Science Question Answer (3 Marks)

Deforestation is the removal of a forest or strands of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a non-forest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use.
The conversion of forests into agricultural plantations is a major cause of deforestation. The increase in global demand for commodities, such as palm oil and soybeans, are driving industrial-scale producers to clear forests at an alarming rate. Livestock ranching and forest clearing for livestock ranching is another contributor to deforestation.

Wildlife sanctuary is a selected spot of living for animals and birds. Also, birds and animals are not bred and taken care of in a sanctuary. Instead they take care of themselves and they look after their own living.
A zoo is a created and an artificial habitat for animals and birds. In a zoo, the animals and birds are held in captive. It is a place that is created by man with an intention to keep the birds and animals to be watched by visitors and people as part of the tourism of a country.

Bird migration is the regular seasonal movement, often north and south along a flyway, between breeding and wintering grounds. Many species of bird migrate. Migration carries high costs in predation and mortality, including from hunting by humans, and is driven primarily by availability of food. BIrds also migrate for favourable weather for their survival and breeding.

Reforestation: Reforestation is the reestablishment of destroyed forests by planting trees.

1. The advantages of reforestation are reforestation helps protect important species of plants and provides natural habitat to animals and birds.
2. It leads to maintaining and improving the social and biological levels of an entire ecosystem.

The purpose of establishing several Biosphere Reserve, Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks in India is to provide protected habitat to animal’s birds and plants which otherwise will be captured by humans. The other purpose is also to provide ample of space to flora and fauna to survive and grow in numbers without the fear of human intervention. This also leads to conservation and development of natural forest lands.

An "extinct species" is a species of organism that can no longer be found in the wild or in captivity. It is already dead and can no longer be found in any part of the world. The plant or animal species existing in such small numbers it is in danger of becoming extinct, especially such a species placed in jeopardy because of human activity. The specie is on the verge of extinction and have few numbers. If proper measures are not taken then it can also become extinct if proper care and measures are taken then their population can be increased.

Deforestation means cutting of trees. When trees are cut, the soil becomes loose. When there is heavy rainfall or flood, the soil being loose is washed away and this leads to soil erosion. This leads to flood and landsliding.

The plant or animal species existing in such small numbers it is in danger of becoming extinct, especially such a species placed in jeopardy because of human activity. One of the principal factors in the endangerment or extinction of a species is the destruction or pollution of its habitat.
The two endangered species in India are Great Indian Bustard and snow leopard.

1. Yak; Kashmir stag; Snow leopard.
2. Blackbuck; Tiger; Kashmir stag; Lion tailed macaque; Snow leopard.
3. Dodo; Dinosaur.

When trees are cut down and there is desertification in that area so there is no transpiration and hence it results in no or minimal rainfall. When there are floods the absence of trees leads to soil erosion. It is due to the fact due to absence of trees there are no roots to hold the soil together and it gets washed away in flood.

If the natural habitat of a wild animal is destroyed then the animals will run towards human habitat. There will be no space for animals and this will eventually force them to die. Plants on other hand will grow enormously and the whole life cycle and food cycle will be disturbed.

A national park is a park in use for conservation. Often it is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or wins.

1. Gir Forest national park Gujarat.
2. Jim corbett National Park Uttrakhand.

Differences between Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park are:

1. A National Park is an area of great scenic beauty while Wildlife Sanctuary may or may not be an area of great Scenic beauty.
2. A National Park protects and Preserves wild animals and their environment as well as scenic beauty, historical objects and habitats of scientific interest in the area, while A wildlife sanctuary protects ans preserves only the wild animals in their natural environment.
3. In a National Park, wild animals are kept for recreation, enjoyment. However, National Park protects the wild animals as well. A Wildlife Sanctuary is not meant for enjoyment of the public. A Wildlife Sanctuary is dedicated to the protection of wild animals only.

Migratory birds are those birds that fly hundreds and thousands of kilometres to find the best ecological conditions and habitats for feeding, breeding and raising their young. When conditions at breeding sites become unfavourable, it is time to fly to regions where conditions are better.

The Red Data Book is the state document established for documenting rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi and some local subspecies that exist within the territory of the state or country. This book provides authentic central information for studies and monitoring programmes on rare and endangered species and their habits. Red list has 132 species of plants and animals from India.

Biosphere Reserves (BRs) are representative parts of natural and cultural landscapes extending over large area of terrestrial or coastal/marine ecosystems or a combination thereof and representative examples of bio-geographic zones/provinces. They are protected and minimally disturbed area of nature conservation. The two biospheres reserves in India are Pachmarhi biosphere reserve in Madhya Pradesh and Nanda Devi in Uttrakhand.

Deforestation in simple term means the felling and clearing of forest cover or tree plantations to accommodate agricultural, industrial or urban use. It involves permanent end of forest cover to make that land available for residential, commercial or industrial purpose. Deforestation can also be seen as removal of forests leading to several imbalances ecologically and environmentally. What makes deforestation alarming is the immediate and long-term effects it is bound to inflict if continued at the current pace. Some predictions state that the rainforests of the world will be destroyed completely if deforestation continues at its current pace.

The one advantage of maintaining Red Data Book is that as it contains the information about the species that are endangered and threatened so it helps the government agencies to take the measures to protect them and also increase their number through different modes of rearing and preservation.

Migration refers to the movement of a group of animals from one region to another, usually seasonally.
It is found in all major animal groups, including birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and crustaceans. It is done by the species itself to find better and favorable habitat or by human authorities to locate animals or birds to better and safe habitat for breeding.

A biosphere reserve is an ecosystem with plants and animals of unusual scientific and natural interest.

1. Each Biosphere Reserve should fulfill three basic functions, which are complementary and mutually reinforcing.
2. Conservation function–to contribute to the conservation of landscapes, ecosystems, species and genetic variation.
3. Development function–to foster economic and human development which is socio-culturally and ecologically sustainable.
4. Logistic function–to provide support for research, monitoring, education and information exchange related to local, national and global issues of conservation and development.

The killing of small animals disturb the life cycle and food chain. For example if we kill snakes, rodents that are eaten by snakes will increase in number and destroy the crop at mass level. In another case if we kill frogs then the number of insects that destroy our crops and are eaten by frogs will damage the crop. In nutshell killing of any animal leads to our own harm.