class 8th science solutions
14

Conservation of Plants and Animals

CONSERVATION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS

 

CONSERVATION

Conservation is the attempt to protect endangered animal and plant species, along with their natural habitat. The main objective is to make sure that their habitats will be preserved so that the future generations of both wildlife and human can enjoy it. The forests exist in a very delicate ecological balance where the health of a forest depends on the health of every member that is a part of its food chain. For instance, there is a wide diversity of species living in a tropical rainforest. If any species should become extinct, the food chain will be disrupted affecting all the species.

Importance of Forest:

 Ecological studies have shown that forests help to maintain the optimum level of rainfall for agricultural purposes, for constructing dams and hydro-electric projects etc.They play a paramount role in checking the floods and soil erosion.They are also important for wild life, human recreation and preservation of balanced environment. Above all, forests bring clouds and clouds bring rain and rain brings our harvest.It is interesting to note that one-third land is required as forests in any country to maintain ecological balance. Otherwise the whole atmosphere with its dust, smoke, noise and bustle will choke the human society.

 

Deforestation

Deforestation: Clearing of forest for making way for human activities is called deforestation.

Causes of Deforestation:

  • Procuring land for cultivation
  • Building houses and factories
  • Making furniture and using wood for fuel
  • Clearing land for making roads, railway lines, dams, etc.
  • Grazing cattle

Effects of Deforestation

  • Reduced forest cover increases the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This results in global warming.
  • Reduces groundwater level.
  • Reduces rainfall.
  • Reduces soil fertility.
  • Can result in droughts or in excess flood.
  • May also lead to desertification.

Desertification: Conversion of fertile land into desert is called desertification. It happens in following steps:

  • Pace of soil erosion increases when forest cover is reduced.
  • Hard and rocky layer is exposed once topsoil is removed.
  • Soil becomes deficient in humus and thus becomes infertile.
  • The land turns into desert in due course of time.

Conservation of Forest and Wildlife

Wildlife conservation is also about spreading the word about the necessity for biodiversity and the importance of forests and wildlife. An example to help you understand, bees are essential for the pollination of flowers. Most of the fruits we eat are born because of the hard-working nature of the bees. It is said that if the bees were to go extinct then almost a third of the fruits we eat would be off our shelves.

When we conserve and protect the natural habitat of wildlife species, we enrich our planet. But keeping animals in a zoo is not beneficial for either the forest or the animal. To truly enrich our planet the wildlife must be allowed to flourish in their natural habitat. Today, there are various wildlife preservation programs wherein they allow the animals to roam freely in their natural habitat. Many of the forests in India have been declared National Parks or Reserve Forests and are protected by the Forest Department of the Government. Some of these programs also allow animals to interact with humans. This is beneficial since it educates the people and raises awareness regarding the importance of protecting these wildlife species.

Biosphere: The regions of the surface and atmosphere of the earth or another planet occupied by living organisms.

Biodiversity:The variety of plant and animal life in the world or in a particular habitat, a high level of which is usually considered to be important and desirable.

Flora: All the plant species in a given area are collectively called flora of that area.

Fauna: All the animals species in a given area are collectively called fauna of that area.

Protected Areas: The reserved areas to protect flora and fauna and their habitat. Such areas are called protected areas. Various rules, methods and policies to protect and conserve forests and wildlife are formulated by the government. There are of following types of protected areas:

  1. Sanctuary: A sanctuary is an area where animals are protected from any disturbance to them or their habitat. In a wildlife sanctuary; poaching (killing) or capturing an animal is strictly prohibited.
  2. National Park: A national park is an area which is reserved for wildlife, and where wildlife can freely use the habitat and natural resources. Satpura National Park is the first reserve forest of India.
  1. Biosphere Reserve: A biosphere reserve is a large area of protected land for conservation of wildlife, plant and animal resources and traditional life of the tribals living in that area.

A biosphere reserve encompasses many other protected areas; like wildlife sanctuary and national park. For example; Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve contains one national park and two wildlife sanctuaries. They are as follows:

  • Satpura National Park
  • Bori Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary

Endemic Species: Endemic species are those plants and animals that exist only in one geographical region. Species can be endemic to large or small areas of the world. Some may be endemic to the particular continent; some are endemic to a part of a continent, and others to a single island. Endemic species are at greater risk of extinction because they are not found anywhere else.

Species: A group of population capable of interbreeding is called species. Capability of interbreeding is the most important criteria for species.

Project Tiger: Project Tiger was launched in 1973 to protect and conserve tigers in India. This project is aimed at protecting the Bengal Tigers. Project Tiger has been successful in improving the population of tigers in India. As present, there are more than 2,000 tigers in India.

Endangered Species: Species which are under threat of extinction are called endangered species. Examples: Elephants, lions, wild buffalo, etc.

Extinct Species: Species which no longer exist on earth are called extinct species, e.g. dinosaurs, dodo, etc.

Ecosystem: A system of interdependencies among all living beings and non-living things in a given area is called ecosystem.

Red Data Book: The Red Data Book is the state document established for documenting rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi as well as some local sub-species that exist within the territory of the state or country.

Migration:Migration is a way to move from one place to another in order to live and work. Movement of people from their home to another city, state or country for a job, shelter or some other reasons is called migration. Migration from rural areas to urban areas has increased in past few years in India.

Recycling of Paper: Paper can be recycled many times. As paper is made from wood pulp so recycling of paper helps in saving trees.

Reforestation: Planting trees to recover forests is called reforestation. Reforestation can take place naturally as well as by human intervention.

Indian Forest (Conservation) Act: The Indian Forest (Conservation) Act came into effect in 1927. This Act is aimed at preservation and conservation of natural forests, and at meeting the basic needs of the people who live in or near the forests.

 

EXERCISES

1.a)wildlife sanctuary

b)endemic

c)climatic

  1. a)Wild life sanctuaries:  The natural area where wildlife is protected and preserved is called wildlife sanctuary. These places provide suitable living conditions to the wild life. Killing, poaching, or capturing of wildlife animals is strictly prohibited in the wildlife sanctuaries. These places mainly consist of landscapes, mountains forests and broad leaf forests with limited human activities being permitted in the sanctuary.
    Example: Pachmarhi wildlife sanctuary (M.P), Kaziranga National Park (Assam), Gir National Park and Sanctuary (Gujarat).Biosphere reserves: Biosphere is that part of the earth in which the living organisms live or that part of the earth which supports life.Biosphere reserve areas are meant for conservation of biodiversity of a specific area. The entire flora and fauna in these regions is preserved in its natural habitat.  It also helps in the maintenance of biodiversity culture. These regions permit limited economic activities in them (sand and stone mining) and help to promote research in ecological conservation and environment preservation.
    Example: Pachmarhi Biosphere reserve (M.P), Sunderbans Biosphere reserve (West Bengal), Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve (Tamil Nadu)

b)Zoo

A zoo might buy, sell, breed, or trade animals, or even capture animals from the wild. …In the zoo animals are kept inside the cage for entertenment. In this animals are not free. Zoos are artificially created.

Wildlife Sanctuary

In sanctuaries animals are free to move here and there and use the natural resources. These are not artificial, these are the areas reserve for wildlife animals

(c)Endangered Species

The species which are on the verge of extinction are called as Endangered species.

Eg: Bengal Tiger, Blue Whale, etc.

Extinct Species

The species of animals or plants that no longer exist are called Extinct species.

Eg: Caribbean monk seal, Great Auk, Passenger pigeon.

(d)Flora It is the collective name for the plant life from a particular area.Eg: Spurge and Hogweed from the Nilgiris region

Fauna It is the collective name for the animal life from a particular area
Eg: Langur, Tiger, Tahr from the Nilgiris region

  1. (a) Effects of deforestation on wild animals:

One of the most important effect of deforestation in wild animals is the Loss of species .Seventy percent of the world’s plants and animals live in forests and are losing their habitats to deforestation, according to National Geographic. Loss of habitat can lead to species extinction.

(b) Effects of deforestation on the environment:

The loss of trees and other vegetation can cause climate change, desertification, soil erosion, fewer crops, flooding, increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and a host of problems for indigenous people.

(c) Effects of deforestation on villages:

Deforestation leads to soil erosion and results in flash floods. This hampers agricultural activities and thus disturbs the people in rural areas.

(d)Effects of deforestation on cities:

The risk of natural calamities like floods and drought in urban areas is increased by deforestation. It will also lead to global warming because of increased CO2 levels in the atmosphere. This is a result of continuous pollution from automobiles and industries. The water cycle in the vicinity is also affected.

(e) Effects of deforestation on Earth:

Deforestation leads to increased chances and occurrences of desertification, droughts and floods. Carbon Dioxide level in the earth’s atmosphere also increases which leads to global warming. The water cycle is disrupted and also there is an increased risk of natural calamities.

(f) Effects of deforestation on the next generation:

Deforestation is slowly changing our environmental conditions. It is responsible for global warming, soil erosion, greenhouse effect, drought, floods, and many other global problems. As a result, the next generation will have to face severe consequences of deforestation.

  1. (a) If we go on cutting the trees
If we go on cutting the trees, the animals will lose their natural habitat as essential part of their ecosystem are destroyed. This reduces the biodiversity of the affected areas. The temperature of the Earth also increases and gives way to global warming.

(b) If the habitat of an animal is disturbed

If the habitat of an animal is disturbed, then it will be forced to go to other places in search of food and shelter. The animal could get killed by other animals in this process. 

(C) If the top layer of the soil is removed

Removing the top layer of the soil gradually exposes the lower layers of the soil. The lower layers of the soil are hard and rocky in nature and are less fertile. This is because of the reduced quantity of humus. Soil erosion on a continued basis will turn it barren and infertile.

  1. (a) The number and variety of various life forms such as plants, animals and micro-organisms in the area are called Biodiversity. Both plants and animals have a mutual dependence on each other for their survival. As they are related to one another, destruction of one will automatically destroy the other. Hence, biodiversity has to be conserved in order to maintain nature’s balance.

(b) People who live near the forests depend on the resources of the forests in order to fulfil their day-to-day needs. Therefore, it is not safe for animals living in protected forests. The animals would be threatened by the presence of the human population. This results in the killing of wild animals and selling their products for huge sums of money.

(c) The forests provide food, fodder and other resources to the tribal people. It is inevitable for them to depend on forests and their resources for everyday needs.

(d) Causes of deforestation:

There are a lot of causes for deforestation. A few of them are listed below.

  1. In order to accommodate the ever-expanding urban population, forest areas are often cleared and converted into lands for various uses.
  2. For agricultural activities like crop cultivation and cattle grazing, forest lands are cleared.

III. Firewood is a major product from the forests and it is one of the main reasons for cutting the trees on a large scale.

Consequences of deforestation:

 

There are a lot of fatal consequences caused by deforestation. A few of them are listed below.

  1. Soil erosion
  2. Loss of Biodiversity
  3. Floods
  4. Droughts
  5. Global warming as a result of climate change
  6. Disruption of the water cycle

(e) Red data book is basically a sourcebook which has an international list of all plant and animal species which are endangered, that is, on the verge of extinction. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural resources (IUCN) maintains the books and adds/ removes the names of the species by conducting a comprehensive survey.

(f)Migration is the phenomenon of movement of a species from its own habitat to some other habitat for a particular time period every year for a specific purpose like breeding.

  1. No. It is not at all justified to cut trees to meet the ever increasing demands of human population. Forests are the habitat of several organisms including wild animals. They provide us with good quality air as they give out O2 and absorb the harmful CO2 gas from the atmosphere.
    In this process, they prevent the excessive heating of the atmosphere. They prevent soil erosion and natural calamities such as floods and droughts. They increase the fertility of the soil and help to conserve biodiversity. The cutting of forests to meet the demands of growing human population will lead to global warming, soil erosion, greenhouse effect, droughts, floods, and many more problems. The destruction of forests will disturb the balance of nature. Hence, forests must be conserved.

Overutilization of forests and its resources by cutting a large number of trees in order to satisfy the demands of the ever-increasing human population leading to many long-term problems like

  • Soil erosion
  • Greenhouse effect
  • Global warming
  • Floods
  • Droughts

Besides the above-listed problems, the effects of large-scale deforestation will be leaving an everlasting mark on the face of human civilization. The balance of nature is disturbed by the destruction of trees. Hence, it is of utmost priority and importance to conserve forests.

  1. I will take care the greenry around my locality.. I shall motivate the people of my neighbourhood to plant more trees and take care of the existing trees by creating awareness about the importance of plant life in an ecosystem. In order to make this possible, I would initiate the proceedings and organize weekly events on the same. Creating awareness among the children and youth would be of top priority as they will easily understand the issues that we are facing. Planting new trees is as important as looking after the existing ones. So, my volunteers and I would water the plants and trees on a regular basis.

 

  1. Plants absorb water from the soil and evaporates it to form clouds. Deforestation leads to cutting down of trees. As a result less water is absorbed from the soil and it disturbs the water cycle. The formation of clouds becomes difficult which leads to reduced rainfall.
  2. Periyar National park located in the state of Kerala.

10.Paper is made from wood pulp that is produced from the wood of forest trees. The paper should be saved because it takes around seventeen full grown trees to make one tonne of paper. If everyone saves at least one sheet of paper in a day, we can save many trees in a year. Trees are important to maintain a balance of nature. Therefore, we should save paper.

Ways by which paper can be saved:

i) Reuse used paper and recycle it.

ii) Use both sides of a paper for writing.

iii) Use chalk and slate for doing rough work.

iv) Spread awareness about the importance of the paper.

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