Forest and Wildlife Resources

• Our country has 8 per cent of the total number of species in the world. (Estimated to be 1.6 million )

• Atleast 10 per cent of India’s recorded wild flora and 20 per cent of its mammals are on the threatened list.
• ‘Critical’ species are that which are on  the verge of extinction like the cheetah, mountain quail and plants like madhuca insignis.

> These Flora and Fauna are classified based on International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources(IUCN).

1.  Normal Species population levels are normal for their survival, such    as cattle, sal, pine, rodents, etc.

2.  Endangered Species are in danger of extinction . The survival of these species is difficult if the negative factors continue to operate examples black buck, crocodile, Indian  wild ass, Indian rhino,Asiatic Cheetah,Andaman & Nicobar Shrew,Great Indian bustard,Indian Vulture etc.

3. Vulnerable Species population has declined they are likely to move into the endangered category such as blue sheep, Asiatic elephant, Gangetic  dolphin.

4. Extinct Species are not found after searches of areas such as Asiatic cheetah, pink head duck.

5.  Endemic Species are only found in some  particular areas usually isolated by natural or geographical barriers such as the  Andaman teal, Nicobar pigeon.Andaman wild pig,  Mithun in Arunachal Pradesh

6. Rare species : Species with small population ,which may enter in to either endangered or  vulnerable  category.

FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LARGE SCALE DEPLETION OF FLORA & FAUNA

1. colonial period:The greatest damage done on our forests was during the colonial period . During this period  due to the expansion of the railways, agriculture, commercial and scientific forestry and mining activities our forests and wildlife were damaged.

2. After Independence : Agricultural expansion is one of the major causes of depletion of forest resources Between 1951 and  1980, according to the Forest  Survey of India,over 26,200 sq. km. of forest area was converted into agricultural land all over India. 

Major parts of the tribal belts, especially in the    northeastern and central India, have been deforested or degraded by shifting cultivation (jhum), a type of ‘slash and burn’ agriculture.

3. Large-scale development projects : Since 1951, over 5,000 sq km of forest was cleared for river valley  projects. Clearing of forests is still continuing with projects like the Narmada Sagar Project in Madhya Pradesh, which would inundate 40,000 hectares  of forest.

4. Mining activities : Mining is another important factor    behind deforestation. The Buxa Tiger Reserve  in West Bengal is seriously threatened by the ongoing dolomite mining. It has disturbed the natural habitat of many species and blocked  the migration route of several others, including the great Indian elephant.

5. Over grazing and fuel wood collection : Many foresters and environmentalists believe that the factor behind the depletion of forest resources is grazing and fuel-wood collection .A substantial part of the fuel-fodder demand is met by lopping rather  than by felling entire trees

Factors that have led to the decline in India’s biodiversity.

·        Habitat destruction of plants and animals

·        Hunting &  poaching for commercial purposes,

·        Over-exploitation,

·        environmental pollution,& poisoning  

          caused by industrial activities

·        forest fires 

Other important causes of environmental destruction are

·        unequal access and inequitable consumption of resources

·        disparity in  sharing of responsibility for environmental 

         well-being.

     ·       Over-population in third world countries is often cited as

               the cause of environmental degradation.

·        Rich and developed countries consume more

        resources and create more wastes than poor

        and less developed countries