Class 10 Social Science Notes — Chapter 6: Forest and Wildlife Resources
Biodiversity, conservation strategies, and community involvement in India.
Detailed NCERT notes
- Biodiversity: variety of species in an ecosystem. India has ~8% of world's recorded species with only ~2.4% of land area.
- IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) categories:
- Normal — populations stable (blue jay, rodents).
- Endangered — at risk of extinction if trend continues (black buck, Asiatic lion, sangai).
- Vulnerable — populations declining; may become endangered (blue sheep, Asiatic elephant).
- Rare — small numbers; risk if habitat lost (Himalayan brown bear, Asiatic buffalo).
- Endemic — restricted to a specific area (Andaman teal, Nilgiri langur).
- Extinct — no longer found (Asiatic cheetah — recently reintroduced).
- Causes of biodiversity loss: habitat destruction (mining, dams, agriculture), hunting, poaching, pollution, forest fires, invasive species, colonial forest policies.
- Colonial forestry: Britain classified forests as reserved, protected, and unclassed → limited people's rights; plantations replaced natural forests.
- Reserved forests — most restricted; commercial use limited to timber.
- Protected forests — some rights of locals allowed.
- Unclassed forests — largely open, owned by government or communities.
- Government initiatives: Wildlife Protection Act (1972), Project Tiger (1973), Project Elephant, Biosphere Reserves, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.
- Community conservation: Chipko Movement (1970s, hugging trees to prevent felling); Bishnois of Rajasthan; Sacred groves; Joint Forest Management (JFM) programme (from 1988) — locals + forest department co-manage forests.
- Sacred groves example: Mundas and Santhals worship mahua and kadamba trees; Odisha and Bihar tribals worship tamarind and mango.
- Ecotourism carefully managed can fund conservation.
Formulas & key results
Mind map
- IUCN categories → causes of loss
- Classification: reserved, protected, unclassed
- Government: Wildlife Act (1972), Project Tiger (1973)
- Community: Chipko, JFM, sacred groves
Tricks & shortcuts
- Reserved > Protected > Unclassed in restrictions.
- Bishnois — Khejri tree protection.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Confusing endangered vs vulnerable.
- Assuming government-only protection works — community role is central.
Competency-based questions & answers
- Q. Why is community participation vital for conservation?A. Local communities depend on forests; JFM aligns their livelihoods with conservation, ensures protection is sustained on the ground, and integrates traditional knowledge.
- Q. How did colonial forest policies harm biodiversity?A. Classified natural forests and restricted local use, replaced diverse forests with monoculture plantations of teak and sal, and encouraged commercial exploitation for timber.