NCERT-aligned Class 10 Geography topic. Every item is anchored to a real location on India's map — built for boards (CBSE, ICSE, state) and UPSC aspirants.
What does biodiversity mean for India?
Biodiversity describes the FULL variety of life — different species of plants, animals, fungi + microbes, plus the genetic + ecosystem variation within each. India is among 17 MEGADIVERSE countries on Earth: ~7.5% of global animal species + 6% of plant species live on only 2.4% of the world's land surface. India's species form INTERDEPENDENT webs across forests, wetlands, oceans + agricultural landscapes — sustaining everything from pollination of food crops to natural pest control. Conservation thus matters both ecologically + economically.
Why are forests called "primary producers"?
They are the base of the ecological system on which all other living beings depend; they re-create the quality of air, water, and soil.
What share of global plant + animal species is found in India?
About 4-5% of all known plant and animal species on Earth (Class Vegetation chapter).
Why is conservation needed?
Preserves ecological diversity + life-support systems (water, air, soil) AND genetic diversity for better growth and breeding (e.g. agriculture still depends on traditional crop varieties).
When did the demand for a national wildlife protection programme arise?
1960s-1970s — leading to the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972.
When was the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act enacted?
1972 — provided main legal framework for conservation + protection of wildlife in India.
Three core thrusts of the 1972 Act?
(1) Banning hunting of endangered species, (2) Giving legal protection to their habitats, (3) Restricting trade in wildlife.
When was the Act first comprehensively amended?
1991 — punishments made more stringent; provisions extended to plant species and conservation of endangered wild animals.
When were plants first added to the protected list?
1991 — starting with six species (a major shift from the animal-only focus).
Were insects added to the list?
Yes — Wildlife Act notifications of 1980 and 1986 added several hundred butterflies, moths, beetles, and one dragonfly.
Animals given full or partial protection by central projects?
Tiger, one-horned rhinoceros, Kashmir stag (hangul), three crocodile species (freshwater, saltwater, gharial), Asiatic lion, Indian elephant, blackbuck (chinkara), great Indian bustard (godawan), snow leopard, etc.
Why was PROJECT TIGER launched in 1973?
Launched on 1 April 1973 after a wildlife crisis: India's tiger population had crashed to roughly 1,800 surviving cats — down from an estimated 40,000-55,000 a century earlier. Causes: trophy hunting under princely + colonial rule, post-1947 habitat conversion to farmland + plantations, retaliatory killing for livestock loss, illegal wildlife trade. PROJECT TIGER initially designated 9 reserves; the network has since grown to 54+ tiger reserves covering ~76,000 km² (~2.3% of India's land). The 2022 estimate places India's tiger population at ~3,167 — over 70% of the global wild tiger total.
This topic is part of the NCERT Class 10 Geography syllabus, drawn from the chapter Ch 2: Forest and Wildlife Resources. Content is cross-referenced against the latest NCERT textbook editions + standard reference works.
Use the interactive India map to learn forest & wildlife resources the way memory works best — by spatial location. Each pin opens a flashcard. Mark "Knew it" or "Didn't know" to track your mastery over time.
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