Natural Vegetation

Sandalwood is an example of moist deciduous forests. It requires 100-200cm rainfall a year, and is found along lower slopes of Western Ghats.

Other options are incorrect.

C is correct. Seeing the dwindling population of tigers in the wild, the government launched Project Tiger to generate awareness about the big cats in the forest.

A is incorrect. It was a project aimed at saving and not decimating tigers.

B is incorrect. The project aims to conserve the natural habitats of tigers as well.

D is incorrect.

Out of the 18 Biosphere Reserves in the country, 10 are a part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves by UNESCO. Hence, other options are factually incorrect.

The government adopted a forest policy in 1952, and modified the same in 1988. According to the new policy, the state aims to bring 33% of the geographical area under tree cover, as it recognises the stress being laid on existing forests. Also, it aims to provide sustainable forest management to meet the needs of local communities around the forested areas.

Other options are factually incorrect.

Natural vegetation: it refers to a plant community, which has been undisturbed over a period of tie, and has fully adjusted to the local climate and quality of soil.

Climatic conditions required for tropical evergreen forests:

• Warm, humid areas with high precipitation (>200cm).

• High temperatures above 22 degrees.

Social forestry is the protection and managing forests on barren lands in rural and urban areas, so as to improve the environmental and social conditions of the surroundings. This was done through making parks and gardens in urban areas, and promoting community forestry and agro-forestry in rural areas.

A Biosphere Reserve is a representative system of coastal or terrestrial ecosystem. It is preserved under the UNESCO’s framework listed in the Man and Biosphere Program. It combines conservation with development, through the provision of logistics for monitoring the processes of change.

Several steps have been taken to conserve forests:

• India adopted a nation-wide forest conservation policy in 1952, and modified the same in 1988. The policy stipulates sustainable forest management. It envisions to increase forest cover, while ensuring that local communities can meet their needs from the forests.

• The aim of the policy was broad-based: from increasing the forest cover to 33% of the geographical area to initiating social movements to encourage planting of trees. The policy makers understood that increasing forest cover has several positive benefits like controlling soil erosion and preventing floods.

• Social Forestry plans were initiated. This meant that barren lands were afforested by the communities to support rural development. Consequently, people were educated about the advantages of agro-forestry.

• Farm Forestry was encouraged. Farmers could plant trees in their farm-lands for commercial and non-commercial purposes, and the forest department distributed free seeds to small and middle farmers for this purpose.

Humans have a big role to play in conserving wildlife and forests:

• Social forestry depends on people to plant trees on barren land, and maintain parks and green belts in urban areas.

• Farmers should invest in Farm forestry. They can plant trees on the margins of their farmlands and around their cow-sheds. These trees have commercial and ecological benefits.

• People should participate in environmental movements and pressure the government to pass stricter regulations to control industrial pollution.

• We should refuse buying exotic products made from animal skins or teeth.

• Community forestry, or rising of trees on community lands is necessary to reduce stress on existing forests. This includes temple lands, pastures, areas along railway lines etc.