Subject Experts Solutions for Chapter: Conservation of Plants and Animals, Exercise 3: TOUGH NUT

Ram is of the view that proper conservation of forests can be done by making unauthorised cutting of trees illegal. What is your view on it?

Tibu has a brilliant idea. In order to maintain the forest and still meet his needs, he thought of planting five trees every two weeks when he goes to the forest to cut down five trees. Do you think it will help in conserving the forest?

Recently, many landslides have been reported in a certain area. What do you think of the reason?

Rajnit's school has invited experts from the Ecology Commission to come and talk about the desertification taking place in India. The experts present the following facts: (i) 25% of the land in India is undergoing desertification; (ii) 32% of total land in India is facing degradation, and Gujarat has around 68% of its land under the process of desertification/degradation followed by Rajasthan with 66%. Rajnit is shocked to hear this. He never imagined that progressive states like Gujarat will have 68% of its land under degradation. The experts tell Rajnit that this degradation in India was the result of loss of vegetation due to deforestation, cutting beyond permissible limits, unsustainable fuel wood and fodder extraction, shifting cultivation, encroachment on forests lands, forest fires, overgrazing. The development is taking place at the cost of ecology, and sadly the same ecology will be unable to sustain population if the destruction is left unchecked.

What is the most serious reason for desertification? Name two other states which are also facing desertification and degradation.

Rajnit's school has invited experts from the Ecology Commission to come and talk about the desertification taking place in India. The experts present the following facts: (i) 25% of the land in India is undergoing desertification; (ii) 32% of total land in India is facing degradation, and Gujarat has around 68% of its land under the process of desertification/degradation followed by Rajasthan with 66%. Rajnit is shocked to hear this. He never imagined that progressive states like Gujarat will have 68% of their land under degradation. The experts tell Rajnit that this degradation in India was the result of loss of vegetation due to deforestation, cutting beyond permissible limits, unsustainable fuel wood and fodder extraction, shifting cultivation, encroachment on forests lands, forest fires, overgrazing. The development is taking place at the cost of ecology, and sadly the same ecology will be unable to sustain the population if the destruction is left unchecked.

Human beings destroy ecology for the sake of development. Do you agree with this statement? Why?

After recently returning from an international seminar organised by the forest department of India, Ruth is very sad about the wildlife crimes taking place in India and discusses this with her best friend Matali.

Ruth: According to the forest department, tigers in India are nearly extinct.

Matali: Why? The Indian Government has declared forty-eight tiger reserves in India for their protection. How can they move towards extinction?

Ruth: The government has declared tiger reserves but still the tigers are not safe. They are much in demand internationally as status symbols, for making decorative items, and for use in flock cures. This illegal trade is most serious and immediate threat to the tiger population.

Matali: Oh! But surely the government has banned hunting.

Ruth: Yes, but laws are seldom implemented as greed has no limit. Further, the habitat of tigers is also being affected as the population of other animals is decreasing.

Matali: We should do something about this Ruth.

Ruth: Yes, but what can we do?

How can a decrease in the population of other animals affect the tiger population?

After recently returning from an international seminar organised by the forest department of India, Ruth is very sad about the wildlife crimes taking place in India and discusses this with her best friend Matali.

Ruth: According to the forest department, tigers in India are nearly extinct.

Matali: Why? The Indian Government has declared forty-eight tiger reserves in India for their protection. How can they're moving towards extinction?

Ruth: The government has declared tiger reserves but still the tigers are not safe. They are much in demand internationally as status symbols, for making decorative items, and for use in flock cures. This illegal trade is most serious and immediate threat to the tiger population.

Matali: Oh! But surely the government has banned hunting.

Ruth: Yes, but laws are seldom implemented as greed has no limit. Further, the habitat of tigers is also being affected as the population of other animals is decreasing.

Matali: We should do something about this Ruth.

Ruth: Yes, but what can we do?

List two endangered animals, besides tigers, which are being illegally smuggled out of India.

After recently returning from an international seminar organised by the forest department of India, Ruth is very sad about the wildlife crimes taking place in India and discusses this with her best friend Matali.

Ruth: According to the forest department, tigers in India are nearly extinct.

Matali: Why? The Indian Government has declared forty-eight tiger reserves in India for their protection. How can they are moving towards extinction?

Ruth: The government has declared tiger reserves but still the tigers are not safe. They are much in demand internationally as status symbols, for making decorative items, and for use in flock cures. This illegal trade is most serious and immediate threat to the tiger population.

Matali: Oh! But surely the government has banned hunting.

Ruth: Yes, but laws are seldom implemented as greed has no limit. Further, the habitat of tigers is also being affected as the population of other animals is decreasing.

Matali: We should do something about this Ruth.

Ruth: Yes, but what can we do?

'Love for money is the root of all evil'. Do you agree?