Class 10 Geography Chapter 2 Important Questions

Forest and Wildlife Resources

Short Questions

Question. What is biodiversity?

Ans. Biodiversity refers to the variety of organisms found in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Question. Why are forests important in the ecological system?

Ans. Forests are primary producers that support all other living beings.

Question. When was the Indian Wildlife Protection Act implemented?

Ans. It was implemented in 1972.

Question. What was the tiger population in India in 1973?

Ans. It had declined to 1,827 tigers.

Question. Name any two species recently given protection under the Wildlife Act.

Ans. The Indian elephant and snow leopard.

Question. What are reserved forests?

Ans. Reserved forests are forest lands most valuable for conservation of forest and wildlife resources.

Question. Which state has the largest area under permanent forests?

Ans. Madhya Pradesh.

Question. What are unclassed forests?

Ans. Unclassed forests are forests and wastelands owned by government, private individuals, or communities.

Question. What is Project Tiger?

Ans. It is a conservation programme launched in 1973 to save the tiger population.

Question. Name two famous tiger reserves of India.

Ans. Corbett National Park (Uttarakhand) and Manas Tiger Reserve (Assam).

Question. What is the Chipko Movement?

Ans. A people’s movement in the Himalayas to resist deforestation.

Question. What are sacred groves?

Ans. Sacred groves are forest patches preserved by local people due to religious beliefs.

Question. Which trees are worshipped by tribals of Odisha and Bihar?

Ans. Tamarind and mango trees.

Question. What does JFM stand for?

Ans. JFM stands for Joint Forest Management.

Question. When was the JFM programme formally introduced in India?

Ans. In 1988, first by the state of Odisha.

Long Question

Question. Why is biodiversity important for human life?

Ans. Biodiversity provides us air, water, soil fertility, and food sources. Plants and animals regulate ecological balance. Without biodiversity, human survival would not be possible.

Question. Explain how human activities have led to the depletion of flora and fauna.

Ans. Deforestation, hunting, industrialisation, and expansion of agriculture have caused depletion. Rapid urbanisation destroyed habitats. Overexploitation has endangered many species.

Question. What are the main provisions of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972?

Ans. It created an all-India list of protected species and banned hunting. It gave legal protection to habitats. It also restricted trade in wildlife.

Question. Describe the major threats to tiger population in India.

Ans. Tigers are threatened by poaching, habitat loss, and prey depletion. Tiger skins and bones are traded illegally. Growing human pressure has worsened the situation.

Question. What are the three types of forests in India as classified by the government?

Ans. They are reserved, protected, and unclassed forests. Reserved forests are strictly protected, protected forests prevent further depletion, and unclassed forests are owned by communities and individuals.

Question. How have communities helped in conservation of forests and wildlife?

Ans. Villagers in Alwar created the Bhairodev Dakav Sonchuri to protect wildlife. Chipko Movement resisted deforestation. Local communities also preserve sacred groves and worship certain trees.

Question. What is Joint Forest Management (JFM) and why is it important?

Ans. JFM involves local communities in protecting degraded forests. It provides villagers benefits like non-timber products. It ensures sustainable conservation with people’s participation.

Question. Give examples of sacred groves and their importance in India.

Ans. Sacred groves are untouched patches of forests considered divine. Tribals like Mundas and Santhals worship mahua and kadamba trees. Such practices conserve biodiversity naturally.

Question. How do conservation projects focus on biodiversity in recent times?

Ans. Earlier focus was only on big animals like tigers. Now, insects, plants, and rare species are also protected. The list of protected species under the Wildlife Act has been expanded.

Question. Write about the role of movements like Beej Bachao Andolan and Navdanya.

Ans. Beej Bachao Andolan in Tehri and Navdanya promote ecological farming. They conserve traditional crop varieties. These movements show farming without chemicals is possible and viable.