Chapter 2 — Forest and Wildlife Resources

Biodiversity is biological diversity—immensely rich in wildlife and cultivated species, diverse in form and function but closely integrated through multiple networks of interdependencies. It is important because plants, animals, and micro-organisms re-create the quality of air we breathe, water we drink, and soil that produces food. Forests as primary producers form the foundation of ecological systems.

The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act was implemented in 1972. It provided various provisions for protecting habitats, published an all-India list of protected species, aimed at protecting endangered species by banning hunting, giving legal protection to habitats, and restricting trade in wildlife.

Project Tiger was launched in 1973 as one of the world's most well-publicised wildlife conservation campaigns. The tiger population had dwindled to 1,827 from an estimated 55,000 at the turn of the century due to poaching, shrinking habitats, depletion of prey species, and trade in tiger skins and bones. Tiger conservation is viewed as both saving an endangered species and preserving biotypes of sizeable magnitude.

Forests in India are classified into three categories: (i) Reserved Forests—more than half of total forest land, regarded as most valuable for conservation; (ii) Protected Forests—almost one-third of total forest area, protected from further depletion; (iii) Unclassed Forests—other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private individuals and communities.

Sacred Groves are patches of forest or parts of large forests left untouched by local people, protected by age-old tribal beliefs that all creations of nature must be protected. These pristine forests, also called forests of God and Goddesses, have been preserved from time immemorial. Certain communities revere specific trees like mahua, kadamba, tamarind, mango, peepal, and banyan, treating them as sacred.

The Chipko movement is a famous conservation effort in the Himalayas that has successfully resisted deforestation in several areas. It has also shown that community afforestation with indigenous species can be enormously successful. The movement exemplifies how local communities can effectively protect forests without government involvement.

Joint Forest Management is a programme involving local communities in the management and restoration of degraded forests. Formally established in 1988 when Odisha passed the first JFM resolution, it depends on local village institutions undertaking protection activities on degraded forest land. In return, community members are entitled to non-timber forest produces and share in timber harvested by successful protection.

Communities conserve forests through traditional methods and modern programmes: sacred groves left untouched by villagers; revering specific trees and protecting them through cultural practices; demarcating forest areas like Bhairodev Dakav 'Sonchuri' where hunting is banned; protecting wildlife habitats against mining and external encroachment; and participating in programmes like joint forest management, Chipko movement, and Beej Bachao Andolan.

In Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, villagers fought against mining by citing the Wildlife Protection Act. Villagers themselves are protecting habitats and explicitly rejecting government involvement, recognising that community management will secure their long-term livelihood.

According to the text, endangered species with government protection include the tiger, one-horned rhinoceros, Kashmir stag (hangul), three types of crocodiles (freshwater, saltwater, and Gharial), Asiatic lion, Indian elephant, black buck (chinkara), great Indian bustard (godawan), and snow leopard. Legal protection was given against hunting and trade throughout India.

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