CHAPTER - 7 CONSERVATION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS

1
CHAPTER - 7CONSERVATION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS
2
1) Deforestation -

• The clearing of forests and using the land
  for other purposes is called deforestation.
• The causes for deforestation are -
• i) Procuring land for cultivation.
• ii) Building houses and factories.
• iii) Using wood as fuel or making furniture etc.
• The natural causes of deforestation are
  forest fires and draught.

3
2) Consequences of deforestation -

• The consequences of deforestation are -
• i) Increase in the temperature and pollution
  level on the
• earth.
• ii) Increase in the level of carbon dioxide in
  the
• atmosphere leading to global warming.
• iii) Lowering of ground water level.
• iv) Disturbs the balance in nature.
• v) Decrease in rainfall leading to draught.
• vi) Soil erosion and decrease in soil fertility
  leading to
• desertification.
• vii) Decrease in the water holding capacity of
  soil leading to
• floods.

4
3) Conservation of forest and wildlife -

• Forest and wildlife can be conserved by
  setting up areas like Biosphere reserves Wildlife
  sanctuaries, National parks, etc.
• i) Biosphere reserves - are large areas of
  protected land for conservation of biodiversity
  and the traditional life of the tribals living
  there.
• ii) National parks - are areas reserved for
  wildlife where they can freely use the habitats
  and natural resources.
• iii) Wildlife sanctuaries - are areas where
  animals are protected from any disturbance to
  them or their habitat.

5
4) Biosphere Reserve -

• i) Biosphere reserves - are large areas of
  protected land for conservation of biodiversity
  and the traditional life of the tribals living
  there.
• ii) Biodiversity - is the variety of plants,
  animals and microorganisms found in the area.
• The Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve consists of
  a National park called Satpura and two wildlife
  sanctuaries called Bori and Pachmarhi.

6
5) Flora and fauna -

• i) Flora - are the plants found in a
  particular area.
• ii) Fauna - are the animals found in a
  particular area.
• Eg- The flora of Pachmarhi consists of sal,
  teak, wild mango, jamun, silver ferns etc.
• The fauna of Pachmarhi consists of
  wild dog, cheetal, wolf, leopard, blue bull,
  barking deer etc.

7
6) Endemic Species -

• Endemic species - are those species of
  plants and animals found only in a particular
  area and not found anywhere else.
• Eg- sal and wild mango are the endemic flora
  of Pachmarhi. Bison, Indian giant squirrel and
  flying squirrel are the endemic fauna of this
  area.

8
7) Wildlife Sanctuary -

• Wildlife sanctuaries - are areas where
  animals are protected from any disturbance to
  them or their habitat. The killing or capturing
  of animals in wildlife sanctuary is strictly
  prohibited.

9
8) National Park -

• National parks - are areas reserved for
  wildlife where they can freely use the habitats
  and natural resources.
• Eg- Satpura National Park is the first Reserve
  Forest in India.

10
9) Endangered Animals -

• Endangered animals - are those animals whose
  numbers are diminishing and might face
  extinction.
• Eg- Tiger is one of the many animals which are
  slowly diminishing. To protect the tigers in our
  country the government launched the Project Tiger
  to ensure the survival of tiger population.
• Dinosaurs have already become extinct.
• Red Data Books are books which keeps a record
  of all endangered plants and animals.

11
10) Ecosystem -

• An ecosystem - consisits of all the
  plants, animals and microorganisms living in an
  area along with the non living components like
  climate, water, soil etc.

12
11) Migration -

• Migration - is the movement of animals
  from its own habitat to some other habitat for a
  particular time period every year due to climatic
  changes or for breeding.
• Birds which fly very long distances to reach
  another land are called migratory birds.

13
12) Recycling of paper -

• About seventeen full grown trees are required
  to produce one tonne of paper. Paper can be
  recycled about five to seven times for use. We
  should save, reuse and recycle paper to save not
  only trees but also to save the energy, water and
  chemicals used to make paper.

14
13) Reforestation -

• Reforestation - is the restocking of
  destroyed forests by planting new trees.
• We should plant at least as many trees as we
  cut. We have already caused a lot of damage to
  our forests. If we have to regain our green
  wealth, reforestation is the only option.