Biodiversity and why we conserve it
A pond looks simple, yet it holds algae, snails, fish, frogs and birds that depend on each other. If one group disappears, the others feel it.
Biodiversity is the great variety of wild and cultivated living things in an area, linked together in a web of dependence. Plants, animals and micro-organisms keep our air, water and soil healthy.
Key idea 1: Why it matters — Forests are primary producers; every other living being depends on them. Conservation protects ecological diversity and our life-support systems (water, air, soil). It also protects the genetic diversity of plants and animals; for example, farming still depends on traditional crop varieties, and fisheries depend on healthy aquatic life. India is one of the richest countries in biological diversity.
- Easy: Trees give us oxygen and shade.
- Medium: A farmer keeps old seed varieties because they resist local pests.
- Exam-type: If wetland birds vanish from a lake, insects multiply and fish stocks can suffer. This shows that species depend on one another.
Key idea 2: Pressure on nature — Careless use and insensitivity to the environment have put forests and wildlife under great stress. That is why India took steps to conserve them.
- Easy: Cutting forests for land reduces habitat.
- Medium: Polluted water harms fish and the birds that eat them.
- Exam-type: A new road through a forest splits an animal's habitat in two. Conservation plans try to avoid or reduce such damage.
Biodiversity = all living variety, linked in one web.
Thinking only big animals matter. Plants, insects and micro-organisms are equally vital.
Conservation protects three things: life-support systems, genetic variety, and livelihoods. Memory clue: "Air-Water-Soil, Seeds, Survival".
Spot the difference
| Kind of diversity | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ecological | variety of habitats and systems | forest, wetland |
| Genetic | variety within a species | many rice varieties |
Practice questions
- 1What is biodiversity?
- 2Why are forests called primary producers?
- 3Name one thing plants help to keep clean.
- 4Why do we keep traditional crop varieties?
- 5How do fisheries depend on biodiversity?
- 6Why is India called rich in biodiversity?
- 7Explain how losing one species can affect others.
- 8Give three reasons for conserving forests and wildlife.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1The variety of wild and cultivated living things in an area, linked together.
- 2They make food from sunlight and all other life depends on them.
- 3Air, water or soil.
- 4They are a store of genetic variety useful for breeding.
- 5Fish need healthy aquatic plants and animals to survive.
- 6It has a very large number and variety of species.
- 7Species depend on one another, so loss of one upsets food and habitat links.
- 8Protect life-support systems, keep genetic diversity, and support livelihoods.
Protecting wildlife: law and Project Tiger
A zoo or a national park board near a forest tells us not to disturb animals. These rules grew out of a worry that wild animals were disappearing fast.
The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 is the law that banned hunting of endangered species, protected their habitats and limited wildlife trade. Project Tiger (1973) is a campaign to save the tiger.
Key idea 1: The 1972 Act — It gave legal protection to habitats, banned hunting, restricted trade and published an all-India list of protected species. National parks and sanctuaries were set up. Special projects were started for the tiger, one-horned rhino, hangul, three crocodile species and the Asiatic lion. Later, the Indian elephant, blackbuck, great Indian bustard and snow leopard were also protected. Insects were added in 1980 and 1986, and plants in 1991.
- Easy: Hunting a protected animal is banned.
- Medium: Sanctuaries protect habitats, not just single animals.
- Exam-type: A trader tries to sell tiger skins. The 1972 Act restricts such trade and makes it a crime.
Key idea 2: Project Tiger — Tigers fell from an estimated 55,000 at the turn of the twentieth century to 1,827 by 1973. Threats were poaching, shrinking habitat, fewer prey animals and growing human population. India and Nepal hold about two-thirds of the world's tigers, so Project Tiger began in 1973. Tiger reserves include Corbett, Sunderbans, Bandhavgarh, Sariska, Manas and Periyar. Conservation now looks at the whole biodiversity, not just a few species.
- Easy: Corbett National Park is a tiger reserve in Uttarakhand.
- Medium: If deer in a forest are hunted, tigers lose their prey and also decline.
- Exam-type: A tiger reserve in Assam is Manas, while Periyar is in Kerala.
Wildlife Act 1972, Project Tiger 1973.
Mixing up the two years. The Act came first (1972), the Project followed (1973).
Link the years: Act = 72, Tiger = 73. Memory clue: "Law first, Tiger next".
Spot the difference
| Item | Year | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Wildlife (Protection) Act | 1972 | bans hunting, protects habitats |
| Project Tiger | 1973 | saves the tiger through reserves |
| Plants added to protected list | 1991 | first six plant species |
Practice questions
- 1In which year was the Wildlife Protection Act passed?
- 2In which year did Project Tiger begin?
- 3Name one tiger reserve.
- 4Give two threats to the tiger.
- 5Why are India and Nepal important for tiger conservation?
- 6Name two other animals given special projects.
- 7Explain three provisions of the 1972 Act.
- 8Why is conserving the tiger also good for the forest?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 11972.
- 21973.
- 3Corbett, Sariska, Manas or Periyar.
- 4Poaching and shrinking habitat.
- 5They hold about two-thirds of the world's tigers.
- 6One-horned rhinoceros and Asiatic lion.
- 7Ban on hunting, legal protection of habitats, and restricted trade.
- 8Saving tigers needs a healthy forest with prey, so the whole ecosystem benefits.
Protecting wildlife: law and Project Tiger
In the app you can move this figure with your finger.
Open in the appTypes of forests in India
A school has areas open to all and areas where only staff may go. Forests too are divided by how much entry and use is allowed.
Most forests in India are owned or managed by the government. They are grouped as reserved, protected and unclassed forests.
Key idea 1: Three categories — Reserved forests: more than half of the forest land; the most valuable for conservation. Protected forests: almost one-third; protected from further depletion. Unclassed forests: other forests and wastelands belonging to government, individuals and communities. Reserved and protected forests together are called permanent forest estates, kept for timber, forest produce and protection.
- Easy: Reserved forests are the most valuable for conservation.
- Medium: Protected forests are guarded from further depletion.
- Exam-type: A forest patch managed by a village community and not formally listed is an unclassed forest.
Key idea 2: Where they are — Madhya Pradesh has the largest area under permanent forests (75 per cent of its forest). Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Maharashtra have much reserved forest. Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan have mostly protected forest. All North-eastern states and parts of Gujarat have a high share of unclassed forests managed by local communities.
- Easy: Madhya Pradesh has the largest permanent forest area.
- Medium: North-eastern forests are mostly community managed.
- Exam-type: If a state has mostly protected forests, it could be Punjab or Rajasthan.
Reserved = most valuable, Protected = guarded, Unclassed = other lands.
Thinking unclassed means unowned. It belongs to government, individuals and communities.
R-P-U: Reserved over half, Protected about one-third, Unclassed the rest. Memory clue: "Reserved is Royal".
Spot the difference
| Category | Share | Key feature |
|---|---|---|
| Reserved | more than half | most valuable |
| Protected | almost one-third | safe from more depletion |
| Unclassed | the rest | mixed ownership, community-run in north-east |
Practice questions
- 1Name the three forest categories.
- 2Which category is most valuable for conservation?
- 3Which state has the largest permanent forest area?
- 4What are permanent forest estates?
- 5Who owns unclassed forests?
- 6Which regions have many unclassed forests?
- 7Compare reserved and protected forests in two points.
- 8Why is it hard for the government to manage all forests?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Reserved, protected and unclassed.
- 2Reserved forests.
- 3Madhya Pradesh.
- 4Reserved and protected forests kept for timber, produce and protection.
- 5Government, individuals and communities.
- 6All North-eastern states and parts of Gujarat.
- 7Reserved is more than half and most valuable; protected is nearly one-third and guarded from further depletion.
- 8The area is huge and varied, so managing, controlling and regulating it is difficult.
Types of forests in India
In the app you can move this figure with your finger.
Open in the appCommunity conservation and traditions
Many villages treat a big banyan or peepal tree with respect and nobody cuts it. That respect protects the tree and the birds living in it.
Community conservation means local people themselves protect forests and wildlife, because their long-term living depends on them.
Key idea 1: Communities in action — In Sariska, villagers fought mining using the Wildlife Protection Act. Five villages in Alwar declared 1,200 hectares as the Bhairodev Dakav Sonchuri and set their own rules against hunting. The Chipko movement in the Himalaya resisted deforestation and showed that community planting of local species works. Beej Bachao Andolan in Tehri and Navdanya show that varied crops can grow without synthetic chemicals.
- Easy: The Chipko movement saved trees.
- Medium: Villagers can use law to stop mining near a reserve.
- Exam-type: A village sets its own ban on hunting in a forest patch. This is community conservation, as in Alwar.
Key idea 2: Sacred groves and beliefs — Sacred groves are patches of forest left untouched because they belong to gods and goddesses. Munda and Santhal people worship mahua and kadamba; tribals of Odisha and Bihar worship tamarind and mango at weddings; peepal and banyan are sacred to many. Bishnoi villages in Rajasthan live with blackbuck, nilgai and peacocks that nobody harms. Monkeys around temples are fed daily.
- Easy: Peepal and banyan trees are held sacred.
- Medium: A sacred grove keeps rare plants safe from cutting.
- Exam-type: Blackbuck move freely near Bishnoi homes because the community protects them.
Beliefs and community action both protect nature.
Thinking conservation is only the government's job. Many successful efforts started in villages.
Group examples: Hug = Chipko, Seeds = Beej Bachao, Groves = sacred, Antelope = Bishnoi. Memory clue: "C-B-S-B".
Spot the difference
| Example | Where | What it protects |
|---|---|---|
| Chipko | Himalaya | forests |
| Beej Bachao Andolan | Tehri | crop varieties |
| Sacred groves | many tribal areas | forest patches |
| Bishnoi villages | Rajasthan | blackbuck, nilgai |
Practice questions
- 1What is a sacred grove?
- 2Where is the Beej Bachao Andolan?
- 3Name one tree that is sacred to many people.
- 4What did villagers of Alwar do?
- 5How did Sariska villagers stop mining?
- 6What does the Chipko movement show?
- 7Explain how religious beliefs help conservation with two examples.
- 8Why do local communities protect forests more willingly than outsiders sometimes?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1A patch of forest left untouched because it is held sacred.
- 2Tehri in the Himalaya.
- 3Peepal or banyan.
- 4They declared 1,200 hectares as a protected area and made their own hunting ban.
- 5By citing the Wildlife Protection Act.
- 6That community planting of local species can be very successful.
- 7Sacred groves stay untouched; Bishnoi villages protect blackbuck and peacocks.
- 8Their own livelihood and traditions depend on the forest, so they gain from protecting it.
Joint forest management and people-centred use
When a class shares the job of keeping the classroom clean, the room stays cleaner than when one monitor alone tries. Forests respond the same way.
Joint forest management (JFM) is a programme in which local village institutions protect degraded forest land managed by the forest department and receive some benefits in return.
Key idea 1: How JFM works — It formally began in 1988 when Odisha passed the first resolution. Village institutions protect the forest; in return members get non-timber forest produce and a share of timber harvested after successful protection.
- Easy: JFM began in Odisha.
- Medium: Villagers can collect forest produce like leaves and fruit under JFM.
- Exam-type: A village protects a degraded forest for years. At harvest it gets a share of timber. This is JFM.
Key idea 2: Lesson for development — The clear lesson is that local communities must be involved in resource management, though they are still not at the centre of decision-making. Only those activities should be accepted that are people-centred, environment-friendly and economically rewarding.
- Easy: Local people should take part in decisions.
- Medium: A project that harms the forest but earns money fails the environment-friendly test.
- Exam-type: A tourism plan that employs villagers and protects trees meets all three tests.
JFM began in 1988 in Odisha.
Thinking JFM gives villagers ownership. They protect and share benefits; the forest department still manages the land.
Three tests for projects: people-centred, green, rewarding. Memory clue: "P-G-R".
Spot the difference
| Approach | Who acts | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Government only | forest department | protection by rules |
| JFM | villagers with department | produce and timber share |
Practice questions
- 1What does JFM stand for?
- 2Which state started it?
- 3In which year?
- 4What do villagers get under JFM?
- 5Which forest land does JFM mostly cover?
- 6What is the main lesson from India's experience?
- 7Describe how JFM works in three steps.
- 8State the three tests for an acceptable development activity.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Joint forest management.
- 2Odisha.
- 31988.
- 4Non-timber forest produce and a share of timber after successful protection.
- 5Degraded forest land managed by the forest department.
- 6Local communities must be involved in managing resources.
- 7Villagers form institutions, protect the forest, and share benefits.
- 8People-centred, environment-friendly and economically rewarding.