FOREST AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES

Let us find out about different existing plants and animal species based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. We can classify them as follows

• Normal Species: Species whose population levels are considered to be normal for their survival are considered Normal Species. Such as Cattle, Sal, Pine, rodents etc.
• Endangered Species: These are the species which are in danger of extinction. Survival of the species is difficult if the negative factors that have led to a decline in their population continue to Operate.  Ex: Blackbuck, crocodile, Indian wild ass, Indian rhino, lion-tailed macaque, sangai
• Vulnerable Species: These are the species whose population has declined to a level where they will move into the endangered category shortly if they continue to operate in the same way.  Ex: Blue sheep, Asiatic Elephant, Gangetic dolphin
• Rare Species: Species with a small population will move into endangered or vulnerable if the negative factors continue to operate. Ex: Himalayan brown bear, wild Asiatic buffalo, desert fox , hornbill etc.
• Endemic species: These species are isolated only in a particular location due to natural or geographical barriers. Ex: Andaman teal, Nicobar pigeon Andaman wild pig, Mithun in Arunachal Pradesh. 
• Extinct Species: These are the species that are not found even after searching in their areas and locations where they may occur. A species may be extinct from a local area, region, country, continent or entire earth. Ex: Asiatic cheetah, pink head duck

• Human beings who depleted the forests and wildlife for resources. 
• The greatest damage to Indian forests happened during the Colonial Period due to railway expansion, commercial activity and mining. 
• Even after Independence Agriculture expansion continues to be one of the major causes of the depletion of forest resources. 
• Between 1951 and 1980, according to a Forest Survey of India 26,200 sq area of forest had been converted into Agricultural Lands. 
• Large-scale development Projects have also contributed to the depletion of forests. 
• Narmada Sagar Project in Madya Pradesh which would inundate 40,000 hectares of forest
• Grazing and fuel collection are major factors.
• Habitat Destruction, hunting, poaching, over-exploitation, poisoning and forest fires. 
• Over Population in Third world Countries is often considered the Cause of Environmental degradation. 

• Schedule I, and Schedule II are for Absolute protection penalties and would consider maximum
• Schedule III, and Schedule IV are of lesser penalties and give Protection to the animals
• Schedule V permits to kill certain Animals like Common crow, Fruit Bats, Mice and rats only
• Scheduled VI contains the plants which are Prohibited from Protection

Central Government has announced various Projects to Protect Specific animals which are gravely in danger like the Tiger, one-horned rhinoceros, the Kashmir Stag or hangul and three types of crocodiles –Freshwater crocodiles, saltwater crocodiles, Gharials and the Asiatic Lions

Project Tiger: One of the most well-publicised wildlife campaigns in the world. It was launched in 1973, Tiger Conservation has not only seen as an effort to save an endangered but with equal importance as a means of preserving biotypes of sizeable magnitude.

The following are some Tiger Reserves

In India Much of its forest reserves and wildlife are either owned or maintained by the Government by the Forest Department or other government agencies

These are Classified under the following categories

4. Community and Conservation

In India, some Of the forests are home to some Traditional Communities

The following are the Protests which are done naturally by the people out of love towards Forests

• In Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan Villagers have fought against the mining by citing the Wildlife Protection Act
• In Many Areas, Villagers Protecting Habitats by themselves and explicitly rejecting Government Intervention
• The Inhabitants of five Villages in the Alwar district of Rajasthan have declared 1200 hectares of forest as the Bhairodev Dakar ‘ Sonchuri’ declaring their own set of rules and regulations which do not allow hunting, and are protecting wildlife from any outside Encroachments.
• The famous Chipko Movement in the Himalayas has not only succeeded in resisting deforestation in several areas but has also shown that community afforestation with indigenous species can be enormously successful
• Beej Bachao Andolan in Tehri and Navadanya have shown adequate levels of diversified Crops without the use of synthetic chemicals are possible and economically viable

“The tree is a Peculiar organism of Unlimited Kindness benevolence and makes no demand for its sustenance, and extends generously Products of its life activity.. it affords Protection to all beings, offering shade even to the axemen who destroy it “ – Gautama  Buddha.