Q.8. Write short notes on
(a) Forest Conservation Act
(b) Natural Reserves
Ans. (a) Forest Conservation Act
The Forest Conservation Act, 1980 consolidated all the previous laws regarding forests that were passed before the 1920s. The Act gave the Government and Forest Department the power to create Reserved Forests, and the right to use Reserved Forests for Government use alone.
Objectives of Forest Conservation Act:
-Protection and conservation of flora, fauna, forests and wildlife.
-Afforestation and regeneration of degraded areas and
-Protection of environment in order to promote sustainable development.
Features of Forest conservation Act:
(i) That any forest land or any portion may not be used for any non-forest purpose
(ii) That any forest land or any portion may not be assigned by way of lease of otherwise to any private person or non-Government body.
(iii) That any forest or any portion may not be cleared of trees which have grown naturally in that land for the purpose of using it for reforestation.
Penalties:
Any person violating such laws shall be punished with imprisonment for å term which may extended to six months or with a fine which any extended to Rs 500 or both.
Ans. (b) Natural Reserves
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna features of geological or special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research.
Objectives of Natural Reserves:
a. Maintain ecological systems and processes
b. Conserve genetic diversity
c. Educate and motivate local communities and resource users to promote and conserve forests.
Importance of Natural Reserves:
(i) Protect Biodiversity: A sufficient biodiversity is required to keep our ecosystem in natural balance. With sufficient biodiversity, the loss of any part of the food chain will not lead to a serious disruption and effects on the other nisms as they can obtain nutrients in other ways. organisms as they can obtain nutrients in other ways.
(ii) Resources: It provides us with food our consumption and natural medicinal resources that allow us to recover our body to the pink of health. They also provides raw materials for businesses to create products that we use.
(iii) Cultural Services: With a healthy biodiversity, humans can study them for research and education so that we can understand our natural heritage better. It also allows many people to conduct recreation and tourism, to relax in a natural environment and travel back in time where many habitats have not been destroyed.
Case Study: Sunderbans Biosphere Reserve
The reserve is densely covered by mangrove forests, and is one of the largest reserves for the Bengal tiger. It is also home to a variety of bird, reptile and invertebrate species, including the salt-water crocodile. It is considered as a World Network of Biosphere Reserve (Man and Biosphere Reserve) from 2001.
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