Forest and Wildlife Resources Class 10 NCERT Solutions 2026 PDF Download

Ans: The destruction of forests has marginalized many forest-dependent communities (tribals). These communities have lost their livelihood and source of food, medicine, and culture. As they are displaced or forced into poverty to find work, their traditional knowledge, festivals, and way of life—which are deeply connected to nature—are eroding, leading to a loss of cultural diversity.

Ans: Biodiversity refers to the variety of living organisms (plants, animals, microorganisms) in a specific area.
Importance:
1. Humans depend on biodiversity for their daily needs (food, water, air).
2. We share the planet with millions of other beings, and we are part of a complex food web. If one species is lost, it affects the entire ecosystem upon which we depend.

Ans: 1. Habitat Destruction: Expansion of agriculture, railways, and industries has destroyed natural habitats.
2. Hunting and Poaching: Killing animals for skin, tusks, bones, and horns (e.g., Tigers, Rhinos).
3. Pollution: Industrial waste and chemical fertilizers poison the water and soil, killing aquatic life and birds.
4. Forest Fires: Often induced by shifting cultivation, they destroy vast tracts of forest.

Ans: 1. Sacred Groves: Communities in the Himalayas and Western Ghats protect forest patches (Devaranya, Nagavana) dedicated to deities, prohibiting cutting of trees.
2. Bishnois: In Rajasthan, herds of Blackbuck, Nilgai, and Peacocks are protected by the Bishnoi community as part of their religion.
3. Chipko Movement: In the Himalayas, villagers hugged trees to prevent contractors from felling them.
4. Beej Bachao Andolan: Farmers in Tehri showed that adequate levels of diversified crop production are possible without synthetic chemicals.

Ans: Good practices include:
1. Joint Forest Management (JFM): Involving local communities in the management and restoration of degraded forests. In return, they get non-timber forest produce.
2. Protection Acts: The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 banned hunting and protected habitats.
3. Creating Awareness: Celebrating Van Mahotsav and educating students about ecology.
4. Legal Status: Establishing National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries where human interference is restricted.

Ans: 1. Black Buck - Endangered
2. Asiatic Elephant - Endangered
3. Andaman Wild Pig - Endemic
4. Himalayan Brown Bear - Rare
5. Pink Head Duck - Extinct

Ans: Project Tiger was launched in 1973.

Ans: To involve local village communities in the protection and management of degraded forests in exchange for a share in non-timber forest produce (like fruits, gum, rubber, medicine).

Ans: Species which are only found in some particular areas usually isolated by natural or geographical barriers. Example: Andaman Teal, Nicobar Pigeon.

Ans: Odisha passed the first resolution for JFM in 1988.

Ans: The Himalayan Yew (Taxus wallichiana) is a medicinal plant. A chemical called 'Taxol' extracted from its bark/needles is used to treat cancer. It is under threat due to over-exploitation.

Ans: 1. Reserved Forests: More than half of the total forest land. Regarded as the most valuable for conservation. No human activity allowed.
2. Protected Forests: Almost one-third of the total forest area. Protected from any further depletion. Some human activity allowed with permission.
3. Unclassed Forests: Other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private individuals/communities.

Ans: 1. Commercial Agriculture: The British encouraged the production of commercial crops (cotton, jute, indigo), leading to forest clearing.
2. Railways: Vast tracts of forests were cleared to lay railway lines and for sleeper coaches (wood).
3. Scientific Forestry: The British introduced 'Scientific Forestry' where natural forests with high biodiversity were cut down and replaced by mono-culture plantations (like Teak or Pine) for timber.

Ans: 'Beej Bachao Andolan' (Save the Seeds Movement) was started by farmers in Tehri and Navdanya.
Aim: To conserve indigenous seeds and promote traditional farming methods.
Method: They showed that adequate levels of diversified crop production can be achieved without using synthetic chemicals, thus protecting soil fertility and biodiversity.

Ans: Since 1951, over 5,000 sq km of forest was cleared for river valley projects (dams). Example: The Narmada Sagar Project in Madhya Pradesh inundated 40,000 hectares of forest. Mining projects (like Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal) also disturb natural habitats and block migration routes of animals like elephants.

Ans: Government laws (like Wildlife Protection Act) are necessary but not sufficient. Local communities live in and around forests. If they are alienated (kicked out), conservation fails. When communities are involved (like Bishnois or JFM), they protect the forest more effectively because their livelihood and culture depend on it.

Ans: Dolomite mining in West Bengal.

Ans: Approx 24.56% (as per recent data). The target is 33%.

Ans: The Asiatic Cheetah (declared extinct in India in 1952).

Ans: It is a practice (often criticized) where a single commercially valuable species is extensively planted, while other species are eliminated. This reduces biodiversity.

Ans: Madhya Pradesh.