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Forest and Wildlife Resources in India

Forest and Wildlife Resources in India

Flora and Fauna in Narak! My Lord, you are the creator of music If you look around, you will be able to find in the world of Lepchas that there are some and which Oh Narak! My Lord, let me dedicate are unique in your area. In fact, India is myself to you one of the world’s richest countries in terms Let me gather your music from the of its vast array of biological diversity. This springs, the rivers, the mountains, the forests, is possibly twice or thrice the number yet the insects and the animals to be discovered. You have already studied Let me gather your music from the sweet in detail about the extent and variety of breeze and offer it to you forest and wildlife resources in India. You may have realised the importance of Source: Lepcha folk song from northern part of these resources in our daily life. These West Bengal diverse flora and fauna are so well integrated in our daily life that we take these for granted. But, lately, they are We share this planet with millions of other under great stress mainy due to insensitivity living beings, starting from micro-organisms to our environment. and bacteria, lichens to banyan trees, elephants and blue whales. This entire habitat that we live in has immense Find out stories prevalent in your region . We humans along with all living which are about the harmonious relationship organisms form a complex web of ecological between human beings and nature. system in which we are only a part and very much dependent on this system for our own existence. For example, the plants, Some estimates suggest that at least animals and micro-organisms re-create the 10 per cent of India’s recorded wild flora quality of the air we breathe, the water we and 20 per cent of its are on drink and the soil that produces our food the threatened list. Many of these would without which we cannot survive. Forests now be categorised as ‘critical’, that is on play a key role in the ecological system as the verge of like the , these are also the primary producers on pink-headed duck, mountain quail, forest which all other living beings depend. spotted owlet, and plants like madhuca insignis (a wild variety of mahua) and hubbardia heptaneuron,(a species of grass). In fact, no one can say how many Biodiversity or Biological Diversity is species may have already been lost. Today, immensely rich in wildlife and cultivated we only talk of the larger and more visible species, diverse in form and function but animals and plants that have become closely integrated in a system through extinct but what about smaller animals multiple network of interdependencies. like insects and plants?

2021-22 Vulnerable Species: These are species Vanishing Forests whose population has declined to levels from The dimensions of in India are where it is likely to move into the endangered staggering. The forest and tree cover in the category in the near future if the negative country is estimated at 807276 sq km which factors continue to operate. The examples is 24.56 per cent of the total geographical area of such species are blue sheep, Asiatic (dense forest 12.4 per cent; open forest 9.26 elephant, Gangetic dolphin, etc. per cent; and mangrove 0.15 per cent). According to the State of Forest Report Rare Species: Species with small (2019), the dense has increased population may move into the endangered by 3,976 sq km since 2017. However, this or vulnerable category if the negative factors apparent increase in the forest cover is due affecting them continue to operate. The to conservation measures, management examples of such species are the Himalayan interventions and , etc., by brown bear, wild Asiatic buffalo, desert fox different agencies. and hornbill, etc. Endemic Species: These are species which are only found in some particular areas usually isolated by natural or geographical barriers. Examples of such species are the Andaman teal, Nicobar pigeon, Andaman wild pig, mithun in Arunachal Pradesh. Extinct Species: These are species which are not found after searches of known or likely areas where they may occur. A species may be extinct from a local area, region, country, continent or the entire earth. Examples of such species are the Asiatic Fig. 2.1 cheetah, pink head duck. Let us now understand the different Asiatic Cheetah: where did they go? categories of existing plants and The world’s fastest land , the species. Based on the International Union cheetah (Acinonyx jubantus), is a unique and for Conservation of Nature and Natural specialised member of the cat family and Resources (IUCN), we can classify as can move at the speed of 112 km./hr. The follows – cheetah is often mistaken for a leopard. Its distinguishing marks are the long teardrop- Normal Species: Species whose population shaped lines on each side of the nose from levels are considered to be normal for the corner of its eyes to its mouth. Prior to their survival, such as cattle, sal, pine, the 20th century, were widely rodents, etc. distributed throughout and Asia. Endangered Species: These are species Today, the Asian cheetah is nearly extinct which are in danger of extinction. The due to a decline of available habitat and survival of such species is difficult if the prey. The species was declared extinct in negative factors that have led to a decline India long back in 1952. in their population continue to operate. The examples of such species are black buck, What are the negative factors that cause such fearful depletion of the flora and fauna? crocodile, Indian wild ass, Indian rhino, lion tailed macaque, sangai (brow anter deer in If you look around, you will be able to Manipur), etc. find out how we have transformed nature into

FOREST AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES 15 Fig. 2.2: A few extinct, rare and endangered species a resource obtaining directly and indirectly through the ironically-termed “enrichment from the forests and wildlife – wood, barks, plantation”, in which a single commercially leaves, rubber, medicines, dyes, food, fuel, valuable species was extensively planted fodder, manure, etc. So it is we ourselves who and other species eliminated. For instance, have depleted our forests and wildlife. The teak monoculture has damaged the natural greatest damage inflicted on Indian forests forest in South India and Chir Pine (Pinus was during the colonial period due to the roxburghii) in the Himalayas expansion of the railways, agriculture, have replaced the Himalayan oak (Quercius commercial and scientific and mining spp.) and Rhododendron forests. activities. Even after Independence, continues to be one of the major causes of depletion of forest Large-scale development projects have also resources. Between 1951 and 1980, according contributed significantly to the loss of forests. to the Forest Survey of India, over 26,200 sq. Since 1951, over 5,000 sq km of forest was km. of forest area was converted into cleared for river valley projects. Clearing of agricultural land all over India. Substantial parts of the tribal belts, especially in the north- forests is still continuing with projects like eastern and central India, have been deforested the Narmada Sagar Project in Madhya or degraded by shifting cultivation (jhum), a Pradesh, which would inundate 40,000 type of ‘slash and burn’ agriculture. hectares of forest. Mining is another important factor behind deforestation. The Buxa Tiger Are colonial forest policies Reserve in West Bengal is seriously threatened to be blamed? by the ongoing dolomite mining. It has Some of our environmental activists say that disturbed the natural habitat of many species the promotion of a few favoured species, in and blocked the migration route of several many parts of India, has been carried others, including the great Indian elephant.

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2021-22 Many foresters and environmentalists hold used to treat some cancers – the drug is now the view that the greatest degrading factors the biggest selling anti-cancer drug in the behind the depletion of forest resources are world. The species is under great threat due grazing and fuel-wood collection. Though, to over-exploitation. In the last one decade, there may be some substance in their thousands of yew trees have dried up in argument, yet, the fact remains that a various parts of Himachal Pradesh and substantial part of the fuel-fodder demand is Arunachal Pradesh. met by lopping rather than by felling entire trees. The forest ecosystems are repositories , , poaching, of some of the country’s most valuable forest over-exploitation, environmental , products, minerals and other resources that poisoning and forest fires are factors, which meet the demands of the rapidly expanding have led to the decline in India’s biodiversity. industrial-urban economy. These protected Other important causes of environmental areas, thus mean different things to different destruction are unequal access, inequitable people, and therein lies the fertile ground consumption of resources and differential for conflicts. sharing of responsibility for environmental well-being. Over-population in third world The Himalayan Yew in trouble countries is often cited as the cause of The Himalayan Yew (Taxus wallachiana) is environmental degradation. However, an a medicinal found in various parts of average American consumes 40 times more Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh. resources than an average Somalian. Similarly, A chemical compound called ‘taxol’ is the richest five per cent of Indian society extracted from the bark, needles, twigs and probably cause more ecological damage roots of this tree, and it has been successfully because of the amount they consume than

Tribal girls using saplings in a nursery at Mukhali near Silent Valley

Tribal women selling minor forest produce Leaf litter collection by women folk

Fig. 2.3

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2021-22 the poorest 25 per cent. The former shares subcontinent. It is imperative to adapt to minimum responsibilities for environmental sound forest and wildlife conservation well-being. The question is: who is consuming strategies. what, from where and how much? Conservation of Forest and Wildlife in India Do you know that over half of India’s Conservation in the background of rapid natural forests are gone, one-third of its decline in wildlife population and forestry has wetlands drained out, 70 per cent of its become essential. But why do we need to surface water bodies polluted, 40 per conserve our forests and wildlife? cent of its mangroves wiped out, and Conservation preserves the ecological diversity with continued hunting and trade of wild and our life support systems – water, air and animals and commercially valuable soil. It also preserves the genetic diversity of plants, thousands of plant and animal plants and animals for better growth of species species are heading towards extinction? and breeding. For example, in agriculture, we are still dependent on traditional crop varieties. Fisheries too are heavily dependent on the maintenance of aquatic biodiversity. Have you noticed any activity which leads In the 1960s and 1970s, conservationists to the loss of biodiversity around you? Write demanded a national wildlife protection a note on it and suggest some measures to programme. The Indian Wildlife (Protection) prevent it. Act was implemented in 1972, with various provisions for protecting habitats. An all- The destruction of forests and wildlife is India list of protected species was also not just a biological issue. The biological loss published. The thrust of the programme was is strongly correlated with the loss of cultural towards protecting the remaining population diversity. Such losses have increasingly of certain endangered species by banning marginalised and impoverished many hunting, giving legal protection to their indigenous and other forest-dependent habitats, and restricting trade in wildlife. communities, who directly depend on various Subsequently, central and many state components of the forest and wildlife for food, governments established national parks and drink, medicine, culture, spirituality, etc. wildlife sanctuaries about which you have Within the poor, women are affected more already studied. The central government also than men. In many societies, women bear announced several projects for protecting the major responsibility of collection of fuel, specific animals, which were gravely fodder, water and other basic subsistence threatened, including the tiger, the one- needs. As these resources are depleted, the horned rhinoceros, the Kashmir stag or drudgery of women increases and sometimes hangul, three types of crocodiles – fresh they have to walk for more than 10 km to water crocodile, saltwater crocodile and the collect these resources. This causes serious Gharial, the , and others. Most health problems for women and negligence recently, the Indian elephant, black buck of home and children because of the increased (), the great Indian bustard hours of work, which often has serious social (godawan) and the , etc. have implications. The indirect impact of been given full or partial legal protection degradation such as severe drought or against hunting and trade throughout India. deforestation-induced floods, etc. also hits the poor the hardest. Poverty in these cases is a Project Tiger direct outcome of environmental destruction. Tiger is one of the key wildlife species in Therefore, forest and wildlife, are vital to the the faunal web. In 1973, the authorities quality of life and environment in the realised that the tiger population had

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2021-22 Fig. 2.4: Rhino and deer in Kaziranga National Park

dwindled to 1,827 from an estimated beginning to find a place in conservation 55,000 at the turn of the century. The major planning. In the notification under Wildlife threats to tiger population are numerous, Act of 1980 and 1986, several hundred such as poaching for trade, shrinking butterflies, moths, beetles, and one dragonfly habitat, depletion of prey base species, have been added to the list of protected growing human population, etc. The trade species. In 1991, for the first time plants were of tiger skins and the use of their bones in also added to the list, starting with six species. traditional medicines, especially in the Asian countries left the tiger population on the verge of extinction. Since India and Collect more information on the wildlife Nepal provide habitat to about two-thirds sanctuaries and national parks of India and of the surviving tiger population in the cite their locations on the map of India. world, these two nations became prime targets for poaching and illegal trading. Types and Distribution of Forest and “Project Tiger”, one of the well- Wildlife Resources publicised wildlife campaigns in the world, Even if we want to conserve our vast forest was launched in 1973. and wildlife resources, it is rather difficult to has been viewed not only as an effort to manage, control and regulate them. In India, save an endangered species, but with much of its forest and wildlife resources are equal importance as a means of either owned or managed by the government preserving biotypes of sizeable magnitude. through the Forest Department or other Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand, government departments. These are classified Sunderbans National Park in West Bengal, under the following categories. Bandhavgarh National Park in , Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary in (i) Reserved Forests: More than half of the , Manas Tiger Reserve in Assam total forest land has been declared and Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala are reserved forests. Reserved forests are some of the tiger reserves of India. regarded as the most valuable as far as the conservation of forest and wildlife resources are concerned. The conservation projects are now (ii) Protected Forests: Almost one-third of focusing on biodiversity rather than on a few the total forest area is protected forest, as of its components. There is now a more declared by the Forest Department. This intensive search for different conservation forest land are protected from any further measures. Increasingly, even insects are depletion.

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2021-22 Can you find out the reasons for the above mentioned problems?

(iii) Unclassed Forests: These are other Community and Conservation forests and wastelands belonging to Conservation strategies are not new in our both government and private individuals country. We often ignore that in India, forests and communities. are also home to some of the traditional Reserved and protected forests are also communities. In some areas of India, local referred to as permanent forest estates communities are struggling to conserve these maintained for the purpose of producing habitats along with government officials, timber and other forest produce, and for recognising that only this will secure their protective reasons. Madhya Pradesh has the own long-term livelihood. In Sariska Tiger largest area under permanent forests, Reserve, Rajasthan, villagers have fought constituting 75 per cent of its total forest area. against mining by citing the Wildlife Protection Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Act. In many areas, villagers themselves are Uttarakhand, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and have large protecting habitats and explicitly rejecting percentages of reserved forests of its total forest government involvement. The inhabitants of area whereas Bihar, Haryana, , five villages in the Alwar district of Rajasthan Himachal Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan have declared 1,200 hectares of forest as the have a bulk of it under protected forests. All Bhairodev Dakav ‘Sonchuri’, declaring their North-eastern states and parts of have own set of rules and regulations which do a very high percentage of their forests as not allow hunting, and are protecting the unclassed forests managed by local wildlife against any outside encroachments. communities.

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2021-22 Sacred groves - a wealth of diverse The famous Chipko movement in the and rare species Himalayas has not only successfully resisted Nature worship is an age old tribal belief deforestation in several areas but has also based on the premise that all creations of shown that community with nature have to be protected. Such beliefs indigenous species can be enormously have preserved several virgin forests in successful. Attempts to revive the traditional pristine form called Sacred Groves (the conservation methods or developing new forests of God and Goddesses). These methods of ecological farming are now patches of forest or parts of large forests have widespread. Farmers and citizen’s groups like been left untouched by the local people and the Beej Bachao Andolan in Tehri and any interference with them is banned. Navdanya have shown that adequate levels Certain societies revere a particular tree of diversified crop production without the use which they have preserved from time of synthetic chemicals are possible and immemorial. The Mundas and the Santhal of economically viable. Chota Nagpur region worship mahua (Bassia In India joint forest management (JFM) latifolia) and kadamba (Anthocaphalus programme furnishes a good example for cadamba) trees, and the tribals of Odisha and involving local communities in the Bihar worship the tamarind (Tamarindus management and restoration of degraded indica) and mango (Mangifera indica) trees forests. The programme has been in formal during weddings. To many of us, peepal and existence since 1988 when the state of Odisha banyan trees are considered sacred. passed the first resolution for joint forest Indian society comprises several management. JFM depends on the formation cultures, each with its own set of traditional of local (village) institutions that undertake methods of conserving nature and its protection activities mostly on degraded forest creations. Sacred qualities are often land managed by the forest department. In ascribed to springs, mountain peaks, plants return, the members of these communities and animals which are closely protected. You are entitled to intermediary benefits like non- will find troops of macaques and langurs timber forest produces and share in the timber around many temples. They are fed daily harvested by ‘successful protection’. and treated as a part of temple devotees. In The clear lesson from the dynamics of and around Bishnoi villages in Rajasthan, both environmental destruction and herds of , (chinkara), and reconstruction in India is that local peacocks can be seen as an integral part of communities everywhere have to be involved the community and nobody harms them. in some kind of natural resource management. But there is still a long way to go before local communities are at the centre- Write a short essay on any practices which stage in decision-making. Accept only those you may have observed and practised in economic or developmental activities, that are your everyday lives that conserve and protect people centric, environment-friendly and the environment around you. economically rewarding.

“The tree is a peculiar organism of unlimited kindness and benevolence and makes no demand for its sustenance, and extends generously the products of its life activity. It affords protection to all beings, offering shade even to the axemen who destroy it”. Gautama Buddha (487 B.C.)

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2021-22 EXERCISES EXERCISES EXERCISES EXERCISES EXERCISES

1. Multiple choice questions. (i) Which of these statements is not a valid reason for the depletion of flora and fauna? (a) Agricultural expansion. (b) Large scale developmental projects. (c) Grazing and fuel wood collection. (d) Rapid and urbanisation. (ii) Which of the following conservation strategies do not directly involve community participation? (a) Joint forest management (c) Chipko Movement (b) Beej Bachao Andolan (d) Demarcation of Wildlife sanctuaries

2. Match the following animals with their category of existence.

Animals/Plants Category of existence

Black buck Extinct Asiatic elephant Rare Andaman wild pig Endangered Himalayan brown bear Vulnerable Pink head duck Endemic

3. Match the following.

Reserved forests other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private individuals and communities Protected forests forests are regarded as most valuable as far as the conservation of forest and wildlife resources Unclassed forests forest lands are protected from any further depletion

4. Answer the following questions in about 30 words. (i) What is biodiversity? Why is biodiversity important for human lives? (ii) How have human activities affected the depletion of flora and fauna? Explain.

5. Answer the following questions in about 120 words. (i) Describe how communities have conserved and protected forests and wildlife in India? (ii) Write a note on good practices towards conserving forest and wildlife.

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2021-22

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