BIOLOGY
BIOLOGY
Natural Resource
Natural resources are substances from nature used to sustain life and meet
human needs, including stone, sand, metals, oil, coal, natural gas, air,
sunlight, soil, and water.
• The river Ganga is used as a sewage dump for more than 100 cities
stretching across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal.
• This makes it inhabitable for flora and fauna in the river system.
• This makes it inhabitable for flora and fauna in the river system.
• In 1985 the GAP (Ganga Action Plan) project was initialised to curb the poor
quality of the water of the river Ganges.
Reduce, Recycle and Reuse
The 3 R’s to save the environment can be performed by each individual in our society:
Population growth demands resources, prompting industries like technology and lifestyle
changes to exploit natural reserves and meet increasing demands.
Forests and Wildlife Stakeholders of Forests
• Forests are termed biodiversity hotspots. • People who habituate around forests are dependent on
forest produce.
• Biodiversity is the variety and range of plant and animal
• The Forest Department of Government owns the land and
life in a particular habitat.
resources.
• Human intervention is a necessity in the management of • Excessive and lawless utilisation of forests will deplete
forest resources and landscapes. the resources quicker than they can be restored.
• Destroys the ecological balance and may damage the
• Resources must be utilised to ensure development while
habitats of various species of flora and fauna.
preserving the environment.
• Benefits must go to the local people to ensure economic
growth and conservation takes place simultaneously.
• Examples: Bishnoi community in Rajasthan for saving Khejri
trees in Jodhpur Rajasthan.
Sustainable Development
• In reality, industries use forests at rates far below the market rates, which causes conflict between local dwellers and
industrialists.
• West Bengal’s Arabari forests are well-known for being protected areas. This forest gained notoriety as a result of
the participation of locals who established a community and worked with village police and forest officials to ensure
that there was no significant deforestation, land poaching, or illegal wildlife hunting there.
Chipko Movement
• The Chipko Andolan (‘Hug the Trees Movement’) is one such case of
conflict between the industrialist and local dwellers in the 1970s.
• Chipko Movement
• Originated in Reni Garhwal, high up in the Himalayas.
• The conflict between local villagers and logging contractor →
Women of the village stopped felling trees by hugging them →
Contractor had to reverse the action.
• Women protecting the trees by hugging them
• The movement quickly gained popularity and media attention and
forced the government to rethink the management of forest resources.
• The involvement of local people is equally important in the
management of forest resources.
Water for All
Rains and Irrigation Practices Involvement of Local People (ex:
kulhs)
• Himachal Pradesh had a canal irrigation system called
• Intervention of the government to pursue mega projects kulhs where flowing stream water was diverted to man-
neglected the local irrigation methods. made channels, which took it to villages down the
hillside.
• Strict regulations on the usage of stored water and building tanks,
dams and canals • The water was used first by the village farthest from the
origin of the kulh. This helped water percolate in the
• Optimum cropping patterns must be followed based on water soil.
availability.
• It was made defunct after the government irrigation
system took over.
Water for All
• Water harvesting encourages soil and water conservation in order to sustain and increase biomass.
• Increases income for the local community but also alleviates floods and droughts.
• Examples: Rajasthan’s tanks, Khadins, and Nadis; Maharashtra’s Tals and Bandharas; Madhya Pradesh’s and
Uttar Pradesh’s Bundhis; Bihar’s Pynes and Ahars; Himachal Pradesh’s Kulhs; Kattas in Karnataka; ponds in
the Kandi belt of Jammu region; Eris (tanks) in Tamil Nadu and Kerala’s Surangams.
• Water harvesting constructions are crescent-shaped earthen embankments/concrete check dams built in areas
that are seasonally flooded.
• Coal and petroleum are derived from fossil fuels, which are non-
renewable. They will get depleted in due time. Hence, proper
management of the consumption of fossil fuels is important.