| Jul 2012| © 2012 UPES

Natural Resources AndIts Conservation

Arti JainAssistant ProfessorHSFE

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FOREST RESOURCES

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Derived from Latin word ‘Foris’ meaning outside Forests are extensive wild natural self sustained wooded tracts

of land with a biotic community predominated by woody vegetation consisting of trees and shrubs with a closed canopy.

Forest lands are ‘all lands bearing vegetation dominated by trees of any size, exploited or not, capable of producing wood or other forest products.’ (Food and Agriculture Organization ‘FAO’ of UNO)

Ecologists define forests as ‘ an ecosystem having a plant community predominantly of trees and other woody vegetation’

CONCEPTS and DEFINITION

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Forestry: Branch of Science which is connected with establishment, protection, management and exploitation of forests.

Silviculture=Syviculture is branch of forestry connected with cultivation and breeding of forest plants

Out of 13393mha land of the world, 4416 mha is covered with forests.

Out of 32,87,263 sq km of land in India, 6,37,293 sq km is covered by forests.

CONCEPTS and DEFINITION

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They are of 4 major types

Tropical forests Montane Subtropical forests Temperate forests Alpine Forests

CLASSIFICATION OF FORESTS - India

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Ecological/Environmental Uses Local use/Consumptive uses Commercial/ productive uses

USES /IMPORTANCE OF FORESTS

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ECOLOGICAL USES Protects soil Retention of sub soil water Prevention of Floods or watershed protection Increase in Rainfall Increase in atmospheric humidity Maintains local climate Reduces atmospheric pollution Maintains ecological balance Maintains hydrological cycle Provides shelter to wild animals Prevents soil erosion Lank bank (maintains soil structure and nutrients)

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LOCAL/CONSUMPTIVE USES

Food Fodder for cattle Fuelwood and charcoal for cooking and heating Poles, bamboos for making homes Timber Fibre for weaving baskets, nets, ropes Apiculture ( rearing of bees) for honey Sericulture for silk Medicinal plants

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COMMERCIAL/ PRODUCTIVE USES

Most of the products of consumptive uses ( above) are also sold and are a source of income

Non Timber Forest Produce (NTFPs) like gums, resins, fruits, fibre are collected and sold by local people. ( Minor Forest Produce)

Major Timber Extraction for construction, industrial uses, paper, pulp etc.

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DEFORESTATION

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DEFINITION

Loss or continual degradation of forest habitat due to either natural or human related causes is known as deforestation.

Agriculture, urban sprawl, unsustainable forestry practices, mining and petroleum extraction all contribute to human caused deforestation

Natural deforestation can be linked to tsunamis, forest fires, volcanic eruptions, glaciation, desertification etc.

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Causes of deforestation Population Pressure Agricultural Expansion Industrial Development Lack of ethics and awareness Shifting cultivation Fuel requirements Raw materials for industrial use Development projects Growing food needs Overgrazing Forest fires Etc.

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EFFECTS OF DEFORESTATION

It threatens the existence of many wildlife species due to destruction of their natural habitat.

Biodiversity is lost and along with that genetic diversity is eroded. Hydrological cycle gets affected, thereby influencing rainfall. Problems of soil erosion and loss of soil fertility (soil degradation). In hilly areas it often leads to landslides. More carbon is added to the atmosphere and global warming is

enhanced. Changes in climatic conditions Destruction of an important sink of pollutants of the environment

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conservation of forests

Prevention of Deforestation controlling unregulated expansion of agriculture and cattle

ranching at the expense of forestscontrolling unregulated grazing and destruction of green

coverControlling unregulated fuel wood collection and timber

harvesting Awareness among people ( Chipko Movement 1973, appiko

movement, 1983) Forest Management

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CONSERVATION OF FORESTS cont…

Reforestation Afforestation Social forestryFarm forestry ( agro forestry)Rural forestry ( community forestry)Urban forestry Extension forestry Forest Conservation Act 1980

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CASE STUDY 1 – Chipko Andolan

December 1972- commencement of movement by bishnoi women after flash floods and landslides ( alaknanda & bhagirathi in 1971)

March 1973- under leadership of Gauri Devi women embraced trees

Sunderlal Bahuguna popularized the movement with Chandiprasad bhatt

The term CHIPKO was popularized through folk songs of Ghanshyam Sailani ( chipko activist)

Leaders of chipko movement believe in 5 Fs- food, fodder, fuel, fibre, fertilizer

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Main features of Chipko Andolan Based on Gandhian thoughts- non violence The movement remained non political though supported by

political parties Raised fundamental issues of conservation of natural

resources Was a totally voluntary movement Concerned with ecological balance of nature Concerned with the concept of ecology as permanent

economy

CASE STUDY 1 – Chipko Andolan cont…

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Informal agreement between local communities and Forest Department began in 1972, in Midnapore, West Bengal

JFM identifies and respects the local community’s rights and benefits that they need from forest resources

Under JFM Scheme, Forest Protection Committees (FPCs) from local community members are formed

FPCs participate in restoration of green cover and protect the area from being over exploited

CASE STUDY 2 – JFM

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BIODIVERSITY

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INTRODUCTION AND DEFINITION

Biodiversity = Biological diversity It is the variability among living organisms It refers to the variety of all living organisms and their natural habitats

found in a defined area. Term biodiversity was coined by E.O. Wilson in 1985 (Father of

biodiversity) 14 Different definitions of Biodiversity

The intrinsically in-built plus the externally imposed variability in and among living organisms existing in terrestrial, marine and other ecosystems at a specific period of time.

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INTRODUCTION AND DEFINITION

In the convention on Biological Diversity (1992),biodiversity has been defined as the variability among living organisms from all sources including inter alia terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystem and the ecological complexes of which they are a part.

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LEVELS OF BIODIVERSITY

The diversity of population and species and their interaction is assessed and evaluated at different levels

Genetic diversity ( Diversity within species)Refers to variation of genes within species Species diversity (Diversity between species)Refers to a variety of species within a region Ecosystem Diversity Refers to diversity of ecological complexes or biotic communities

in a given area.

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HOTSPOTS OF BIODIVERSITYConcept defined by Norman Myers, 1988

They are regions which harbor a great diversity of endemic species

Refers to areas Which are rich in general diversity Which have high degree of endemism Area with higher incidence of endangered and threatened

species of fauna and flora

Regions having rich biodiversity, high levels of endemism and are under immediate threat of species extinction and habitat destruction (IUCN/UNEP,1986)

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HOT SPOTS

To qualify as a hotspot, a region Must support 1500 endemic plant species/0.5% of global total Must have lost more than 70% of its original habitat

25 hotspots in the world

Biggest Hotspot lies over Indo-Myanmar region & covers 2 million sq. km. of area

HOTSPOTS OF INDIA Eastern Himalayas (cradle of civilization) Western ghats

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MEGA-DIVERSITY COUNTRIES

Some countries situated in tropical areas possess major portion of world’s species diversity.

12 such countries are called hotspot zones of biodiversity or Megadiversity countries which harbour 70% of world’s species diversity

India is a megadiversity country

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BIOGEOGRAPHIC CLASSIFICATION OF INDIA

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VALUE OF BIODIVERSITY Consumptive value Productive value Social value Aesthetic value Ethical and moral value Optional value Ecosystem services

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CONSUMPTIVE VALUE Food: Sources of Food: Plants: There are about 3000 species of food plants out

of which only 150 species are commercialized. Plant provide wide variety of food like maize, wheat, rice.

Animal: Man consume meat from mainly nine species of animal like cattle, ship, pig, goat, water buffaloes, chickens, duck, geese and turkeys.

Fishes are now regarded as a domesticated animal because of development of aquaculture.

Curd, cheese milk are obtained from dairy farms.

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Sources of Fats and OilNow a days most commonly used oil seed plant like mustard , ground

nut, palm oil. The other oil like soyabean, binola(cotton seed) , sunflower are becoming popular.

Fibres: major fiber yielding varieties are cotton, flax, jute, sisal, coir, abaca

New disease resistant varities: Some commercial species of food plants are susceptible to certain

disease. These species can be made resistant to particular disease by cross bred.

Eg. Potato has been made resistant to late blight by deriving a resistant strain from solanum demissum.

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Drug and Medicine A number of herb has been used to cure various ailments. Various plant contain valuable drugs. Eg. Rosy Periwinkle plant is

used for treatment of cancer. Tulsi has the property of antibacterial. Quinine is used for the treatment of malaria. The importance of herbal plant for ailment of various disease was

discussed our ancient Scriptual Ayurveda.

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PRODUCTIVE VALUE Tusk------------------- elephant Musk -------------------musk deer Lac ------------------------lac insect Silk ------------------------silk worm Fur of many animals

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SOCIAL VALUE Since the ancient time our culture and festival were

associated with various plant and animals. Eg. Banyan tree, peepal, tulsi has been worshipped by women of India. Some animal like cow is considered our mother.

Some animal and plant considered as a national symbol like Peacock, Tiger, Lotus, Banyan.

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AESTHETIC VALUE Biodiversity provide lots of aesthetic and beautification

value. Human being is fond of maintaining garden, keeping pets, ecotourism.

We go to various hill station, national park , zoological garden , sanctuaries to watch scenic beauties.

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ETHICAL AND MORAL VALUE Live and let live . It means that we may or may not use a species but knowing the

very fact that this species exist in nature give us pleasure. Feel sorry for Passenger pigeon and Dodo bird is no more on

earth

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OPTION VALUE These value include the potentials of biodiversity that are

presently unknown and need to be explored.

For eg potential cure for AIDS &cancer are in the depth of ocean ecosystem and tropical rainforest.

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ECOSYSTEM VALUE Protection of Water resource Forest and plant cover in water catchments area help • To maintain hydrological cycle.• Regulating and stablising water runoff.• Acting as a buffer against natural calamities like flood and

drought.• Forest increase the water table.• Regeneration of natural spring.Eg. Wet land and forest act as a

water purifying system while mangroves trap silt reducing impact of sea waves, tides or Tsunami.

Soil formation and protection

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Soil formation and protectionClearing of forest lead to • Salinization of soil, leaching of nutrient• Erosion of top soil• Reducing of land productivity• Soil can be preserve by maintaining biodiversity, retaining

moisture, preventing erosion. • Plant body provide organic matter to soil through decay.• Root system facilitate microbial activity and increase porosity of

soil

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Nutrient Storage and Cycling• All the nutrient are recycled in nature. These nutrient found in

air, water, soil.

• Plant take up these nutrient from air, water, soil which enter in the animals body through food chain. After the death of plant and animal these nutrient come back in the environment through decomposition process which is carried out by bacteria and fungi.

• Some bacteria and fungi convert the atmospheric nitrogen into nitrate, nitrite through biological nitrogen fixation . For eg. Rizobium Legumious relationship.

• Rizobium is one of the main N2 – fixing bacteria living in the nodules of root of leguminous plants.

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Maintaining Climate Stability• Vegetation affect climate at macro and micro level. Dense

forest promote rainfall by recycling of water vapour. Reducing Pollution• Different kind of bateria , fungi and protozoa are well known for the

decomposition and break down of micro – organism.

• These microorganism absorb the pollutant like sewage, garbage and oil spills. Natural and artificial wetland are being used to filter effluent to remove nutrient.

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Maintenance of Ecosystem• All species are equally important in our ecosystem. Disruption

of one species can lead to destruction of whole ecosystem. According to food chain and food web all species of plant and animal are interrelated with each other. For e.g Plant ---- deer------lion

• If the population of lion is destroyed the population of deer can increase in excess and overpopulation of deer will eat up whole grasses in grassland ecosystem thus making into degraded ecosystem.

• If the population of deer decreased it can lead to overgrowth of plant that will lead to competition between the various species of plants and in this way whole ecosystem can be degraded.

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Surviving from natural calamities• Natural calamities like floods, drought, cyclone, typhoon,

forest fire, land slide are mostly unpredictable event and proved to be hazardous for all human being.

• Natural calamities cause loss of lives, properties and building.• Forest act as a buffer against all these calamities it control

floods, cyclone and typhoon.

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THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY

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CAUSES OF EXTINCTION OF SPECIES

Destruction of Habitat is a serious threat to wildlife for the reasons

a. Absence of cover and shelter- that exposes animals to predators and vagaries of nature

b. Reduction in area of movement which retards their reproductive capacity

c. Absence of food due to destruction of wild plants

d. Building roads and railways through forests reduces area of movement

e. Pollution of water and air along with acid rain affect all forms of life

f. Destruction of habitat of scavengers

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CAUSES OF EXTINCTION OF SPECIES Hunting : Excessive hunting of wild animals is of 3 typesa. Subsistence hunting for food and safety

b. Sport hunting for recreation or amusement

c. Commercial hunting for obtaining musk, ivory, fur etc.

Dams and reservoirs a. Block route of fishes and prevent their reproduction

b. Submerge natural flora

Legal lapse : failure for enforcement of laws to protect life forms Ignorance : about the importance of maintaining flora and fauna Trade: rare animals are being poached and captured for trade Introduction of exotic speciesa. Extinction of dodo of mauritius due to introduction of pigs

b. Water hyacinth and lantana camara in India

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CONCEPT OF THREATENED SPECIES

AND

ITS CLASSIFICATION

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THREATENED (T) SPECIES

Threatened species are those that are likely to become extinct if immediate steps are not taken for their conservation

A record of threatened species is maintained by International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), Morges, Switzerland. It is called the Red Data Book.

Criteria used for categorization of endangered species in the book

a. The present and past distribution

b. Decline in no. or population in the course of time

c. Abundance and quality of natural habitat

d. Biology and potential value of the species

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CLASSIFICATION OF THREATENED (T) SPECIES

According to the degree of danger to the threatened species Endangered species (E)Species in danger of extinction if current casual factors continue to

operate eg. Habitat destrution, more death rate than birth rate etc. Example: Tiger, great indian bustard, rhino, red panda musk deer

Vulnerable species (V)Species having sufficient population at present but is depleting fast and

are likely to enter the category of endangered species in near future. Example: spotted deer, black buck, golden langur, leopard cat.

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CLASSIFICATION OF THREATENED (T) SPECIES

Rare species ( R)They have small population in the world and are at great risk and may

come under attack from a new predator, pathogen or exotic organism. Example: Indian desert cat, wild yak, snow loris

Indeterminate species (I)These are in danger of extinction but a specific cause cannot be

assigned. Example : Mexican Prairie Dog, Short eared rabbit of sumatra, 3 banded armadillo of brazil

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CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY

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Meaning

Conservation of biodiversity is the scientific management of biosphere in such a way that it remains at the optimum level, yielding greatest sustainable benefit to the present generation while retaining its potential to meet the needs and aspirations of future generations.

Aims and Objectives Maintaining ecological processes and life supporting systems at optimum

level Preserve diversity of species and germplasm (genetic diversity) of world’s

organisms. Ensure a continuous (everlasting) and sustainable supply of materials for

all the human beings and their industries

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Conservation Strategies

World conservation strategy was formulated in 1980 Non disturbance or disturbance to the minimum when it is essential. Protection of threatened species. Priority to monotypic forms (only one species of a genus or a family) Priority to endangered species over vulnerable over rare species. In-situ and ex-situ conservation. Management of life support system ( air, water, land) Conservation of currently useful organisms germplasm like food

crops, timber plants. Conservation of wild relatives of economically useful organisms. Protection of natural habitats of wild relatives of useful organisms.

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Conservation Strategies cont…

Safe guarding critical habitats of wild animals Preservation of whole ecosystem of threatened species Protection of unique ecosystems on priority basis Establishment of national parks and sanctuaries for wildlife

protection Non disturbance of routes of migratory animals and their resting

places Avoidance of over exploitation of useful products of wildlife Regulation of hunting and international trade of wildlife

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International efforts on Conservation of wildlife

In 1992, Earth Summit held in Rio de Janerio resulted in Convention on Biodiversity ( became effective from 29.12.1993)

Three major objectives identified Sustainable use of Biodiversity Conservation of biodiversity Justified sharing of benefits due to use of genetic resources

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International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) , 1948, Morges , Switzerland

World wildlife fund (WWF) , 1961, Glands, Switzerland (Symbol- Giant Panda)

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) India, 1969, Bombay Convention on International Trade in Endangered species of Wild

Flora and Fauna (CITES) , 1975

International efforts on Conservation of wildlife

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In situ Conservation Strategies Ex situ Conservation Strategies

Biodiversity Conservation Efforts In India

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Biodiversity Conservation Management System

In situ conservation

Protected area network

Ex situ conservation

Terrestrial Marine

Sacred forests and sacred lakes

Biosphere reserves

National Parks, wildlife sanctuaries

Sacred plants and home gardens

Seed bank, field gene banks, cryo-preservation and tissue culture

Botanical gardens, arborata, zoos