📚 Class 10 – Geography
🌲 Chapter 2: Forest and Wildlife Resources
🌿 Flora and Fauna in India
India is one of the richest countries in terms of biological diversity (जैव विविधता).
👉 Based on IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), species are classified as:
- Normal Species (सामान्य प्रजातियाँ)➝ Population stable, not threatened.✅ Example: Cattle, Sal, Pine, Rodents
- Endangered Species (संकटग्रस्त प्रजातियाँ)➝ In danger of extinction (विलुप्ति).✅ Example: Black buck, Crocodile, Indian Rhino, Sangai Deer
- Vulnerable Species (असुरक्षित प्रजातियाँ)➝ Declining population, may soon become endangered.✅ Example: Blue Sheep, Asiatic Elephant, Gangetic Dolphin
- Rare Species (दुर्लभ प्रजातियाँ)➝ Very small population, may become endangered.✅ Example: Himalayan Brown Bear, Desert Fox, Hornbill
- Endemic Species (स्थानीय प्रजातियाँ)➝ Found only in specific areas (विशिष्ट क्षेत्र).✅ Example: Andaman Teal, Nicobar Pigeon, Mithun (Arunachal Pradesh)
- Extinct Species (विलुप्त प्रजातियाँ)➝ No longer found in region/world.✅ Example: Asiatic Cheetah, Pink-headed Duck
⚠️ Causes of Depletion of Flora & Fauna
🔹 Overuse of natural resources (wood, fuel, medicines, fodder, rubber etc.)
🔹 Expansion of railways, agriculture & mining
🔹 Commercial & scientific forestry
🔹 Big development projects
🔹 Inequitable use of resources (संसाधनों का असमान उपयोग)
🛡️ Conservation of Forest & Wildlife in India
- Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 – Protected list of species.
- Wildlife Act 1980 & 1986 – Added more species of insects.
- 1991 – For the first time, plants included in protection list.
- Special projects launched for Tiger, Rhino, Crocodile, Elephant etc.
🌳 Types of Forests in India
- Reserved Forests (आरक्षित वन)
- More than half forest land.
- Rich in biodiversity.
- Protected Forests (संरक्षित वन)
- About 1/3rd of forest land.
- Unclassed Forests (अवर्गीकृत वन)
- Mostly in North-East & Gujarat.
- Owned by Government & Communities.
👉 Permanent Forests = Reserved + Protected forests
➡️ Example: Madhya Pradesh = largest area of permanent forests.
👨👩👦 Community & Conservation Efforts
🌟 People’s initiatives for protecting environment:
- Sariska Tiger Reserve (Rajasthan) – Villagers resisted mining.
- Bhairodev Dakav Sonchuri (Alwar, Rajasthan) – Villagers created community forest, banned hunting.
- Chipko Movement (Himalayas) – Hugging trees to resist deforestation.
- Beej Bachao Andolan (Tehri, Uttarakhand) – Saving traditional seeds, promoting organic farming.
- Joint Forest Management (JFM) – Govt + Local people’s participation in forest management.
✅ Exam Tip:
- Endangered + Rare species examples bahut important hai objective/short questions ke liye.
- Conservation efforts like Chipko Movement & JFM direct question ban sakta hai.
