GEOGRAPHY GIST 1 –CLASS X:

CHAPTERS 1 & 2
LESSONS TAUGHT FROM 22.04.2024 TO 28.06.2024
 CLASS X

GEOGRAPHY

GIST OF LESSONS TAUGHT FROM 22.04.24 TO 28.06.24

CHAPTER 1 RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

DEFINITION OF RESOURCE: Everything available in our environment that can be used to satisfy human
needs, provided it is technologically accessible, economically feasible, and culturally acceptable can be
termed resources. Coal that is used to generate thermal power is a resource.

CLASSIFICATION OF RESOURCES :

Resources can be divided into Natural and Human resources.

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 • Human resources can be subdivided into Structures and Institutions as well as Quantity and
Quality.
• Natural Resources can be subdivided into Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources. Non-
renewable resources can be subdivided further into Recyclable (metals ) and Non-Recyclable
resources ( fossil fuels ). Renewable resources can be subdivided into Continuous or flow ( wind
& water ) and Biological resources. Biological resources can be subdivided into Natural
Vegetation and Wildlife.
• Based on origin: biotic and abiotic resources
• Based on exhaustibility: Renewable and Non -Renewable resources
• Based on ownership: Individual resources, community-owned resources, national resources, and
international resources
• Based on the status of development: potential, developed or actual, stock and reserves.

DEVELOPMENT OF RESOURCES AND RESOURCE PLANNING -

Sustainable economic development means ‘development should take place without damaging the
environment and development in the present should not compromise with the needs of the future
generations.’

A widely accepted strategy for judicious use of resources is known as Resource Planning.

In June 1992, more than 100 heads of states met in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. The Rio Convention
endorsed the global forest principles and adopted Agenda 21. It is an agenda to combat environmental
damage, poverty, and diseases through global cooperation on common interests, mutual needs, and
shared responsibilities.

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Resource Planning in India involves :

• Identification and inventory of resources across the regions of the country.

• Evolving a planning structure with appropriate technology, skill, and institutional setup for
implementing resource development plans.
• Matching the resources development plans with overall national development.

CONSERVATION OF RESOURCES IN INDIA :

Quote of Mahatma Gandhi ”: There is enough for everybody’s need and not for anybody’s greed.”
Gandhiji placed greedy and selfish individuals and the exploitative nature of modern technology as the
root cause of resource depletion at the global level. He was against mass production and wanted to
replace it with production for the masses. Production should be balanced with distribution. He believed
that mass production without simultaneous distribution on an equal level could result in tragedy.

LAND RESOURCES –

Land is a resource of great importance as man performs all economic activities on land and land is used
in various ways. It supports natural vegetation, wildlife, human life, economic activities, transport, and
communication systems. The land is an asset of finite magnitude. Hence it is important to use the
available land for various purposes with careful planning.

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Land use is commonly referred to as a series of operations on land, carried out by humans, to obtain
products and/or benefits through using land resources.

• Forest
• Land not available for cultivation -a) Barren and wasteland b) Land put to non-agricultural uses
e.g., buildings, roads, factories.
• Other uncultivated land ( excluding fallow land )- a) Permanent pastures and grazing land b)
Land under miscellaneous tree crops groves ( not included in net sown area ). c) Culturable
waste land ( left uncultivated for more than 5 agricultural years ).
• Fallow lands – a) Current fallow ( left without cultivation for one or less than one agricultural
year ) b) Other than Current fallow –( left uncultivated for the past 1 to 5 agricultural years ).
• Net Sown Area-is the physical extent of land on which crops are sown and harvested is known as
net sown area. Area sown more than once in an agricultural year plus net sown area is known as
gross cropped area.

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LAND USE PATTERN IN INDIA:

The total geographical area is 3.28 million sq. km. Land use data however is available for only 93% of the
total area because the land use reporting for most of the North-east states except Assam has not been
done fully. Some areas occupied by Pakistan and China have also not been surveyed.

• The land under permanent pasture has also decreased.

• Fallow land is land left without cultivation for one or less than one agricultural year.
• Maximum NSA is in Punjab and Haryana (80%)
• Minimum NSA is in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, Andaman, and Nicobar Islands ( less
than 10%).
• National Forest Policy in India in 1952.
• Waste land includes rocky, arid, and desert areas and land put to other non-agricultural uses
including settlements, roads, railways, industry, etc.
• Continuous use of land over a long period without taking appropriate measures to conserve and
manage it, has led to land degradation.

LAND DEGRADATION AND CONSERVATION MEASURES :

CAUSES OF LAND DEGRADATION

• Mining- Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha ( deforestation due to mining
has led to land degradation )
• Overgrazing – Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra
• Over irrigation – Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh ( land degradation has occurred due to
water logging leading to an increase in salinity, and alkalinity in the soil.)
• Industrial pollution -Grinding of limestone in the cement industry and calcite and soapstone for
the ceramic industry generates huge quantities of dust in the atmosphere that settles down on
the land, thus retarding the process of infiltration of water into the soil.
• Deforestation

LAND CONSERVATION

• Afforestation,
• Proper management and control of grazing,
• Control of mining activities,
• Shelter belts
• Proper treatment of industrial water and proper discharge and disposal of industrial effluents
• Stabilization of dunes by growing thorny bushes
• Proper management of wastelands

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SOIL AS A RESOURCE –

Soil is a very important renewable natural resource. It is the medium of plant growth and supports
different types of living organisms. The soil is a living system consisting of organic ( humus ) and
inorganic materials. It takes millions of years to form soil. Relief, parent rock or bedrock, climate,
vegetation, and other forms of life and time are important factors in the formation of soil. Natural forces
such as changes in temperature, actions of running water, wind, and glaciers, activities of decomposers,
etc. also contribute to the formation of soil.

TYPES OF SOILS --

ALLUVIAL SOIL—covers about 45 percent of the total area of India, contains an adequate proportion of
potash, phosphoric acid, and lime, consists of sand, silt, and clay in varied amounts deposited by 3
important Himalayan rivers … the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra. According to age, they can be divided
into khadar and bhangar, ideal for the growth of sugarcane, paddy, wheat, cereal, and pulse crops.

BLACK SOIL—color is black and known as regur soil, formed due to the decomposition of volcanic rocks
of Deccan Trap, rich in calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash, and lime, ideal for growing cotton, found
in Maharashtra lava plateau, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

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RED AND YELLOW SOIL---reddish due to diffusion of iron in crystalline and metamorphic rocks, looks
yellow when it occurs in a hydrated form, found in parts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, southern parts of
middle Ganga plain.

LATERITE SOIL—develops in high temperature and heavy rainfall areas, the result of intense leaching
due to heavy rains, humus content is low, found in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and hilly areas of
Odisha and Assam, suitable for crops like cashew nut.

ARID SOIL—ranges from red to brown in color, sandy in texture, and saline in nature, due to dry climate
and high temperature, evaporation is faster, lacks humus and moisture, and can be made fertile and
cultivable after proper irrigation.

FOREST SOIL ---found in hilly and mountainous areas, texture varies according to the mountain
environment where they are formed, loamy and silty on the valley sides, and coarse on upper slopes.

SOIL EROSION AND CONSERVATION MEASURES

SOIL EROSION

The denudation of the soil cover and subsequent washing down is known as soil erosion. The balance
between soil formation and soil erosion is disturbed by human activities like deforestation, over-
grazing, construction, mining, etc. Natural forces like wind, glaciers, and water also cause soil erosion.

• The running water cuts through the clayey soils and makes deep channels known as Gullies.
• The land becomes unfit for cultivation and is known as badland.
• In the Chambal basin such land are ravines.
• Wind blows loose soil off flat or sloping land known as Wind erosion.
• When water flows as a sheet over large areas down a slope and the topsoil is washed away, it is
called sheet erosion.
• Soil erosion is also caused by unscientific methods of cultivation.

VIDEO ON SOIL EROSION HAS BEEN SHOWN IN THE CLASS.

SOIL CONSERVATION

• Contour ploughing
• Terrace cultivation
• Strip cropping
• Shelter belts

Ploughing along the contour lines can decelerate the flow of water down the slopes. This is called
contour ploughing.

Steps can be cut out on the slopes making terraces. Terrace cultivation restricts erosion. Western and
central Himalayas have well-developed terrace farming.

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Large fields can be divided into strips. Strips of grass are left to grow between the crops. This breaks up
the force of the wind. This method is known as strip cropping.

Planting lines of trees to create shelter also works similarly. Rows of such trees are called shelter belts.
These shelter belts have contributed significantly to the stabilization of sand dunes and in stabilizing the
desert in western India.

MAP SHOWING THE MAJOR SOIL TYPES

PLEASE NOTE -

• The answers given in this gist are standard ones. The key points may be represented or
elaborated in a different way by the students but the points should not be omitted.

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TEXT EXERCISE -

1 . Multiple choice questions.

(i) Which one of the following is the main cause of land degradation in Punjab?

(a) Intensive cultivation (c) Over irrigation (b) Deforestation (d) Overgrazing

(ii) In which one of the following states is terrace cultivation practiced?

(a) Punjab (c) Haryana (b) Plains of Uttar Pradesh (d) Uttarakhand

(iii) In which of the following states black soil is predominantly found?

(a) Uttar Pradesh (c) Rajasthan (b) Maharashtra (d) Jharkhand

2 . Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(i) Name three states having black soil and the crop which is mainly grown in it.

[Students will write on their own from the black soil paragraph given in the textbook.]

(ii) What type of soil is found in the river deltas of the eastern coast? Give three main features of this
type of soil.

[Students will write about the alluvial soil on their own from the textbook.]

(iii) What steps can be taken to control soil erosion in the hilly areas?

[Students will write about contour ploughing and terrace cultivation in detail from the textbook on
their own.]

3. Answer the following questions in about 120 words.

(i) Explain the land use pattern in India and why has the land under forest not increased much since
1960-61. / Try to do a comparison between the two pie charts (Fig. 1.4 ) given for land use and find
out why the net sown area and the land under forests have changed from 1960-61 to 2014-15 very
marginally.

ANS- The total geographical area of India is 3.28 million sq km. Land use data, however, is available only
for 93 percent of the total geographical area because the land use reporting for most of the northeast
states except Assam has not been done fully. Moreover, some areas of Jammu and Kashmir occupied by
Pakistan and China have also not been surveyed.

i. Forests – 23.3% in 2014-15 which is much below the desired 33% as outlined in the National Forest
Policy of 1952.

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ii. Land not available for cultivation –

a) Barren and unculturable wasteland – 5.5% (2014-15)

b) Land put to non-agricultural uses e.g., buildings, roads, factories, etc. – 8.7% (2014-15)

iii. Other uncultivated land (excluding fallow land)

a) Permanent pastures and grazing lands have decreased to 3.3% (2014-15)

b) Area under miscellaneous tree crops, groves (not included in the net sown area) – 1% (2014-15)

c) Culturable wasteland (left uncultivated for more than five agricultural years) – 4% (2014-15)

iv. Fallow lands –

a) Current fallows (left without cultivation for one or less than one agricultural year) – 4.9% (2014-
15)

b) Other than current fallow – 3.6% (2014-15)

v. Net Sown Area – 45.5% but the pattern varies from state to state. Net Sown Area is the physical
extent of land on which crops are sown and harvested is known as net sown area. Area sown more
than once in an agricultural year plus net sown area is known as gross cropped area.

The land under forest and the net sown area has not increased much since 1960-61 due to the
following factors:

1. In the post-independence period, the demand for more land to expand agriculture mainly after the
Green Revolution, developmental works, and infrastructural facilities, led to the clearance of forest
areas.

2. Intensive industrialization and urbanization also decreased the forest areas.

3. Large-scale multipurpose projects have submerged forests and trees.

4. Afforestation measures to restore ecological balance have led to marginal expansion to 23.3% in
2014-15 which is much below the desired 33% of geographical area as outlined in the National Forest
Policy (1952).

5. Using land for non-agricultural purposes like housing, raising factories, etc. has resulted in a reduction
in net sown area.

6. According to various reports, one of the main reasons for the marginal change in net sown area in
India over the past 40 years is due to population growth and urbanization. As the population has
increased, there has been more pressure on land for housing and infrastructure development, which has
led to a decrease in the amount of land available for farming and forestry. Additionally, there have been
issues with land degradation and deforestation, as well as a lack of government policies and programs to

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promote sustainable land use. Fragmentation of land holdings, declining water table, and rise in cost of
irrigation are the other factors.

(ii) How have technical and economic development led to more consumption of resources?

Technical and economic developments have led to more consumption of resources.

• In colonial times, imperial powers would use their technological and economic superiority to
establish control over other countries and thereby gain access to their resources.

• The consumption of resources depends on the needs and aspirations of the people which
changes with the development of technology and economic development of a country.

• Technological development leads to economic development. When the economic condition of a

country improves, the needs of the people increase resulting in more resource consumption.
The development of technology contributes to increased production of quality goods and
provides better services to the people. Hence, the greater the technical and economic
development, the greater will be the consumption of resources.

• Economic development provides a favorable environment for the development of the latest
technologies – that convert various materials into resources. It results in more resource
consumption. With economic development, the demand for resources increases faster than the
population growth. Economic development leads to the invention of modern machinery which
accelerates overexploitation of resources.

FIND OUTS-

1. What resources are being developed in your surroundings by the community/village

panchayats/ward-level communities with the help of community participation?

ANS- Biomass energy, bio-gas, water (by digging well), Solar energy (by setting up solar panels), etc. are
developed in our surroundings by the community village panchayats/ward level communities with
community participation.

2. The pattern of net sown area varies greatly from one state to another. It is over 80 percent of the
total area in Punjab and Haryana and less than 10 percent in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur,
and Andaman Nicobar Islands. Fig. 1.4 Source: Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Ministry of
Agriculture, 2017

Find out reasons for the low proportion of net sown area in these states.

ANS- The Net Sown Area is over 80% in Punjab and Haryana due to the following factors -

• The presence of gently sloping plain land covered with deep, fertile alluvial soil and black soil.
• The climate is favorable for cereal cultivation.
• Adequate irrigation facilities like canal and well irrigation help in agriculture.

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 • High population pressure, the modern outlook of farmers, and scientific methods of farming
also help.
• The presence of perennial rivers
• The Green Revolution

The Net Sown Area is less than 10% in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Manipur because -

• The presence of densely forested mountainous regions, uneven terrain, and rocky surfaces.
• Lack of irrigation.
• Extreme cold climate.
• Infertile soil.
• Low density of population and economic backwardness of the region.

3. Reasons for decrease of land under permanent pasture

ANS-

• Large-scale cultivation takes place on pasture land due to high population pressure.
• Huge cattle production feed on farm wastes and by-products such as grain chaff, husk, molasses,
etc. Hence there is huge pressure on farmlands as they have to produce food for human beings and
cattle.

4 . Identify some resource-rich but economically backward regions and some resource-poor but
economically developed regions

ANS-

• Jharkhand – is rich in resources but economically backward region due to illiteracy, scarcity of
agricultural land, lack of small-scale industries, and disparity in income among people.
• Assam – is rich in resources like petroleum, coal, water, etc., various tribal groups residing in this
region are poor and orthodox; terrorism and insurgency, and floods occur in this region every
year.
• More availability of resources does not guarantee economic development. For the development
of resources appropriate technology and institutions are required. The eastern states of India
are less developed although they have vast resources as they lack in technology and quality of
human resources.
• Delhi – is poor in resources but economically developed. It is the administrative capital of India.
Due to the availability of properly developed infrastructure, it is industrially rich as well as most
of the head offices of various government organizations are located there.
• Rich states can import resources from outside. Hence despite being poor in resources, these
states are more developed.

RENEWABLE RESOURCES NON- RENEWABLE RESOURCES

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1. The resources that can be renewed or 1. These resources occur over a very long
reproduced by physical, chemical, or geological time. They gradually get exhausted
mechanical processes are known as renewable with use.
or replenishable resources.

2. These resources take a short time for 2. These resources take millions of years in
renewal. their formation.

3. These resources are pollution-free and 3. These resources cause pollution and damage
therefore environment-friendly. our environment.

4. Renewable resources can be divided into 4. Non-renewable resources can be classified

into
(a) Continuous or flow resources e.g., wind,
water, solar energy etc. (a) Recyclable e.g., metals

(b) Biological resources e.g. Natural (b) Non – recyclable e.g., fossil fuels.
vegetation (forests) and wildlife.

KHADAR BHANGAR

Based on age, it is a new alluvial soil. Based on age, it is an old alluvial soil.

It has a lower concentration of kankar nodules. It has a higher concentration of kankar nodules.

It has more fine particles. It has fewer fine particles.

It is more fertile. It is less fertile.

PROJECT/ACTIVITY -

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Solution to the puzzle given at the end of the chapter :

(i) Natural endowments in the form of land, water, vegetation, and minerals-- RESOURCES

(ii) A type of non-renewable resource. - MINERALS

(iii) Soil with high water retaining capacity. -BLACK

(iv) Intensively leached soils of the monsoon climate. - LATERITE

(v) Plantation of trees on a large scale to check soil erosion. - AFFORESTATION

(vi) The Great Plains of India are made up of these soils. -ALLUVIAL

MAP POINTING – On an outline political map of India identify the important soils of India.

A VIDEO on Soil Erosion was shown in the class.

ACTIVITIES –[for further practice]

1. Prepare a list of stock and reserve, resources that you are familiar with from your local area.

Stock: Water, Air, Soil, Gases, etc.

Reserves: Water dams, woods from forests, oil refineries, etc.

2. Imagine, if the oil supply gets exhausted one day, how would this affect our lifestyle?

Oil has become a very integral part of our lives today. If the supply of oil gets exhausted someday, our
lives will come to a standstill.

• First, it will lead to a crisis in the supply of energy. Nowadays, a lot of machinery is dependent
on the fuel to function. The exhaustion of the oil supply will adversely affect the functioning of
such machinery, leading to a lack of production which will ultimately hamper the economic
growth.
• Next, it will affect our transportation system. Most of the means of transport used these days
are dependent on fossil fuels. It would be crippled.
• Exhaustion of the oil supply will also be a reason for conflict between nations as well as in
communities because everyone will want to control its substitute energy. Lack of oil supply will
also affect world trade and economies, as the supply of goods will go down, resulting in
insufficiency.

3. Prepare a list of resources found in your state and identify the important resources but deficits in
your state.

The State of West Bengal is richly endowed with important minerals such as coal, iron ore, copper,
manganese, apatite, fireclay, china clay, limestone, dolomite, and granite. Coal is the most prominent

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mineral resource found in the state and it constitutes 99% of the minerals extracted in West Bengal. The
state is riverine, hence plenty of fresh water resources are present. Forest resources are also available.
West Bengal is the leading producer of rice and jute.

West Bengal has a rich mineral resource base. However, some minerals are not found in the state. For
example, diamonds are not found in West Bengal.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

CHAPTER 2 FOREST AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES

Our entire habitat has immense biodiversity. Human beings along with all living organisms form a
complex web of ecological systems that is important for our existence. We share this planet with
millions of other living beings, starting from microorganisms and bacteria, lichens to banyan trees,
elephants, and blue whales. This entire habitat that we live in has immense biodiversity. We humans
along with all living organisms form a complex web of ecological systems in which we are only a part and
very much dependent on this system for our existence. For example, plants, animals, and
microorganisms re-create the quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the soil that
produces our food without which we cannot survive. Forests play a key role in the ecological system as
these are also the primary producers on which all other living beings depend.

❖ Bio-diversity or biological diversity refers to the varied wildlife and cultivated species that are
closely integrated into a system through multiple networks of interdependencies.

❖ Flora and fauna in India- If you look around, you will be able to find that there are some animals
and plants that are unique in your area. India is one of the world’s richest countries in terms of
its vast array of biological diversity. This is possibly twice or thrice the number yet to be
discovered. You have already studied in detail about the extent and variety of forest and wildlife
resources in India. You may have realized the importance of these resources in our daily life.
These diverse flora and fauna are so well integrated into our daily lives that we take them for
granted. Lately, they are under great stress mainly due to insensitivity to our environment.

❖ Factors responsible for the depletion of flora and fauna...

• Expansion of railways, agriculture, commercial and scientific forestry, and mining activities
during the colonial period

• Agricultural expansion

• Shifting cultivation

• Enrichment plantation

• Large-scale development projects

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 • Mining

• Habitat destruction

• Other factors like unequal access of people, unequal distribution of resources, unequal
consumption of resources, differential sharing of responsibility for environmental well- and
overpopulation in third world countries.

The destruction of forests and wildlife is a biological loss and loss of cultural diversity.

❖ Conservation of forest and wildlife in India...

The necessity of conservation...

• Rapid decline in wildlife population and forestry

• Conservation preserves the ecological diversity and our life support system—water, air, and soil.

• It also preserves the genetic diversity of plants and animals for better growth of species and
better breeding.

Acts implemented for conservation of wildlife...

• In the 1960s and 1970s, conservationists demanded a national wildlife protection programme.
The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act was implemented in 1972, with various provisions for
protecting habitats. An all-India list of protected species was also published.

• The thrust of the programme was towards protecting the remaining population of certain
endangered species by banning hunting, giving legal protection to their habitats, and restricting
trade in wildlife. Subsequently, central and many state governments established national parks
and wildlife sanctuaries about which you have already studied.

• The central government also announced several projects for protecting specific animals, that
were gravely threatened, including the tiger, the one-horned rhinoceros, the Kashmir stag or
hangul, three types of crocodiles – freshwater crocodile, saltwater crocodile, and the Gharial,
the Asiatic lion, and others. Most recently, the Indian elephant, black buck (chinkara), the great
Indian bustard (godawan) the snow leopard, etc. have been given full or partial legal protection
against hunting and trade throughout India.

• The conservation projects are now focusing on biodiversity rather than on a few of its
components. There is now a more intensive search for different conservation measures.
Increasingly, even insects are beginning to find a place in conservation planning. In the
notification under the Wildlife Act of 1980 and 1986, several hundred butterflies, moths,
beetles, and one dragonfly have been added to the list of protected species. In 1991, for the first
time, plants were also added to the list, starting with six species.

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 ❖ Types of Forest and wildlife resources...

• Reserved forests-More than half of the total forest land has been declared reserved forests.
Reserved forests are regarded as the most valuable in the conservation of forest and wildlife
resources.

• Protected forests-Almost one-third of the total forest area is protected forest, as declared by the
Forest Department. This forest land is protected from any further depletion.

• Unclassed forests are other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private
individuals and communities.

❖ Distribution of forests...

Reserved and protected forests are also referred to as permanent forest estates maintained for the
purpose of producing timber and other forest produce, and for protective reasons. Madhya Pradesh
has the largest area under permanent forests, constituting 75 percent of its total forest area. Jammu
and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Maharashtra
have large percentages of reserved forests of its total forest area whereas Bihar, Haryana, Punjab,
Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan have a bulk of it under protected forests. All Northeastern
states and parts of Gujarat have a very high percentage of their forests as unclassed forests
managed by local communities.

Community and conservation:

• Local communities are struggling to conserve forests along with government officials in some
places of India.

• In Sariska Tiger Reserve Rajasthan, villagers have fought against mining by citing the Wildlife
Protection Act.

• The inhabitants of five villages in the Alwar district of Rajasthan have declared 1200 hectares
of forest as the Bhairodev Dakav Sonchuri, declaring their own set of rules and regulations

• Nature worship is an age-old tribal belief based on the promise that all creations of nature have
to be protected. Several virgin forests are preserved in a pristine form called Sacred Groves.
These forests have been left untouched by the local people and any interference with them is
banned.

• Trees are worshipped by many communities like mahua, kadamba, tamarind, mango, peepal,
banyan, etc.

• Some animals are also an integral part of the community and nobody can harm them. e.g.
monkeys, black buck, nilgai, peacock, etc.

Involvement of local communities in ‘natural resource management...

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 • Chipko Andolan in the Himalayas successfully resisted deforestation and encouraged
afforestation.

• Beej Bachaon Andolan in Tehri and Navdanya provided adequate levels of diversified crop
production without the use of synthetic chemicals.

• In India, Joint Forest Management (JFM) involves local communities in the management and
restoration of degraded forests.

The clear lesson from the dynamics of both environmental destruction and reconstruction in India is that
local communities everywhere must be involved in some kind of natural resource management. But
there is still a long way to go before local communities are at the center stage in decision-making. Only
those economic or developmental activities should be accepted that are people-centric, environment-
friendly, and economically rewarding.

PLEASE NOTE -

• The answers given in this gist are standard answers. The key points may be represented or
elaborated in a different way by the students but the points should not be omitted.

THE VIDEO ON BEEJ BACHAON ANDOLAN WAS SHOWN.

TEXT EXERCISE-

1 . Multiple choice questions

(i) Which of the following conservation strategies do not directly involve community participation?

(a) Joint forest management (c) Chipko Movement (b) Beej Bachao Andolan (d) Demarcation of Wildlife
sanctuaries

2. Match the following.

Reserved forests: other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private individuals
and communities

Protected forests : forests are regarded as most valuable as far as the conservation of forest and wildlife
resources

Unclassed forests: Forest lands are protected from any further depletion

ANS-

Reserved forests- forests are regarded as most valuable as far as the conservation of forest and wildlife
resources.

Protected forests- Forest lands are protected from any further depletion

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Unclassed forests- other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private individuals
and communities

Q3 i What is biodiversity? Why is biodiversity important for human lives?

Ans-

Biodiversity or Biological Diversity is immensely rich in wildlife and cultivated species, diverse in form
and function but closely integrated into a system through multiple networks of interdependencies.

• Human beings along with all living organisms form a complex web of ecological systems .in
which we are only a part and are dependent on this system for our existence.

• Plants, animals, and microorganisms recreate the quality of the air we breathe, the water we
drink, and the soil that produces our food without which we cannot survive.

• Forests play a key role in the ecological system as these are also the primary producers on
which all other living beings depend not only for food but indirectly for many other forest
products that are used for varied purposes.

• So, this biodiversity maintains the ecological balance and our life support system (air, water,
and soil ).

Q3 ii How have human activities affected the depletion of flora and fauna- Explain.

Ans-

Man has gradually transformed nature into a resource.

• During the colonial period: the expansion of railways, agriculture, commercial and scientific forestry,
and mining activities have depleted forests to a great extent.

• Agricultural Expansion after Independence: - Even after Independence, agricultural expansion

continues to be one of the major causes of depletion of forest resources. According to the Forest Survey
of India, between 1951 and 1980, over 26,200 sq. km of forest area was converted into agricultural land.

• Shifting Cultivation: - Substantial parts of tribal belts, especially in the north-east and central India
have been deforested or degraded by shifting cultivation (jhum) which is also known as slash-and-burn
agriculture.

• Enrichment Plantation: - It was a plantation in which a single commercially valuable species was
widely planted and other species eliminated. For example, teak monoculture has damaged the natural
forest of south India.

• Development Projects: - Large-scale development projects have also contributed significantly to the
loss of forests. Example: - Construction of the Narmada Sagar Project in Madhya Pradesh is still clearing
the forests and would inundate about 40,000 hectares of forest.

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 • Mining: - The Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal is threatened by dolomite mining. It has disturbed
the natural habitat of many species and blocked the migration route of several others, including the
great Indian elephant.

• Grazing and fuel-wood collection:- According to many environmentalists, the greatest degrading
factors behind the depletion of forest resources are grazing and fuel-wood collection.

• Habitat Destruction: - Habitat destruction, hunting, poaching, exploitation, environmental pollution,

poisoning, and forest fires are factors, which have led to a decline in India’s biodiversity.

• Unequal Access to Resources: - The wealthiest 5% of Indian society causes more ecological damage
because of the amount they consume than the poorest 25% and share minimum responsibilities for
environmental well-being.

Q4i)Describe how communities have conserved and protected forests and wildlife in India.

ANS – Page 16 of 2023-2024 edition- Community and Conservation subtopic --up to Page 17 of 2023-
2024 edition ‘successful protection’.

Community and conservation:

• Local communities are struggling to conserve forests along with government officials in some
places of India.

• In Sariska Tiger Reserve Rajasthan, villagers have fought against mining by citing the Wildlife
Protection Act.

• The inhabitants of five villages in the Alwar district of Rajasthan have declared 1200 hectares of
forest as the Bhairodev Dakav Sonchuri, declaring their own set of rules and regulations

• Nature worship is an age-old tribal belief based on the promise that all creations of nature must
be protected. Several virgin forests are preserved in a pristine form called Sacred Groves. These
forests have been left untouched by the local people and any interference with them is banned.

• Trees are worshipped by many communities like mahua, Kadamba, tamarind, mango, peepal,
banyan, etc.

• Some animals are also an integral part of the community and nobody can harm them e.g.,
monkeys, black buck, nilgai, peacock, etc.

Involvement of local communities in ‘natural resource management...

• Chipko Andolan in the Himalayas successfully resisted deforestation and encouraged

afforestation.

• Beej Bachaon Andolan in Tehri and Navdanya proved adequate levels of diversified crop
production without the use of synthetic chemicals.

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 • In India, Joint Forest Management (JFM) involves local communities in the management and
restoration of degraded forests.

Q4ii)Write a note on good practices for conserving forests and wildlife.

ANS- In the conservation of forests and wildlife, several good practices have evolved over the years
which are socio-cultural on one hand and legal on the other. These are –

• Worshipping of many sacred trees [examples can be cited from textbook].Worshipping many
sacred animals because of their economic importance.

• Use of flora and fauna in religious functions, although slaughtering animals for any reason is a
punishable offense.

• Creating national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, bio-reserves to protect endangered species.

• Implementing laws and Acts like the Wildlife Protection Act to stop the hunting and killing of
animals.

• Involving the mass media to spread awareness among society about the problems associated
with environmental degradation.

• Running community awareness programmes such as Van Mahotsav etc from time to time. The
active role of tribal communities in the conservation of forests that provide sustenance. Other
practices like JFM, Beej Bachaon Andolan, etc

ACTIVITIES OF THE BOOK MAY BE PRACTISED AT HOME –

▪ Write a short essay on any practices that you may have observed and practiced in your
everyday lives that conserve and protect the environment around you.
▪ Collect more information on the wildlife sanctuaries and national parks of India and cite their
locations on the map of India.
▪ Find out stories prevalent in your region that are about the harmonious relationship between
human beings and nature.

MAP-POINTING ITEMS FROM THIS CHAPTER ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE BOARD SYLLABUS

SYLLABUS FOR PRE-MIDTERM TEST[2024-2025]

GEOGRAPHY :

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1. Chapter 1 - Resources and Development

[Map Pointing from the chapter is excluded from this test.]

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