CONSERVATION OF PLANTS & ANIMALS
4
CHAPTER
CONTENTS DEFORESTATION
Biodiversity Large scale cutting of trees is called deforestation.
It results in loss of habitats of several plants,
Deforestation
animals and microorganism living in that area.
Wild life Causes of Deforestation :
Flora & Fauna
Trees are cut in the forest on a large scale to clear
the land for some useful purposes listed below :
National Parks Procuring land for agricultural use.
Sancturies Procuring timbers for building houses, roads,
Biosphere Reserves
railway tracks, dams, etc.
Procuring land for setting up industries and
Zoological Park mining
Red data book Procuring land for setting up special economic
Migration
zones (SEZ)
To obtain forest products like wood, food, rubber,
National forest policy honey, resins, etc.
Consequences of Deforestation :
The consequences of deforestation on the
BIODIVERSITY
environment are very serious. Some of the
harmful effects are given below
Variety of all living organisms present on earth is
called 'Biodiversity'
Reduced Rainfall :
Water cycle gets disrupted due to deforestation.
Maximum biodiversity occurs in a forest. Forests
The area gets less rainfall which may create
are home of several kinds of plants, animals &
drought-like situations.
microorganisms.
The number & types of plants, animals &
Induces More Soil Erosion :
The top soil is easily carried away by wind or
microorganisms. The number & type of animals
& plants depends on the soil & climatic consitions water in the absence of tree cover, thus increases
of forest region. soil erosion. It is called desertification
, Imbalance of Atmospheric Gases : Forest nurseries should be established on a large
Deforestation disturbs the balance between carbon scale
dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2) level in the WILD LIFE
atmosphere. It results in increase in the
concentration of CO2 which leads to global Plants, animals and microorganisms which live in
warming. nature or are present in their wild natural habitat
Change in Climate : constitute wildlife.
Deforestation brings about change in climate and Causes of Extinction and Depletion of
increases pollution level on the earth.
Wildlife :
Natural Calamities :
Indiscriminate Hunting :
Deforestation increases the chances of natural
Several species have become extinct due to their
calamities such as floods, droughts, and-slides,
hunting by man for food, pleasure and animal
cloudburst, etc.
products.
Destruction of Natural Habitat :
Cutting of trees on a large scale destroys the
Destruction of Natural Habitat :
natural habitat of several plants, animals and Man has destroyed the natural habitats of wildlife
microorganisms. for his settlement, cropping, plantation, mining
and raising of dams, overgrazing by domestic
Scarcity of Forest Products :
animals, etc.
Clearing of trees from forests results in shortage
of forest products. Introduction of Exotic Species :
Reducing Water Table Man not only destroys the natural habitat, but also
In the absence of tree cover, rainwater cannot sometimes changes the structure of the biotic
infiltrate into the ground to charge the aquifer. It community of a place by introducing exotic
leads to the lowering of ground water level in the species of his interest. Such species compete with
absence of replenishment. the native species for food and spaces and may
Conservation of Forests : threaten the later with extinction.
The following steps should be undertaken to Forest Fires :
conserve them
Setting the forst on fire not only kills the useful
Massive afforestation work should be undertaken animals but also causes large scale destruction of
to cover large areas of land with appropriate the plant life.
trees.
Overexploitation of Natural Resources :
Falling of trees in the forest should be banned.
Several animals and plants are valuable sources of
Every piece of barren land should be planted with food and other materials. Fish, Prawns and crabs
trees. constitute an important part of human food. Man
Weeds, damaged trees, crowded trees, diseased has, however, over-exploited these resources.
trees, etc, should be removed. Overfishing in sea is causing a grave situation and
the picture is not encouraging with respect to
Forest fire must be prevented.
fresh water fishing.
4
CHAPTER
CONTENTS DEFORESTATION
Biodiversity Large scale cutting of trees is called deforestation.
It results in loss of habitats of several plants,
Deforestation
animals and microorganism living in that area.
Wild life Causes of Deforestation :
Flora & Fauna
Trees are cut in the forest on a large scale to clear
the land for some useful purposes listed below :
National Parks Procuring land for agricultural use.
Sancturies Procuring timbers for building houses, roads,
Biosphere Reserves
railway tracks, dams, etc.
Procuring land for setting up industries and
Zoological Park mining
Red data book Procuring land for setting up special economic
Migration
zones (SEZ)
To obtain forest products like wood, food, rubber,
National forest policy honey, resins, etc.
Consequences of Deforestation :
The consequences of deforestation on the
BIODIVERSITY
environment are very serious. Some of the
harmful effects are given below
Variety of all living organisms present on earth is
called 'Biodiversity'
Reduced Rainfall :
Water cycle gets disrupted due to deforestation.
Maximum biodiversity occurs in a forest. Forests
The area gets less rainfall which may create
are home of several kinds of plants, animals &
drought-like situations.
microorganisms.
The number & types of plants, animals &
Induces More Soil Erosion :
The top soil is easily carried away by wind or
microorganisms. The number & type of animals
& plants depends on the soil & climatic consitions water in the absence of tree cover, thus increases
of forest region. soil erosion. It is called desertification
, Imbalance of Atmospheric Gases : Forest nurseries should be established on a large
Deforestation disturbs the balance between carbon scale
dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2) level in the WILD LIFE
atmosphere. It results in increase in the
concentration of CO2 which leads to global Plants, animals and microorganisms which live in
warming. nature or are present in their wild natural habitat
Change in Climate : constitute wildlife.
Deforestation brings about change in climate and Causes of Extinction and Depletion of
increases pollution level on the earth.
Wildlife :
Natural Calamities :
Indiscriminate Hunting :
Deforestation increases the chances of natural
Several species have become extinct due to their
calamities such as floods, droughts, and-slides,
hunting by man for food, pleasure and animal
cloudburst, etc.
products.
Destruction of Natural Habitat :
Cutting of trees on a large scale destroys the
Destruction of Natural Habitat :
natural habitat of several plants, animals and Man has destroyed the natural habitats of wildlife
microorganisms. for his settlement, cropping, plantation, mining
and raising of dams, overgrazing by domestic
Scarcity of Forest Products :
animals, etc.
Clearing of trees from forests results in shortage
of forest products. Introduction of Exotic Species :
Reducing Water Table Man not only destroys the natural habitat, but also
In the absence of tree cover, rainwater cannot sometimes changes the structure of the biotic
infiltrate into the ground to charge the aquifer. It community of a place by introducing exotic
leads to the lowering of ground water level in the species of his interest. Such species compete with
absence of replenishment. the native species for food and spaces and may
Conservation of Forests : threaten the later with extinction.
The following steps should be undertaken to Forest Fires :
conserve them
Setting the forst on fire not only kills the useful
Massive afforestation work should be undertaken animals but also causes large scale destruction of
to cover large areas of land with appropriate the plant life.
trees.
Overexploitation of Natural Resources :
Falling of trees in the forest should be banned.
Several animals and plants are valuable sources of
Every piece of barren land should be planted with food and other materials. Fish, Prawns and crabs
trees. constitute an important part of human food. Man
Weeds, damaged trees, crowded trees, diseased has, however, over-exploited these resources.
trees, etc, should be removed. Overfishing in sea is causing a grave situation and
the picture is not encouraging with respect to
Forest fire must be prevented.
fresh water fishing.
