Forests are inhabited by a wide number of land animals and plants. Forest dwellers are essential for the well-being and survival of mankind. Anthropogenic activities like deforestation threaten their habitats and lead to the direct loss of life of these organisms.

Deforestation and its causes

Deforestation is a change in the state of forests by cutting down the trees and using that land for other purposes. Cutting of tree is mainly due to the following reasons mentioned below:

•       For cultivation
•       For construction of buildings, houses, and factories
•       In making household appliances like furniture or wood as fuel.

Forest fires and droughts are other natural causes of deforestation.

Consequences of Deforestation

•       Increase in temperature of the earth and rise in pollution level
•       An increase in temperature disturbs the water cycle and thus reduces the rainfall causing severe droughts
•       Level of carbon dioxide increases in the atmosphere causing global warming
•       The water holding capacity of the soil decreases as a result of which groundwater level also decreases
•       Soil erosion is due to fewer trees as roots of the tree hold the soil. Exposure of the top layer of soil decreases humus and fertility of the soil and hence the land gets converted into deserts. This process is called desertification
•       Natural calamities such as floods and droughts frequently occur.

Conservation of Forest and Wildlife

Wildlife sanctuary, national park, and biosphere reserves are protected areas meant for the conservation and preservation of forests and wild animals.

Biosphere Reserve

⮚  Mainly protects and conserves land for wildlife, plants, and the traditional lifestyle of the tribal living in that area

⮚  Generally, maintains the biodiversity and culture of that area

⮚  Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve consists of one protected area of the national park i.e., Satpura, and two wildlife sanctuaries- Bori and Pachmarhi. 

Wildlife Sanctuary

⮚  Protect and provide suitable conditions to living wild animals

⮚  Certain activities are permissible like grazing, collection of medicinal plants, firewood, etc

⮚  Wild animals like blackbuck, white-eyed buck, elephant, golden cat, pink-headed duck, gharial, marsh crocodile, python, rhinoceros, etc., are on the list of threatened animals that are protected in this area.

National Park

⮚  Consists of large and diverse areas that protect whole sets of ecosystems

⮚  Preserves flora, fauna, landscape, and historic objects of that area. Habitats and natural resources are freely utilized by wildlife residing in the National Park

⮚  Human activities like grazing, poaching, hunting, animals or collecting firewood, medicinal plants, etc. are not allowed

⮚     The number of National Parks in India is more than one hundred

⮚  The first reserve forest of India is Satpura National Park.

Government Initiatives for conservation of wildlife

Certain rules, methods, and policies are made by the government to protect and conserve them.

•       The Forest (Conservation) Act aims to preserve and conserve natural forests
•       Project Tiger was launched by the government to protect the tigers of our country. The goal behind this project was to ensure the survival and maintenance of the tiger population.

⮚  Satpura Tiger Reserve has seen a significant increase in the population of tigers. Earlier, animals like lions, elephants, wild buffaloes, and barasingha were also found. 

Endemic Species:

Include species of plants and animals that are found exclusively in that particular area and are not found naturally anywhere else. For example,

•       Sal and wild mango of the Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve is included in the endemic flora
•       Endemic fauna includes bison, Indian giant squirrel, and flying squirrel.

Factors affecting the habitat of endemic species include:

• Habitat destruction
• Increase in population
• Invasion or introduction of new species.

Thus, all the above factors also hamper their existence.

Species: It is a group of populations that are capable of interbreeding.

•       They have common characteristics.
•       Reproduction between members of the same species insults infertile offspring.

Endangered animals

Including those groups of species who are at the risk of extinction and soon their number will decrease, these groups are called endangered animals.

•       Small animals are at higher risk of extinction than bigger animals.

Red Data Book

•       All the endangered plants and animals are recorded in this book
•       IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) maintains the Red Data Book internationally
•       A Red Data Book for plants and animals found in India is maintained by India.

Migration

•       Migration is the movement of species from one place to another by leaving their habitat for a particular period for a specific purpose like breeding
•       Birds covering long distances to reach another land are known as migratory birds.

Reforestation

•       It is the process of restoring the destroyed forests by planting new trees
•       Generally, the same species of trees are planted that were found in that forest
•       If the deforested land is left undisturbed then reforestation takes place naturally
•       There is no role of human beings in the restoration process.

To retain as well as sustain our green wealth for future generations, planting more trees is the only option left.

Conclusion

Wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, and biosphere reserves have been established to safeguard our plants and animals as well as their ecosystems. Planting, farming, grazing, tree falling, hunting, and poaching are all forbidden.