Chapter 5
Natural plants
1. 1. Choose the correct answer from the following:
i) SandalwoodAn example:
a) Evergreen plants
b) Deciduous plants
C. B-insular forests
D. Thorny forests
Answer: b) Deciduous plants.
ii) Which of the following is the objective of the Tiger Project?
a) Killing a tiger.
b) Keeping the tigers in zoos.
C. Protection from poaching.
D. Make a movie about tigers.
Answer: c) Protection from poaching.
iii) Nandadevi Biosphere Reserve is located in which of the following states?
a) Bihar.
b) Uttar Pradesh
c) Northern Region
d) Orissa
Answer: c) Northern Region.
iv) How many biological reserves are recognized by IUCN?
a) One
b) Two
c) Three
d) Four
Answer: d) Four.
v) According to the Forest Policy of India, what percentage of the total area of the country should be covered by forests?
a) 33 percent
b) 55 percent
C) 44 percent
d) 22 percent
Answer: a) 33 per cent
2. 2. Say the following in 30 words.
i) What is a natural plant? In what kind of climate do tropical evergreen forests grow?
Answer: Those that have been nurtured by the natural environment (climate, soil) and have been able to sustain themselves smoothly and nutritiously in an area for many years without any disturbance. It is called a natural plant.
The annual rainfall is 200 cm. The average annual temperature is above 22oC. Tropical evergreen forests grow in that climate.
ii) What is meant by social forestry?
Answer: Social afforestation is a method by which forests are protected and trees are planted by adding new schemes. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the environment is healthy and the social and rural areas are improved.
iii) What is a bioprotected area?
Under the UNESCO 'Man and Biosphere Scheme', some areas are internationally protected as unique terrestrial and coastal ecosystems . These areas are called bioreserves.
iv) What is the difference between forest area and forest cover?
Answer: The difference between forest land and forest cover is-
1. 1. Forest land means the amount of land identified and recorded as forest with or without trees while forest cover means the area covered by forest.
2. 2. Forest land is datad by the State Revenue Department while forest cover is derived from aerial photographs and satellite photographs.
3. Answer in 150 words.
i) What measures have been taken for forest conservation?
Answer: Forests have an inseparable relationship with the environment. Forests provide many major or secondary benefits to our socio-economy. Therefore, forest conservation is a very important task. We should conserve forests especially for human survival and economic development.
The measures taken for forest conservation are:
(a) Afforestation of 33 per cent of the total land area.
(b) Maintaining environmental stability in areas where environmental balance is disturbed.
(c) To preserve the natural traditions of the country, biodiversity and genetic pools.
(d) Prevention of soil erosion, desertification, flood prevention and drought prevention.
(e) Increase of forest cover through social afforestation and creation of new forests on degraded lands.
(f) Timber, firewood, grass, food etc. which increase the production of forests. These are to help the villagers andencourage them to use other materials instead of wood.
(g) Develop public movements, especially among women, to encourage tree planting and stop felling of trees to prevent depletion of forest areas.
ii) For the conservation of forests and wildlife, how can human participation help or be effective?
Answer: Forests have an inseparable relationship with life and the environment. Forests provide many major or secondary benefits to our socio-economy. Therefore, forest conservation is a very important task for human survival and economic development.
People have adopted various schemes for the conservation of forests and wildlife. Conservation and management of forests through social forestry systems and plantation of trees on lying wasteland to contribute to environmental, social and rural development. Rural afforestation has increased forest agriculture and ethnic forests. These various afforestations have been very effective in conserving the forests and wildlife of the country.
Currently, the forests are being destroyed due to population growth. They are destroying the forests and settling in them. As a result, various species of animals in the forest are dying or becoming extinct. This has destroyed the environmental balance and caused problems in human settlements. Therefore, everyone should take care to restore the environment to a healthy state.
