUNGS of the Earth. When we destroy them, we SUFFOCATE along with them."
1. Biodiversity in India
India is ONE of the 17 MEGADIVERSE countries of the world. It has only 2.4% of the world's land area but supports ~8% of all species.
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| Flowering plants | ~47,000 species |
| Mammals | ~400 species |
| Birds | ~1,200 species |
| Fish | ~2,500 species |
| Reptiles | ~450 species |
| Amphibians | ~200 species |
'Biodiversity is the VARIETY of life on Earth. It includes ALL species of plants, animals, and microorganisms in a given area. INDIA is a biodiversity HOTSPOT — particularly the Western Ghats and Eastern Himalayas.'
Flora and Fauna
- Flora: ALL plant species in a region (trees, shrubs, grasses, algae).
- Fauna: ALL animal species in a region (mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, fish).
2. IUCN Classification of Species
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) publishes the RED DATA BOOK — a list of THREATENED species.
| Category | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | Population STABLE, not threatened | Common crow, house sparrow (once — now declining) |
| Vulnerable | Population DECLINING, at RISK | Blue sheep, Gangetic dolphin |
| Endangered | In DANGER of extinction | Tiger, Asiatic lion, one-horned rhinoceros |
| Rare | SMALL population, may be endangered if disturbed | Himalayan brown bear, wild Asiatic buffalo |
| Endemic | Found ONLY in ONE region, nowhere else | Nilgiri tahr (Western Ghats), Lion-tailed macaque |
| Extinct | NONE remaining anywhere | Cheetah (India — extinct since 1952), Pink-headed duck |
Common Mistake: Students often confuse 'endangered' with 'extinct'. Endangered means RISK of extinction (some still exist). Extinct means NONE left.
3. Causes of Depletion
'India has LOST 50% of its forest cover since 1900. Every year, we lose THOUSANDS of species — many before they are even discovered.'
| Cause | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Habitat destruction | Deforestation, mining, dams, urbanisation — SINGLE BIGGEST cause |
| Poaching | Illegal hunting for tusks (elephant), horns (rhino), fur (tiger), medicinal uses |
| Agricultural expansion | Forests cleared for farming (shifting cultivation in NE India) |
| Infrastructure projects | Roads, railways, dams fragment habitats |
| Climate change | Shifting temperature patterns disrupt ecosystems |
| Invasive species | Alien species (Lantana, Parthenium) OUTCOMPETE native species |
| Pollution | Industrial and agricultural chemicals ACCUMULATE in food chains |
Case Study: The Cheetah
India's ONLY extinct large mammal (officially declared extinct in 1952). Causes: HABITAT LOSS + POACHING + bounties (hunted for sport during British rule). Now being reintroduced from Africa (Project Cheetah, Kuno National Park, 2022).
4. Conservation of Forests and Wildlife
4.1 Legal Framework
| Act / Policy | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act | 1972 | PROTECTED species — hunting banned. National parks and sanctuaries created. |
| Forest Conservation Act | 1980 | RESTRICTED diversion of forest land for non-forest use. |
| National Forest Policy | 1952, 1988 | 33% forest cover target. Conservation + COMMUNITY participation. |
| Environment Protection Act | 1986 | Comprehensive framework for environmental protection. |
| Wildlife Protection Act Amendments | 1991, 2006 | STRICTER penalties. Project Tiger strengthened. |
4.2 Project Tiger (1973)
- Launched in 1973 from Corbett National Park (Jim Corbett).
- GOAL: Save the tiger from extinction.
- Initial: 9 reserves (today: 50+ reserves).
- India has ~75% of the WORLD'S wild tigers.
- Success story: Tiger population rose from ~1,800 (2006) to ~3,600 (2022).
4.3 Categories of Protected Areas
| Type | Purpose | Human Activity | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wildlife Sanctuary | Protect animals. Limited human activity allowed. | Entry for tourism, research allowed. Grazing sometimes permitted. | Chilika (Odisha), Coringa (AP) |
| National Park | Strict protection. NO human activity. | NO grazing, NO private rights. Entry only for study. | Kaziranga (rhino), Sunderbans (tiger) |
| Biosphere Reserve | CONSERVE biodiversity + SUSTAINABLE use. | Buffer zone allows limited human use. | Nilgiri (first), Gulf of Mannar, Simlipal |
| Tiger Reserve | Core + buffer model. FOCUS on tiger conservation. | Tourism in buffer. Core is inviolate. | Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam (AP) |
4.4 Community-Based Conservation
| Movement | Location | Year | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipko Movement | Garhwal Himalayas, Uttarakhand | 1970s | VILLAGERS hugged trees to prevent felling. Led by Sunderlal Bahuguna, Chandi Prasad Bhatt. 'Ecology is PERMANENT economy.' |
| Appiko Movement | Karnataka (Western Ghats) | 1983 | Inspired by Chipko. Local communities protected forests. |
| Joint Forest Management (JFM) | National programme | 1990 onwards | Forest Department + village committees SHARE responsibilities and benefits. Villagers protect → get fuelwood, fodder, 25–50% of timber proceeds. |
5. AP Context
- Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve: Largest tiger reserve in India (~3,728 sq km). Straddles AP and Telangana. Dense dry deciduous forest. HOME to tigers, leopards, sloth bears, and the Krishna River.
- Eastern Ghats biodiversity: AP's Eastern Ghats have RICH but THREATENED biodiversity. Endemic species: Jerdon's courser (Critically Endangered — ONLY in Sri Lankamaleswara Sanctuary, Kadapa).
- Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary: Mangrove forest near Kakinada. HOME to fishing cats, otters, estuarine crocodiles. Second-largest mangrove in India (after Sunderbans).
- Kolleru Lake: Ramsar site. Important BIRD sanctuary. Threatened by encroachment and aquaculture.
- Red Sanders (Red Sandalwood): ENDEMIC to AP (Seshachalam hills, Tirupati). Highly VALUED in international market. ILLEGAL logging is a major issue.
- Gulf of Mannar & AP Coast: Rich marine biodiversity. Coral reefs, sea turtles, dugongs.
6. Exam Focus
| Topic | Marks | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| IUCN classification with examples | 3–5 marks | HIGH |
| Project Tiger — year, reserves, importance | 2–3 marks | HIGH |
| Difference: National park vs Sanctuary vs Biosphere | 3 marks | Very High |
| Chipko Movement | 1–2 marks | Medium |
| Causes of depletion | 2–3 marks | Medium |
| AP-specific: Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam, Red Sanders | 2–3 marks | HIGH (state-specific) |
7. Quick Self-Test
Q1. What is IUCN and what is the Red Data Book? A. IUCN = International Union for Conservation of Nature. Red Data Book = LIST of threatened species with their conservation status.
Q2. Differentiate between a WILDLIFE SANCTUARY and a NATIONAL PARK (3 points). A. Sanctuary: limited human activity allowed, grazing permitted, larger area. National Park: STRICT protection, NO human activity, smaller but more regulated. All National Parks were once sanctuaries but NOT vice versa.
Q3. What was the CHIPKO MOVEMENT and who led it? A. Environmental movement (1970s, Uttarakhand) where villagers HUGGED trees to stop logging. Leaders: Sunderlal Bahuguna, Chandi Prasad Bhatt. Slogan: 'What do forests bear? Soil, water, and PURE air.'
Q4. Why is the tiger a FLAGSHIP species? Name India's largest tiger reserve. A. Tiger is an UMBRELLA species — protecting tigers protects the ENTIRE ecosystem they live in. Largest tiger reserve: Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam (AP/Telangana).
Q5. State TWO causes for depletion of flora and fauna in India. A. Habitat destruction (deforestation, mining, dams) and poaching (illegal hunting for tusks, fur, medicinal use).
Q6. What is ENDEMIC species? Give an example from AP. A. Species found ONLY in a specific region. AP example: Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) — endemic to Seshachalam hills. Jerdon's courser — endemic to Kadapa region.
Q7. Explain the Joint Forest Management (JFM) programme. A. Started in 1990. Forest Department + village committees jointly manage forests. Villagers PROTECT the forest → get fuelwood, fodder, and SHARE (25–50%) timber revenue.
8. Common Mistakes & Fixes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Confusing 'project tiger' start year | Project Tiger started in 1973, NOT 1972 (Wildlife Protection Act). |
| Calling Cheetah 'endangered' in India | Cheetah is EXTINCT in India (1952). It is NOT 'endangered in India'. |
| Mixing Chipko (Uttarakhand) with Appiko (Karnataka) | Chipko = Garhwal Himalayas (1970s). Appiko = Western Ghats, Karnataka (1983). |
| Thinking Biosphere Reserve is same as National Park | Biosphere = LARGER area with buffer + core + transition zones. National Park = CORE only. |
| Saying 'all species in Red Data Book are extinct' | Red Data Book includes Normal, Vulnerable, Endangered, Rare, Endemic, and Extinct species. |
