Forest And Wildlife Resources Important Questions for Class 10 Geography Chapter 2

Forest and Wildlife Resources Class 10 Important Questions: Important questions of forest and wildlife resources class 10 cover key topics like types of forests, biodiversity conservation, threats to wildlife, and government initiatives for environmental protection.

These questions help students understand the importance of sustainable forest management, different conservation strategies such as biosphere reserves and wildlife sanctuaries, and the role of communities in protecting natural resources. By practicing these important questions, students can improve their understanding of concepts and score well in exams.

Key Topics Covered in the Chapter

1. Biodiversity and Its Importance

2. Types of Forests in India

3. Threats to Forests and Wildlife

4. Conservation of Forests and Wildlife

5. Role of Communities in Conservation

Forest and Wildlife Resources Class 10 Important Questions Answers

Forest and Wildlife Resources Class 10 Important Questions help students understand conservation, biodiversity, sustainable use of forests, and the importance of protecting wildlife.

These forest and wildlife resources class 10 important questions also strengthen exam readiness by focusing on key concepts and frequently asked topics.

Section – A [1 Mark]

1. Which one of the following is not considered as a sacred tree in India
(A) Peepal (B) Neem (C) Banyan (D) Mango
Ans. (B) Neem

2. What percentage of the total number of species discovered worldwide are found in India?
(A) 3% (B) 8% (C) 15% (D) 30%
Ans. (B) 8%

3. The forest cover in our country has recently increased due to:
(A) Increase in natural forest growth
(B) Increase in net sown area
(C) Plantation by different agencies
(D) None of the above
Ans. (C) Plantation by different agencies

4. The Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal has been threatened by the loss of habitat of many species due to
(A) Industrial development
(B) Agricultural expansion
(C) Port activities
(D) Mining
Ans. (D) Mining

5. The species whose population has declined to a level from where it is likely to move into the endangered category shortly if the negative factors continue to operate are called:
(A) Endemic species
(B) Extinct species
(C) Vulnerable species
(D) Normal species
Ans. (C) Vulnerable species

6. Which of the following birds do not fall in the category of ‘critical’ species?
(A) Pink-headed duck
(B) Peacock
(C) Mountain quail
(D) Forest-spotted owl
Ans. (B) Peacock

7. The Himalayan brown bear is an example of:
(A) Vulnerable species
(B) Rare species
(C) Endemic species
(D) Extinct species
Ans. (B) Rare species

8. Which of the following plays a key role in the ecological system?
(A) Rocks (B) Roads (C) Forests (D) None of the above
Ans. (C) Forests

9. Substantial parts of the tribal belts in north-eastern India have been deforested by:
(A) Shifting cultivation
(B) Mining
(C) Infrastructure development
(D) None of the above
Ans. (A) Shifting cultivation

10. The Mundas and Santhals tribes of Chhota Nagpur region worship which one of the following trees?
(A) Mahua (B) Mango (C) Peepal (D) Tamarind
Ans. (A) Mahua

Section – B [2 Marks]

11. Name any two species of plants on the verge of extinction.
Sol. The plants on the verge of extinction are:

1. Madhuca insignis (Wild Mahua)

2. Hubbardia heptaneuron (A species of grass)

12. Name any four species of animals categorized as endangered species by IUCN.
Sol. Species, which are in danger of extinction because their population is declining. For example, Blackbuck, Indian rhino, lion-tailed macaque, and Indian wild ass.

13. What do you mean by vulnerable resources / Species?
Sol. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a species is considered vulnerable if it's at risk of extinction due to several factors, including:
• Population decline: A 30–50% decline in population over the previous 10 years
• Population size: Fewer than 1,000 individuals in the current population
• Habitat loss: Destruction of the species' home

14. Name any four resources that are obtained from our biodiversity.
Sol. The resources are wood, rubber, medicines, and dyes.

15. Differentiate between Reserved and Protected Forests?
Sol.

1. Reserved Forests: More than half of the total forest land has been declared a reserved forest. Reserved forests are regarded as the most valuable as far as the conservation of forest and wildlife resources is concerned.

2. Protected Forests: Almost one-third of the total forest area is protected forest, as declared by the Forest Department. This forest land is protected from any further depletion.

Section – C [3 Marks]

16. Briefly explain the efforts of forest conservation in India.
Sol. In the 1960s and 1970s, conservationists demanded a national wildlife protection program. The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act was implemented in 1972, with various provisions for protecting habitats. An all-India list of protected species was also published. The thrust of the program was towards protecting the remaining population of certain endangered species by banning hunting, giving legal protection to their habitats, and restricting wildlife trade. Subsequently, central and many state governments established national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, about which you have already studied. The central government also announced several projects for protecting specific animals that were gravely threatened, including the tiger, the one-horned rhinoceros, the Kashmir stag or hangul, three types of crocodiles – freshwater crocodile, saltwater crocodile and the Gharial, the Asiatic lion, and others.

17. What is biodiversity? Why is biodiversity important for human lives?
Sol. The variety of animals, plants, and microorganisms on Earth is called Biodiversity. It's important for human life because it provides many essential services, including:
• Food security: A diverse range of species contributes to pollination, pest control, and genetic diversity for crop resilience.
• Clean air, water, and soil: Biodiversity provides ecosystem services that are essential for human survival.
• Medicine and materials: Biodiversity is the source of many medicinal resources and materials.
• Economic benefits: Biodiversity is considered an immense economic resource.

18. How have human activities affected the depletion of flora and fauna? Explain.
Sol. The human activities that affected the depletion of flora and fauna are as follows:

1. Habitat destruction, mainly due to overpopulation, leads to the expansion of agriculture, mining, industrialisation, and urbanisation and consequent wiping out of large forest areas.

2. Hunting and poaching, and illegal trade of animal skin, tusks, bones, teeth, horns, etc, have led many species to the verge of extinction.

3. Environmental pollution, poisoning of water bodies due to the discharge of industrial effluents, chemicals, wastes, etc., leads to animal deaths.

4. Forest fires are often induced by shifting cultivation, wiping out valuable forests and wildlife.

19. Write three adverse impacts of dolomite mining in the Buxar Tiger Reserve on the ecosystem.
Sol. The adverse effects of dolomite mining in the Buxar Tiger Reserve are as follows:

1. It has caused ecological damage.

2. It has blocked the migration route of several species.

3. It has disturbed the natural habitat of many species.

20. Destruction of biodiversity is highly correlated with the loss of cultural diversity.” Elaborate.
Sol.

1. The tribal societies are impacted directly or indirectly by the depletion of forest resources. Tribal populations rely mainly on forestry resources for their subsistence. When woods are destroyed, they lose their original habitats.

2. Women are affected more than men, for women bear the major responsibility of basic subsistence needs. With the depletion of these resources, the drudgery of women increased for they had to walk for more than 10 km to collect these resources, which, in turn, affected their health and negligence of home and children.

3. The indirect impact of degradation, eg, drought or floods etc., also hits the poor the hardest.

4. Tribals worship plants and animals in the forest. Hence, the destruction of forests would affect the cultural identity of tribal people.

5. Deforestation leads to natural calamities and may sometimes erase the entire community and their culture.

21. Write a brief note on ‘Project Tiger’.
Sol. ‘Project Tiger’ was one of the most well-published wildlife campaigns in the world, launched in 1973. Initially, it showed an increase in the tiger population till 1989 but in 1993 the tiger population dropped. There are 27 tiger reserves in India covering an area of 37,761 sq km.
Tiger conservation has been viewed not only as an effort to save endangered species but with equal importance as a means of preserving biotypes of sizeable magnitude. Corbett National Park, (Uttarakhand), Sundarbans National Park (West Bengal), Bandhavgarh National Park (Madhya Pradesh), Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary (Rajasthan) Manas Tiger Reserve (Assam), and Periyar Tiger Reserve (Kerala) are some of the reserves in India.

22. Why do we need to conserve our forests and wildlife? Explain.
Sol. There is a need to conserve the forests and wildlife in India:
● Conservation of biodiversity is necessary because it preserves the ecological diversity.
● Forests and wildlife preserve our life support systems, i.e., water, air, and soil. For example, plants, animals, and microorganisms recreate the quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the soil that produces our food without which we cannot survive.
● It also preserves the genetic diversity of plants and animals for better growth and breeding of species. For example, in agriculture, we are still dependent on traditional crop varieties.
● Fisheries too are heavily dependent on the maintenance of aquatic biodiversity.
● Forests are primary producers on which all other living beings depend not only for food but indirectly for many other forest products that are used for varied purposes.

Section E (4 Marks)

Read the information below and answer the questions that follow.

Nature worship is an age-old tribal belief based on the premise that all creations of nature have to be protected. Such beliefs have preserved several virgin forests in the pristine form called Sacred Groves (the forests of God and Goddesses). These patches of forest or parts of large forests have been left untouched by the local people and any interference with them is banned. Certain societies revere a particular tree which they have preserved from time immemorial. The Mundas and the Santhal of Chota Nagpur region worship mahua (Bassia latifolia) and kadamba (Anthocaphalus cadamba) trees, and the tribals of Odisha and Bihar worship the tamarind (Tamarindus indica) and mango (Mangifera indica) trees during weddings. To many of us, peepal and banyan trees are considered sacred. Indian society comprises several cultures, each with its own set of traditional methods of conserving nature and its creations. Sacred qualities are often ascribed to springs, mountain peaks, plants, and animals which are closely protected. You will find troops of macaques and langurs around many temples. They are fed daily and treated as a part of temple devotees. In and around Bishnoi villages in Rajasthan, herds of blackbuck, (chinkara), nilgai, and peacocks can be seen as an integral part of the community and nobody harms them.

(i) What do you mean by nature worship? (1 Mark)
Sol. Nature worship is an age-old tribal belief based on the premise that all creations of nature have to be protected. Such beliefs have preserved several virgin forests in the pristine form called Sacred Groves (the forests of God and Goddesses).

(ii) Briefly describe the tribes who worship trees. (2 Marks)
Sol. The Mundas and the Santhal of Chota Nagpur region worship mahua (Bassia latifolia) and kadamba (Anthocaphalus cadamba) trees, and the tribals of Odisha and Bihar worship the tamarind (Tamarindus indica) and mango (Mangifera indica) trees during weddings. To many of us, peepal and banyan trees are considered sacred. Indian society comprises several cultures, each with its own set of traditional methods of conserving nature and its creations.

(iii) Which community of Rajasthan worships blackbuck? (1 Mark)
Sol. In and around Bishnoi villages in Rajasthan, herds of blackbuck (chinkara), nilgai, and peacocks can be seen as an integral part of the community and nobody harms them.

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