Biodiversity Biodiversity refers to the variety of flora and fauna found in a particular region. It includes the wide variety of plants, animals and microorganisms living in different ecomssyste. Flora and Fauna in India → India is one of the world’s richest countries in terms of biological diversity. → India has about 8.1% of the world’s recorded species, while it covers only about 2.4% of the world’s land area. → India has a vast variety of flora and fauna because of its varied relief, climate and ecosystems. → About 10% of India’s recorded flora is under threat. → About 20% of India’s mammals are on the threatened list. Depletion of Flora and Fauna → Habitat destruction → Expansion of agriculture → Commercial and scientific forestry → Large-scale development projects → Mining activities → Industrialisation and urbanisation → Over-exploitation of forest resources → Hunting and poaching of wild animals → Environmental pollution → Forest fires and overgrazing → Loss of biodiversity and natural habitats → Decline and extinction of several species Conservation of Forest and Wildlife Conservation means the protection and preservation of forests, wildlife and their natural habitats for the future. Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 → The Wildlife Protection Act was implemented in 1972 to protect wildlife and their habitats. → It gave legal protection to wild animals throughout the country. → Hunting and poaching of protected species were restricted. → The Act created a framework for establishing protected areas such as Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks. → Special attention was given to the protection of endangered species. → The Act was amended in 1986 and 1991 to strengthen wildlife protection. → Under these conservation measures, many species received legal protection from hunting and trade. → It became an important step towards the conservation of India’s biodiversity and wildlife. Project Tiger, 1973 → Project Tiger was launched in 1973 to protect the tiger from extinction. → In 1973, the tiger population had fallen to 1,827, from an estimated 55,000 at the beginning of the 20th century. → Project Tiger aimed not only to save the endangered tiger, but also to preserve large natural habitats and biodiversity. → Why was Project Tiger Started? Major threats: poaching, habitat loss, prey depletion and population growth. Tiger skins were traded and bones were used in traditional medicines. India and Nepal had about two-thirds of the world’s tigers, making them major targets of poaching and illegal trade. → Important Tiger Reserves in India: Corbett National Park — Uttarakhand Sunderbans National Park — West Bengal Bandhavgarh National Park — Madhya Pradesh Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary — Rajasthan Manas Tiger Reserve — Assam Periyar Tiger Reserve — Kerala National Park vs Wildlife Sanctuary vs Biosphere Reserve → National Park: A protected area for conserving wildlife and natural vegetation; human activities are highly restricted. → Wildlife Sanctuary: A protected area where wild animals are protected in their natural habitats; some human activities may be allowed. → Biosphere Reserve: A large protected area for conserving biodiversity, ecosystems and traditional ways of life; it also supports research and education. Types of Forests According to their legal status, forests are divided into three categories: 1. Reserved Forests → These are forests where human activities are highly restricted. → They are considered the most valuable forests for the conservation of forest and wildlife. → More than half of India’s total forest land is Reserved Forest. 2. Protected Forests → These forests are protected from further depletion, but some activities may be allowed under government rules. → Almost one-third of India’s total forest area is Protected Forest. 3. Unclassed Forests → These are forests and wastelands that are not classified as Reserved or Protected Forests. → They may belong to the government, private individuals or communities. → They are mainly found in North-Eastern states and parts of Gujarat. Protection by Communities Sariska Tiger Reserve – Rajasthan → In Sariska Tiger Reserve, villagers fought against mining activities in the protected area. → They used the Wildlife Protection Act to stop mining and protect the forest. Alwar District – Rajasthan → In Alwar district, five villages declared 1,200 hectares of forest as the Bhairodev Dakav ‘Sonchuri’. → They made their own rules to protect wildlife and forests. → They banned hunting and protected the area from outside encroachment. Chipko Movement – Himalayas → The Chipko Movement was started by local communities to protect forests from cutting. → Villagers hugged trees to prevent them from being felled. → It showed the importance of community participation in forest conservation. Beej Bachao Andolan → Beej Bachao Andolan was started in the Tehri region of Uttarakhand. → Farmers preserved traditional seeds and promoted biodiversity and sustainable farming. Joint Forest Management (JFM) → Joint Forest Management involves local communities and the Forest Department working together to protect and manage forests. → The programme was formally introduced in 1988 in Odisha. → Local communities help in forest protection, while they receive benefits from the forest in return.
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RESOURCES – INTRO Look around you—everything you use in daily life, from water and air to books, roads, and even your skills, is a resource. But have you ever wondered why some regions develop faster than others? The answer lies in how effectively resources are used. Understanding resources is the first step towards understanding development, sustainability, and our role in conserving nature. *What are Resources? Anything available in our environment that can be used to satisfy our needs is called a resource — provided it is technologically accessible, economically flexible , culturally acceptable. In simple words, not everything in nature is a resource. It becomes a resource only when: We have the technology to use it It is affordable to use It is useful for society *Importance of Resources Resources are the foundation of development. Without them, no country can progress. Their importance can be understood in the following way: Basis of Survival: Resources like air, water, food, and land are essential for life. Without them, survival is impossible. Support Economic Development: Industries, agriculture, transport — all depend on resources. Example: Fertile soil helps in farming, minerals help in industries. Improve Quality of Life: Resources help in providing better housing, healthcare, education, and technology, making life comfortable. Drive Technological Advancement: Availability of resources like minerals and energy fuels technological growth. Example: Petroleum supports transport and modern industries. Regional Development: The availability of resources influences how developed a region is. Areas rich in resources often develop faster compared to resource-poor regions. *Human Beings as a Resource When people have education, skills, and good health, they can work efficiently and contribute to development. In this way, they become a valuable resource for the country. This concept is also known as Human Resource Development (HRD). The diagram shows that human beings are at the center of resource development, connecting nature, technology, and institutions. Nature provides raw materials like land and water, but they become useful resources only when humans use their knowledge and skills. Humans develop technology to transform these natural elements into usable forms and create institutions (like laws and organizations) to manage and distribute them properly. Thus, human beings act as the link that controls and coordinates everything, making them the most important resource. CLASSIFICATION OF RESOURCES Resources are classified into four main categories based on: Origin Exhaustibility Ownership Status of Development Each type helps us understand resources from a different perspective 1.Based on Origin This classification tells us where resources come from. Biotic Resources: These are obtained from living organisms. Example: Plants, animals, forests, fisheries Abiotic Resources: These come from non-living things. Example: Rocks, minerals, metals, water # This classification is important because it helps us understand the nature and source of resources. 2.Based on Exhaustibility This classification focuses on whether resources can be used again or not. Renewable Resources: These can be replenished or renewed naturally over time. Example: Solar energy, wind energy, water Non-Renewable Resources: These are limited and take millions of years to form. Once used, they cannot be easily replaced. Example: Coal, petroleum, natural gas # This classification is directly linked with sustainable development, as it teaches us to use limited resources carefully. 3.Based on Ownership This classification shows who owns the resources. Individual Resources: Owned by private individuals. Example: Land, house, wells Community-Owned Resources: Used by a group/community. Example: Public parks, playgrounds, grazing grounds National Resources: Owned by the country (government). Example: Roads, railways, rivers, forests International Resources: Beyond national boundaries and regulated by international institutions. Example: Oceanic resources beyond 200 nautical miles # This classification helps in proper management and fair distribution of resources. 4.Based on Status of Development This classification explains how developed or usable a resource is. Potential Resources: Available but not fully used yet. Example: Wind and solar energy in Rajasthan and Gujarat Developed Resources: Surveyed and currently in use. Example: Developed agricultural land Stock: Resources available but cannot be used due to lack of technology. Example: Hydrogen as a fuel (not fully usable yet) Reserves: Part of stock that can be used with existing technology but is conserved for future. Example: Water in dams, forests # This classification highlights the role of technology and planning in resource use. DEVELOPMENT OF RESOURCES Development of resources means using resources in a planned, systematic, and sustainable way so that they are available for both present and future generations. *Problems Caused by Indiscriminate Use of Resources The irrational and excessive use of resources has led to multiple issues: 1. Depletion of Resources: Many important resources like coal, petroleum, and forests are being used rapidly, leading to their exhaustion. 2. Concentration of Resources: Resources are concentrated in the hands of a few people or countries, creating a rich–poor divide. 3. Global Inequalities: This unequal distribution has caused economic and social inequalities across the world. 4. Environmental Degradation *Need for Sustainable Development -To overcome these problems, it is important to follow sustainable development. -It means using resources in a way that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. # History of Sustainable Development The Rio Earth Summit (1992) was a major international meeting held in Rio de Janeiro where countries realised that development should go hand-in-hand with environmental protection. During this summit, an important action plan called Agenda 21 was introduced, which guided nations on how to use resources carefully and promote sustainable practices in daily life. Building on this idea, the Sustainable Development Goals (2015) were introduced by the United Nations to take this vision further. These include 17 global goals to be achieved by 2030, focusing on overall development of society. RESOURCE PLANNING Resource planning is the careful strategy for using resources wisely, efficiently, and sustainably to meet present and future needs. It becomes necessary because: Resources are limited They are unevenly distributed across regions Overuse can lead to environmental problems *Steps Involved in Resource Planning Resource planning is a systematic process that includes the following steps: 1. Identification and Inventory of Resources This involves: Surveying and mapping resources Identifying their type, quality, and quantity Example: Mapping mineral-rich…
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INTRO- MANUFACTURING The term “Manufacturing” comes from two Latin words- ‘Manu’ means hand and ‘facture’ means to make. It means producing goods in large quantities from raw materials and adding value to them through processing, machinery, and labour. It is a secondary activity because it converts primary materials (from agriculture, mining, etc.) into finished products. *Relation Between Agriculture and Industry Agriculture and industry are interdependent: #Both sectors support each other’s growth and sustainability. IMPORTANCE OF MANUFACTURING Manufacturing plays a vital role in the economic and social development of a nation. CONTRIBUTION OF MANUFACTURING TO NATIONAL ECONOMY INDUSTRIAL LOCATION Industrial location refers to the specific place or area where an industry is set up. Industries tend to locate where all necessary inputs are easily and cheaply available. According to Alfred Weber’s Industrial Location Theory, “An industry is located at a place where the cost of production and transportation is minimum.” *Factors Affecting the Location of Industries Industries do not grow everywhere — they develop where conditions are favourable.The major factors are given below. 1. Availability of Raw Materials 2. Labour (Manpower) 3. Power (Energy Source) 4. Capital (Investment) 5. Market 6. Transport and Communication 7. Government Policies 8. Industrial Climate (Social and Political Stability) *Industrial Clusters or Agglomeration -When several industries are set up close to each other for mutual benefit, it is called industrial agglomeration. -These areas become industrial hubs or regions. -Example: CLASSIFICATION OF INDUSTRIES Industries can be classified or grouped on different bases such as raw materials, capital investment, ownership, and size.This helps in understanding their nature, functioning, and contribution to the economy. AGRO-BASED INDUSTRIES Agro-based industries are industries that use agricultural products as raw materials. They form a strong link between agriculture and industry, and are the largest group of industries in India. These industries process agricultural raw materials into finished or semi-finished goods that can be used by consumers or other industries. 1. Textile Industry 2. Cotton Textile Industry 3. Jute Industry 4. Sugar Industry MINERAL BASED INDUSTRIES 1. Iron and Steel Industry 2. Aluminium Smelting 3. Chemical Industries 4. Fertiliser Industry 5. Cement Industry 6. Automobile Industry 7. Information Technology and Electronics Industry INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION Industrial pollution refers to the contamination of the environment due to harmful by-products released from industries into air, water, and soil. Industries are responsible for four types of pollution: Air, Water, Land, Noise *Measures to Control Industrial Pollution To reduce pollution and promote sustainable development, the following steps are essential:
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