4 Marks Each

Question 14 Marks

Elaborate the remedies for forest conservation.

Answer

Remedies to conserve forests:

In order to protect and conserve forests, the Government of India implemented a National Forest Policy in $1952.$
Later, in $1980$ the Parliament passed Forest (Conservation) Act. It made amendments in this policy in $1988.$

Following steps to should be taken preserve forests:

Forests are part of our national resource. Hence, it is our moral duty to protect them.
Cutting of trees should be stopped. Strict punishment should be given to those who cut trees illegally.
To increase public participation in ‘Van Mahotsava’ and ‘Social Forestry’, people should be encourages to plant trees on either sides of wasteland, river, railway tracks and roads.
Awareness should be created about environment by educating people through seminars, workshops, street plays, etc.
Environmental protection should also be included in school syllabus.
Environment-related days should be celebrated to continuously remain about conserving environment.
Take precautions to avoid forest fire. In case of fire immediate action should be taken.
Renewable energy resources such as solar energy, bio-energy, wind energy, etc. should be used in place of traditional resources like wood.
People should be explained the importance of forests through media such as newspapers, journals, internet, TV, etc.
Institutes such as F.R.I. (Forest Research Institute) which undertakes forest-related research activities should be supported well to enable them develop more and more ways to conserve forests.

Question 24 Marks

Write about the utility of forests.

Answer

(a) Utility of forests with reference to : forest products :
Wood is the major product of the forest. Strong and durable timber wood like pine, saal and sesame are available from forests.
The wood of acacia and kher is used as fuel wood. From the soft wood of cone-shaped trees like pine and chid, many goods like packing boxes for tea and medicines, sports goods, match- sticks, paper, synthetic fibres, etc. are prepared.
Paper and rayon, baskets, smaller baskets, toys, mats and goods of home decoration are prepared from bamboo.
Wooden boats are made out of the wood of sundari tree growing in Sundarvan.
Fragrant sandalwood and sandalwood oil is available from sandalwood trees which grow in Karnataka forests. Catechu is obtained from kher trees.
Turpentine is obtained from the fluid of chid trees and medicinal oil is obtained from the leaves of eucalyptus trees.
Herbal medicines like sarpagandha, ashwa-gandha, cinchona, shankhavali, saragavo, garmalo, harde, baheda, amla, etc. are obtained from these forests.
Brooms are made out of the leaves of palm and date-palm, leaf-plates and bowls from the leaves of khakhra and bidi from timru leaves.
Some minor products of the forests include rubber, lac, resin, honey, gum and cane. Most of the lac is produced in India.
Many fruits are also obtained from the forests.
(b) Ecological importance of forests :

The environmental importance (utility) of forests are as follows:
Forests keep the atmosphere cool and help to bring rain.
Forests spread humidity in the atmosphere and thus prevents it from becoming adverse.
Forests suck harmful gases like carbon dioxide from the air and release life-saving oxygen.
Forests are useful to control the floods in the rivers.
They prevent the erosion by wind and rain.
They prevent the advancing deserts and this protects the fertile soil.
Forests conserve the humidity and retain the ‘ groundwater.
They reduce pollution and maintain environmental equilibrium.
They increase the natural beauty.
They keep the air pure.
They provide dwellings to wildlife.
Forests are the ideal fields for ‘Adventure – Tourism ’ Activity’.
Some forests in India are reserved as National Parks and Sanctuaries.

Question 34 Marks

State the remedies for forest conserva-ties.

Answer

Remedies to conserve the forests: The Government of India implemented a National Forest Policy in $1952$ for protection and conservation of forests. After that, The Indian Parliament passed a Forest Conservation Act in $1980.$ In $1988,$ The Government of India declared a new Forest Policy.
Forests are our national assets. An understanding is to be developed among the citizens that it is our moral duty of all of us to conserve them.
Strict controls should be implemented and the persons indulging into illegal tree felling must be punished severely.
Public participation should be increased through Vanmahotsav and social forestry programmes and such programmes should be encouraged.
Saplings prepared by the Forest Department should be planted on either sides of the waste lands, rivers, railways, roads, canals, etc. and rear them.
Environment awareness should be developed among the students through school syllabus, environmental education, activities and competitions.Environment related days like ‘World Forest Day’ and ‘World Environment Day’ should becele brated.
Proper care should be taken to avoid the forest fire and in case of the fire enough arrangements should be made to douse it immediately.
People should be motivated to use alternate energy resources like solar energy, bio-energy, wind energy, etc. in place of wood and should be assisted to purchase equipment for it.
Explain the importance of forests to people through broadcasting media and develop public awareness.

Social Science 4 Marks Each