Ch 2: Forest and Wildlife Resources
This chapter anchors core environmental governance, legal frameworks like the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, IUCN categorization of species, and grassroots community-led conservation movements in India.
Flora and Fauna in India
Highly critical for species classification. UPSC regularly tests threatened species, their habitats, and conservation status. Focus on IUCN categories (Endangered, Vulnerable, Rare, Endemic, Extinct) and their specific NCERT examples (e.g., Blue Sheep, Asiatic Elephant, Gangetic Dolphin as Vulnerable; Nicobar Pigeon, Andaman Wild Pig, Mithun as Endemic). Trap: Don't confuse Endemic species with Rare species; endemic species are strictly confined to specific geographical boundaries.
The Asiatic Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) was declared extinct in India in 1952. Its decline is attributed to loss of habitat and prey. Currently, the species is found only in Iran in very low numbers.
What are the negative factors that cause such fearful depletion of flora and fauna?
Focus on specific developmental impacts on biodiversity. Key details include the Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal threatened by dolomite mining, and the impact of large-scale development projects (e.g., over 5,000 sq km of forest cleared for river valley projects since 1951). Skip general rhetoric on biodiversity loss; focus on these concrete data points, mining-driven degradation, and colonial forest cartels.
Conservation of Forest and Wildlife in India
Extremely high yield. Houses the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) 1972 with its provisions (schedules, hunting bans, legal protection of habitats) and Project Tiger (launched in 1973). Note that the chapter mentions tiger reserves like Corbett, Sundarbans, Bandhavgarh, Sariska, Manas, and Periyar. Pay attention to how the WPA was amended in 1991 to include plants for the first time (six species).
Project Tiger was launched in 1973 to protect the declining tiger population. It targets not just the conservation of an endangered species but also preserves biotypes of sizeable magnitude.
Types and Distribution of Forest and Wildlife Resources
UPSC frequently tests state-wise ownership and legal categorization of forest lands. Focus on the definitions: Reserved Forests (more than half of total forest land, most valuable), Protected Forests (one-third of total, protected from further depletion), and Unclassed Forests (other forests and wastelands belonging to government and private communities). Note geographical concentration: MP has the largest area under permanent forests (75%).
Community and Conservation
Focuses on community-led conservation models which UPSC tests under participatory environmental governance. Key items: Sariska Tiger Reserve where villagers fought mining using WPA; Chipko Movement; Beej Bachao Andolan in Tehri; Navdanya; Joint Forest Management (JFM) where the first formal resolution was passed by Odisha in 1988. Also covers sacred groves (Mundas and Santhals worshipping Mahua and Kadamba).
Sacred groves (Sarkas or Deorais) are patches of forest left untouched by local communities, where any interference is banned. Mundas and Santhals of Chota Nagpur region worship Mahua (Madhuca insignis) and Kadamba (Anthocephalus cadamba) trees.
Joint Forest Management (JFM) program in India involves local communities in the management and restoration of degraded forests. Odisha passed the first formal resolution for JFM in 1988.