Chapter 5: Conservation of Plants and Animals

5.1 Deforestation and Its Causes

Deforestation: Clearing of forests and using that land for other purposes.
Man-made causes: Procuring land for cultivation, building houses and factories, making furniture, or using wood as fuel.
Natural causes: Forest fires and severe droughts.

5.2 Consequences of Deforestation

Increased temperature and pollution: Deforestation increases Earth's temperature and pollution levels.
Increased Carbon Dioxide (CO₂): Fewer trees mean less CO₂ used for photosynthesis, leading to its accumulation in the atmosphere.
Global warming: Increased CO₂ traps heat rays, raising Earth's temperature.
Lowered groundwater level: Due to disturbed natural balance.
Reduced rainfall: Increased temperature disturbs the water cycle, potentially causing droughts.
Change in soil properties: Physical properties of soil are affected.
Soil erosion: Fewer trees lead to more soil erosion.
Desertification: Removal of topsoil exposes infertile layers, converting fertile land into deserts.
Reduced water holding capacity: Soil's ability to retain water decreases.
Reduced infiltration rate: Movement of water from surface into ground is lessened.
Increased floods: Reduced infiltration causes water to accumulate on surface.
Other changes: Nutrient content and texture of soil also change.
Shortage of products: Leads to scarcity of various products obtained from forests.
Animal life: Animals are affected due to habitat loss and disturbance.

5.3 Conservation of Forest and Wildlife

Biosphere: Part of Earth where living organisms exist or life is supported.
Biodiversity: Refers to the variety of organisms on Earth, their interrelationships, and relationship with the environment.
Protected areas: Wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, and biosphere reserves are earmarked to protect flora, fauna, and their habitats.
Prohibited activities in protected areas: Plantation, cultivation, grazing, felling trees, hunting, and poaching.
Wildlife Sanctuary: Areas where animals are protected from any disturbance to them and their habitat.
National Park: Areas reserved for wild life where they can freely use habitats and natural resources.
Biosphere Reserve: Large protected land for conservation of wild life, plant/animal resources, and traditional life of tribals.

5.4 Biosphere Reserve

Purpose: Meant for conservation of biodiversity and maintaining the culture of that area.
Contents: May contain other protected areas within it.
Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve: Consists of one national park (Satpura) and two wildlife sanctuaries (Bori and Pachmarhi).

5.5 Flora and Fauna

Flora: The plants found in a particular area.
Fauna: The animals found in a particular area.
Pachmarhi examples (Flora): Sal, teak, mango, jamun, silver ferns, arjun.
Pachmarhi examples (Fauna): Chinkara, blue bull, barking deer, cheetal, leopard, wild dog, wolf.
Habitat: Animals are comfortable and happy in their own natural habitat; they should not be disturbed.

5.6 Endemic Species

Definition: Species of plants and animals found exclusively in a particular area and not naturally found anywhere else.
Scope: Can be endemic to a zone, a state, or a country.
Pachmarhi examples (Endemic Flora): Sal and wild mango.
Pachmarhi examples (Endemic Fauna): Bison, Indian giant squirrel, and flying squirrel.
Threats to existence: Destruction of their habitat, increasing population, and introduction of new species.
Species: A group of populations capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring only with members of their own species.

5.7 Wildlife Sanctuary

Prohibition: Killing (poaching) or capturing animals is strictly prohibited and punishable by law.
Protection: Provide protection and suitable living conditions to wild animals.
Allowed activities for locals: Grazing livestock, collecting medicinal plants, firewood.
Protected animals: Black buck, white eyed buck, elephant, golden cat, pink headed duck, gharial, marsh crocodile, python, rhinoceros.
Indian sanctuaries: Feature unique landscapes such as broad level forests, mountain forests, and bush lands.
Threats: Protected forests are vulnerable to encroachment and destruction by people living in the neighbourhood.
Zoo vs. Sanctuary: Zoos are artificial settings, while sanctuaries protect animals in their natural habitat.

5.8 National Park

Definition: Large and diverse reserves that protect whole sets of ecosystems, including flora, fauna, landscape, and historic objects.
Satpura National Park: The first Reserve Forest of India, known for the finest Indian teak.
Rock shelters: Found inside Satpura National Park, providing evidence of prehistoric human life and rock paintings (55 identified in Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve).
Project Tiger: Government initiative launched to ensure the survival and maintenance of the tiger population.
Endangered animals: Animals whose numbers are diminishing to a level that they might face extinction (e.g., tiger, lion, elephant, wild buffalo, barasingha).
Extinct animals: Species that have completely vanished (e.g., dinosaurs).
Strict rules: Human activities like grazing, poaching, hunting, or collecting firewood/medicinal plants are not allowed.
Small animals: More in danger of becoming extinct than bigger animals and play crucial roles in ecosystems (food chains/webs).
Ecosystem: Made of all plants, animals, microorganisms in an area along with non-living components (climate, soil, river deltas).

5.9 Red Data Book

Purpose: A sourcebook that keeps a record of all endangered animals and plants.
Maintenance: Maintained internationally by an organization; India also maintains its own for local species.

5.10 Migration

Definition: The phenomenon of certain birds flying to far away areas every year during a particular time.
Reason: Primarily due to climatic changes, often for laying eggs when their natural habitat becomes very cold and inhospitable.
Migratory birds: Birds that cover long distances to reach another land.

5.11 Recycling of Paper

Resource consumption: It takes 17 full-grown trees to make one tonne of paper.
Conservation methods: Save, reuse, and recycle used paper.
Benefits: Saves trees, energy, water needed for manufacturing, and reduces harmful chemicals used in paper making.
Recycling efficiency: Paper can be recycled five to seven times.

5.12 Reforestation

Definition: Restocking of destroyed forests by planting new trees.
Species selection: Planted trees should generally be of the same species as found in the original forest.
Quantity: Plant at least as many trees as are cut.
Natural reforestation: If deforested areas are left undisturbed, they can re-establish themselves without human intervention.
Importance: Essential to retain green wealth for future generations.
Forest (Conservation) Act: An act in India aimed at preserving natural forests and meeting the basic needs of people living near them.

5.13 What You Have Learnt

Protected Areas: Wildlife sanctuary, national park, and biosphere reserve are areas for conservation of forest and wild animals.
Biodiversity: Refers to the variety of living organisms in a specific area.
Flora and Fauna: Plants and animals of a particular area, respectively.
Endemic species: Found only in a particular area.
Endangered species: Those facing the danger of extinction.
Red Data Book: Contains a record of endangered species.
Migration: Movement of a species from its habitat to another for a specific purpose (e.g., breeding) during a particular time period.
Paper Conservation: We should save, reuse, and recycle paper to save trees, energy, and water.
Reforestation: Restocking of destroyed forests by planting new trees.

5.14 Keywords

Biodiversity: Variety of living organisms.
Biosphere Reserve: Large protected land for conservation.
Deforestation: Clearing of forests.
Desertification: Conversion of fertile land to desert.
Ecosystem: Biotic and abiotic components of an area.
Endangered Species: Facing extinction.
Endemic Species: Found exclusively in one area.
Extinct: No longer existing.
Fauna: Animals of a region.
Flora: Plants of a region.
Migratory Birds: Birds flying to distant lands periodically.
National Park: Protected area for wildlife and ecosystems.
Red Data Book: Record of endangered species.
Reforestation: Planting new trees in destroyed forests.
Sanctuary: Area protecting animals.