1. | Jul 2012| © 2012 UPES

2. Jul 2012
Jul 2012 © 2012 UPES

3.  Derived from Latin word ‘Foris’ meaning outside
 Forests are extensive wild natural self sustained wooded tracts
of land with a biotic community predominated by woody
vegetation consisting of trees and shrubs with a closed canopy.
 Forest lands are ‘all lands bearing vegetation dominated by
trees of any size, exploited or not, capable of producing wood
or other forest products.’ (Food and Agriculture Organization
‘FAO’ of UNO)
 Ecologists define forests as ‘ an ecosystem having a plant
community predominantly of trees and other woody vegetation’
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4.  Forestry: Branch of Science which is connected with
establishment, protection, management and exploitation of
forests.
 Silviculture=Syviculture is branch of forestry connected with
cultivation and breeding of forest plants
 Out of 13393mha land of the world, 4416 mha is covered with
forests.
 Out of 32,87,263 sq km of land in India, 6,37,293 sq km is
covered by forests.
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5. They are of 4 major types
 Tropical forests
 Montane Subtropical forests
 Temperate forests
 Alpine Forests
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6.  Ecological/Environmental Uses
 Local use/Consumptive uses
 Commercial/ productive uses
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7.  Protects soil
 Retention of sub soil water
 Prevention of Floods or watershed protection
 Increase in Rainfall
 Increase in atmospheric humidity
 Maintains local climate
 Reduces atmospheric pollution
 Maintains ecological balance
 Maintains hydrological cycle
 Provides shelter to wild animals
 Prevents soil erosion
 Lank bank (maintains soil structure and nutrients)
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8.  Food
 Fodder for cattle
 Fuelwood and charcoal for cooking and heating
 Poles, bamboos for making homes
 Timber
 Fibre for weaving baskets, nets, ropes
 Apiculture ( rearing of bees) for honey
 Sericulture for silk
 Medicinal plants
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9.  Most of the products of consumptive uses ( above) are also
sold and are a source of income
 Non Timber Forest Produce (NTFPs) like gums, resins, fruits,
fibre are collected and sold by local people. ( Minor Forest
Produce)
 Major Timber Extraction for construction, industrial uses, paper,
pulp etc.
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10. Jul 2012
Jul 2012 © 2012 UPES

11. Loss or continual degradation of forest habitat due to either
natural or human related causes is known as deforestation.
Agriculture, urban sprawl, unsustainable forestry practices,
mining and petroleum extraction all contribute to human
caused deforestation
Natural deforestation can be linked to tsunamis, forest fires,
volcanic eruptions, glaciation, desertification etc.
Jul 2012
Jul 2012 © 2012 UPES

12.  Population Pressure
 Agricultural Expansion
 Industrial Development
 Lack of ethics and awareness
 Shifting cultivation
 Fuel requirements
 Raw materials for industrial use
 Development projects
 Growing food needs
 Overgrazing
 Forest fires
 Etc.
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13.  It threatens the existence of many wildlife species due to
destruction of their natural habitat.
 Biodiversity is lost and along with that genetic diversity is eroded.
 Hydrological cycle gets affected, thereby influencing rainfall.
 Problems of soil erosion and loss of soil fertility (soil degradation).
 In hilly areas it often leads to landslides.
 More carbon is added to the atmosphere and global warming is
enhanced.
 Changes in climatic conditions
 Destruction of an important sink of pollutants of the environment
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14.  Prevention of Deforestation
 controlling unregulated expansion of agriculture and cattle
ranching at the expense of forests
controlling unregulated grazing and destruction of green
cover
Controlling unregulated fuel wood collection and timber
harvesting
 Awareness among people ( Chipko Movement 1973, appiko
movement, 1983)
 Forest Management
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15.  Reforestation
 Afforestation
 Social forestry
Farm forestry ( agro forestry)
Rural forestry ( community forestry)
Urban forestry
Extension forestry
 Forest Conservation Act 1980
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16.  December 1972- commencement of movement by bishnoi
women after flash floods and landslides ( alaknanda & bhagirathi
in 1971)
 March 1973- under leadership of Gauri Devi women embraced
trees
 Sunderlal Bahuguna popularized the movement with
Chandiprasad bhatt
 The term CHIPKO was popularized through folk songs of
Ghanshyam Sailani ( chipko activist)
 Leaders of chipko movement believe in 5 Fs- food, fodder, fuel,
fibre, fertilizer
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17. Main features of Chipko Andolan
 Based on Gandhian thoughts- non violence
 The movement remained non political though supported by
political parties
 Raised fundamental issues of conservation of natural
resources
 Was a totally voluntary movement
 Concerned with ecological balance of nature
 Concerned with the concept of ecology as permanent
economy
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18.  Informal agreement between local communities and Forest
Department began in 1972, in Midnapore, West Bengal
 JFM identifies and respects the local community’s rights and
benefits that they need from forest resources
 Under JFM Scheme, Forest Protection Committees (FPCs)
from local community members are formed
 FPCs participate in restoration of green cover and protect the
area from being over exploited
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19. BIODIVERSITY
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20.  Biodiversity = Biological diversity
 It is the variability among living organisms
 It refers to the variety of all living organisms and their natural habitats
found in a defined area.
 Term biodiversity was coined by E.O. Wilson in 1985 (Father of
biodiversity)
 14 Different definitions of Biodiversity
The intrinsically in-built plus the externally imposed variability in and
among living organisms existing in terrestrial, marine and other
ecosystems at a specific period of time.
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21.  In the convention on Biological Diversity
(1992),biodiversity has been defined as the variability
among living organisms from all sources including inter
alia terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystem and
the ecological complexes of which they are a part.
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22. The diversity of population and species and their interaction is
assessed and evaluated at different levels
 Genetic diversity ( Diversity within species)
Refers to variation of genes within species
 Species diversity (Diversity between species)
Refers to a variety of species within a region
 Ecosystem Diversity
Refers to diversity of ecological complexes or biotic communities
in a given area.
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23. Concept defined by Norman Myers, 1988
They are regions which harbor a great diversity of endemic
species
Refers to areas
 Which are rich in general diversity
 Which have high degree of endemism
 Area with higher incidence of endangered and threatened
species of fauna and flora
Regions having rich biodiversity, high levels of endemism and are
under immediate threat of species extinction and habitat
destruction (IUCN/UNEP,1986)
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24. To qualify as a hotspot, a region
 Must support 1500 endemic plant species/0.5% of global total
 Must have lost more than 70% of its original habitat
25 hotspots in the world
Biggest Hotspot lies over Indo-Myanmar region & covers 2 million
sq. km. of area
HOTSPOTS OF INDIA
 Eastern Himalayas (cradle of civilization)
 Western ghats
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25. Some countries situated in tropical areas possess major portion
of world’s species diversity.
12 such countries are called hotspot zones of biodiversity or
Megadiversity countries which harbour 70% of world’s
species diversity
India is a megadiversity country
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27.  Consumptive value
 Productive value
 Social value
 Aesthetic value
 Ethical and moral value
 Optional value
 Ecosystem services
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28.  Food: Sources of Food:
 Plants: There are about 3000 species of food plants out
of which only 150 species are commercialized. Plant
provide wide variety of food like maize, wheat, rice.
 Animal: Man consume meat from mainly nine species of
animal like cattle, ship, pig, goat, water buffaloes,
chickens, duck, geese and turkeys.
 Fishes are now regarded as a domesticated animal
because of development of aquaculture.
 Curd, cheese milk are obtained from dairy farms.
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29. Sources of Fats and Oil
Now a days most commonly used oil seed plant like mustard , ground
nut, palm oil. The other oil like soyabean, binola(cotton seed) ,
sunflower are becoming popular.
Fibres: major fiber yielding varieties are cotton, flax, jute, sisal, coir,
abaca
New disease resistant varities:
 Some commercial species of food plants are susceptible to certain
disease. These species can be made resistant to particular disease
by cross bred.
 Eg. Potato has been made resistant to late blight by deriving a
resistant strain from solanum demissum.
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30. Drug and Medicine
 A number of herb has been used to cure various ailments.
 Various plant contain valuable drugs. Eg. Rosy Periwinkle plant is
used for treatment of cancer.
 Tulsi has the property of antibacterial.
 Quinine is used for the treatment of malaria.
 The importance of herbal plant for ailment of various disease was
discussed our ancient Scriptual Ayurveda.
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31.  Tusk------------------- elephant
 Musk -------------------musk deer
 Lac ------------------------lac insect
 Silk ------------------------silk worm
 Fur of many animals
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32.  Since the ancient time our culture and festival were
associated with various plant and animals. Eg. Banyan
tree, peepal, tulsi has been worshipped by women of
India. Some animal like cow is considered our mother.
 Some animal and plant considered as a national
symbol like Peacock, Tiger, Lotus, Banyan.
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33.  Biodiversity provide lots of aesthetic and beautification
value. Human being is fond of maintaining garden,
keeping pets, ecotourism.
 We go to various hill station, national park , zoological
garden , sanctuaries to watch scenic beauties.
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34.  Live and let live .
 It means that we may or may not use a species but knowing the
very fact that this species exist in nature give us pleasure.
 Feel sorry for Passenger pigeon and Dodo bird is no more on
earth
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35.  These value include the potentials of biodiversity that are
presently unknown and need to be explored.
 For eg potential cure for AIDS &cancer are in the depth of
ocean ecosystem and tropical rainforest.
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36.  Protection of Water resource
 Forest and plant cover in water catchments area help
• To maintain hydrological cycle.
• Regulating and stablising water runoff.
• Acting as a buffer against natural calamities like flood and
drought.
• Forest increase the water table.
• Regeneration of natural spring.Eg. Wet land and forest act as a
water purifying system while mangroves trap silt reducing
impact of sea waves, tides or Tsunami.
 Soil formation and protection
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37.  Soil formation and protection
Clearing of forest lead to
• Salinization of soil, leaching of nutrient
• Erosion of top soil
• Reducing of land productivity
• Soil can be preserve by maintaining biodiversity, retaining
moisture, preventing erosion.
• Plant body provide organic matter to soil through decay.
• Root system facilitate microbial activity and increase porosity of
soil
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38.  Nutrient Storage and Cycling
• All the nutrient are recycled in nature. These nutrient found in
air, water, soil.
• Plant take up these nutrient from air, water, soil which enter in
the animals body through food chain. After the death of plant
and animal these nutrient come back in the environment
through decomposition process which is carried out by bacteria
and fungi.
• Some bacteria and fungi convert the atmospheric nitrogen into
nitrate, nitrite through biological nitrogen fixation . For eg.
Rizobium Legumious relationship.
• Rizobium is one of the main N2 – fixing bacteria living in the
nodules of root of leguminous plants.
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39.  Maintaining Climate Stability
• Vegetation affect climate at macro and micro level. Dense
forest promote rainfall by recycling of water vapour.
 Reducing Pollution
• Different kind of bateria , fungi and protozoa are well known for the
decomposition and break down of micro – organism.
• These microorganism absorb the pollutant like sewage, garbage and
oil spills. Natural and artificial wetland are being used to filter effluent
to remove nutrient.
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40.  Maintenance of Ecosystem
• All species are equally important in our ecosystem. Disruption
of one species can lead to destruction of whole ecosystem.
According to food chain and food web all species of plant and
animal are interrelated with each other. For e.g Plant ---- deer---
---lion
• If the population of lion is destroyed the population of deer can
increase in excess and overpopulation of deer will eat up whole
grasses in grassland ecosystem thus making into degraded
ecosystem.
• If the population of deer decreased it can lead to overgrowth
of plant that will lead to competition between the various
species of plants and in this way whole ecosystem can be
degraded.
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41.  Surviving from natural calamities
• Natural calamities like floods, drought, cyclone, typhoon,
forest fire, land slide are mostly unpredictable event and
proved to be hazardous for all human being.
• Natural calamities cause loss of lives, properties and building.
• Forest act as a buffer against all these calamities it control
floods, cyclone and typhoon.
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42. Jul 2012
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43.  Destruction of Habitat is a serious threat to wildlife for the reasons
a. Absence of cover and shelter- that exposes animals to predators
and vagaries of nature
b. Reduction in area of movement which retards their reproductive
capacity
c. Absence of food due to destruction of wild plants
d. Building roads and railways through forests reduces area of
movement
e. Pollution of water and air along with acid rain affect all forms of life
f. Destruction of habitat of scavengers
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44.  Hunting : Excessive hunting of wild animals is of 3 types
a. Subsistence hunting for food and safety
b. Sport hunting for recreation or amusement
c. Commercial hunting for obtaining musk, ivory, fur etc.
 Dams and reservoirs
a. Block route of fishes and prevent their reproduction
b. Submerge natural flora
 Legal lapse : failure for enforcement of laws to protect life forms
 Ignorance : about the importance of maintaining flora and fauna
 Trade: rare animals are being poached and captured for trade
 Introduction of exotic species
a. Extinction of dodo of mauritius due to introduction of pigs
b. Water hyacinth and lantana camara in India
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45. Jul 2012
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46.  Threatened species are those that are likely to become extinct if
immediate steps are not taken for their conservation
 A record of threatened species is maintained by International Union
for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN),
Morges, Switzerland. It is called the Red Data Book.
 Criteria used for categorization of endangered species in the
book
a. The present and past distribution
b. Decline in no. or population in the course of time
c. Abundance and quality of natural habitat
d. Biology and potential value of the species
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47. According to the degree of danger to the threatened species
 Endangered species (E)
Species in danger of extinction if current casual factors continue to
operate eg. Habitat destrution, more death rate than birth rate etc.
Example: Tiger, great indian bustard, rhino, red panda musk deer
 Vulnerable species (V)
Species having sufficient population at present but is depleting fast and
are likely to enter the category of endangered species in near future.
Example: spotted deer, black buck, golden langur, leopard cat.
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48.  Rare species ( R)
They have small population in the world and are at great risk and may
come under attack from a new predator, pathogen or exotic organism.
Example: Indian desert cat, wild yak, snow loris
 Indeterminate species (I)
These are in danger of extinction but a specific cause cannot be
assigned. Example : Mexican Prairie Dog, Short eared rabbit of
sumatra, 3 banded armadillo of brazil
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49. Jul 2012
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50.  Conservation of biodiversity is the scientific management of biosphere in
such a way that it remains at the optimum level, yielding greatest
sustainable benefit to the present generation while retaining its potential to
meet the needs and aspirations of future generations.
 Maintaining ecological processes and life supporting systems at optimum
level
 Preserve diversity of species and germplasm (genetic diversity) of world’s
organisms.
 Ensure a continuous (everlasting) and sustainable supply of materials for
all the human beings and their industries
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51. World conservation strategy was formulated in 1980
 Non disturbance or disturbance to the minimum when it is essential.
 Protection of threatened species.
 Priority to monotypic forms (only one species of a genus or a family)
 Priority to endangered species over vulnerable over rare species.
 In-situ and ex-situ conservation.
 Management of life support system ( air, water, land)
 Conservation of currently useful organisms germplasm like food
crops, timber plants.
 Conservation of wild relatives of economically useful organisms.
 Protection of natural habitats of wild relatives of useful organisms.
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52.  Safe guarding critical habitats of wild animals
 Preservation of whole ecosystem of threatened species
 Protection of unique ecosystems on priority basis
 Establishment of national parks and sanctuaries for wildlife
protection
 Non disturbance of routes of migratory animals and their resting
places
 Avoidance of over exploitation of useful products of wildlife
 Regulation of hunting and international trade of wildlife
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53. In 1992, Earth Summit held in Rio de Janerio resulted in
Convention on Biodiversity ( became effective from 29.12.1993)
Three major objectives identified
 Sustainable use of Biodiversity
 Conservation of biodiversity
 Justified sharing of benefits due to use of genetic resources
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54.  International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
(IUCN) , 1948, Morges , Switzerland
 World wildlife fund (WWF) , 1961, Glands, Switzerland (Symbol- Giant
Panda)
 World Wildlife Fund (WWF) India, 1969, Bombay
 Convention on International Trade in Endangered species of Wild
Flora and Fauna (CITES) , 1975
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55.  In situ Conservation Strategies
 Ex situ Conservation Strategies
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56. Biodiversity Conservation Management System
In situ conservation Ex situ conservation
Protected area network
Sacred Biosphere National Sacred Seed Botanical
forests reserves Parks, wildl plants and bank, field gardens, a
and ife home gene rborata, zo
sacred sanctuaries gardens banks, cryo- os
lakes preservation
and tissue
culture
Terrestrial Marine
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