Class 10 Social Science Chapter 7 Forest and Wildlife Resources (Geography) Practice Paper 2

Class: X Subject: Science Session: 2025-26 Chapter: 02 - Forest and Wildlife Resources Time: 1½ Hours Max. Marks: 40

General Instructions:

1. All questions are compulsory.

2. This question paper contains 20 questions divided into five sections A, B, C, D and E.

3. Section A contains 10 MCQs of 1 mark each.

4. Section B contains 4 questions of 2 marks each.

5. Section C contains 3 questions of 3 marks each.

6. Section D contains 1 question of 5 marks.

7. Section E contains 2 Case Study Based questions of 4 marks each.

SECTION A - Multiple Choice Questions (1 mark each)

Q1. Which state was the first to pass a resolution for Joint Forest Management in 1988?
(a) West Bengal
(b) Odisha
(c) Madhya Pradesh
(d) Rajasthan

Q2. The estimated tiger population at the turn of the century was:
(a) 20,000
(b) 35,000
(c) 55,000
(d) 75,000

Q3. Which animal was given protection under Wildlife Act in 1980 and 1986 along with butterflies and beetles?
(a) Butterfly
(b) Dragonfly
(c) Grasshopper
(d) Ant

Q4. Protected forests constitute approximately what portion of total forest area?
(a) One-fourth
(b) One-third
(c) Half
(d) Two-thirds

Q5. Which of the following communities worship mahua and kadamba trees?
(a) Bishnoi tribes
(b) Mundas and Santhal
(c) Lepcha community
(d) Bhil tribes

Q6. Periyar Tiger Reserve is located in:
(a) Kerala
(b) Karnataka
(c) Tamil Nadu
(d) Andhra Pradesh

Q7. The term 'hangul' refers to:
(a) Asiatic lion
(b) Kashmir stag
(c) One-horned rhinoceros
(d) Snow leopard

Q8. In which year were plants first added to the protected species list?
(a) 1980
(b) 1986
(c) 1988
(d) 1991

Q9. Beej Bachao Andolan is located in:
(a) Alwar
(b) Tehri
(c) Nainital
(d) Shimla

Q10. Which of these is NOT mentioned as a major threat to tiger population?
(a) Poaching for trade
(b) Shrinking habitat
(c) Climate change
(d) Depletion of prey base species

SECTION B - Short Answer Questions (2 marks each)

Q11. What were the main provisions of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972?

Q12. Explain the term 'permanent forest estates'. Which states have large percentages of reserved forests?

Q13. Why is genetic diversity important for agriculture and fisheries?

Q14. How do Bishnoi villagers in Rajasthan demonstrate nature conservation?

SECTION C - Short Answer Questions (3 marks each)

Q15. Explain why tiger conservation was viewed as more than just saving an endangered species.

Q16. How do plants, animals, and micro-organisms contribute to maintaining our life support systems?

Q17. Describe the role of traditional communities in forest conservation with reference to Sacred Groves.

SECTION D - Long Answer Question (5 marks)

Q18. Compare and contrast the three types of forests (Reserved, Protected, and Unclassed) in India. Which states have significant portions of each type?

SECTION E - Case Study Based Questions (4 marks each)

Q19. Case Study 1: In India joint forest management (JFM) programme furnishes a good example for involving local communities in the management and restoration of degraded forests. The programme has been in formal existence since 1988 when the state of Odisha passed the first resolution for joint forest management. JFM depends on the formation of local (village) institutions that undertake protection activities mostly on degraded forest land managed by the forest department.
(a) When did JFM formally begin in India? (1 mark)
(b) What role do village institutions play in JFM? (1 mark)
(c) What benefits do community members receive under JFM? (2 marks)

Q20. Case Study 2: Tiger is one of the key wildlife species in the faunal web. In 1973, the authorities realised that the tiger population had dwindled to 1,827 from an estimated 55,000 at the turn of the century. The major threats to tiger population are numerous, such as poaching for trade, shrinking habitat, depletion of prey base species, growing human population, etc. The trade of tiger skins and the use of their bones in traditional medicines, especially in the Asian countries left the tiger population on the verge of extinction.

(a) Why is tiger called a key wildlife species? (1 mark)
(b) List any three major threats to tiger population. (2 marks)
(c) Which countries were prime targets for illegal tiger trade? (1 mark) DETAILED ANSWER KEY - PAPER 02

SECTION A - Answers to MCQs

Ans 1.
(b) Odisha Odisha was the first state to pass a resolution for Joint Forest Management in 1988. Ans 2.
(c) 55,000 At the turn of the century, the estimated tiger population was around 55,000, which declined to 1,827 by 1973. Ans 3.
(b) Dragonfly In the notification under Wildlife Act of 1980 and 1986, several hundred butterflies, moths, beetles, and one dragonfly were added to the list of protected species. Ans 4.
(b) One-third Almost one-third of the total forest area is protected forest, as declared by the Forest Department.

Ans 5.
(b) Mundas and Santhal The Mundas and Santhal of Chota Nagpur region worship mahua (Bassia latifolia) and kadamba (Anthocaphalus cadamba) trees. Ans 6.
(a) Kerala Periyar Tiger Reserve is one of the important tiger reserves located in Kerala. Ans 7.
(b) Kashmir stag 'Hangul' is another name for the Kashmir stag, which is one of the protected species under conservation projects. Ans 8.
(d) 1991 In 1991, for the first time plants were added to the list of protected species, starting with six species.

Ans 9.
(b) Tehri Beej Bachao Andolan is a farmers' and citizens' group located in Tehri that promotes diversified crop production without synthetic chemicals. Ans 10.
(c) Climate change While climate change may be a concern, it was not specifically mentioned as a major threat in the text. The mentioned threats were poaching, shrinking habitat, depletion of prey base, and growing human population.

SECTION B - Answers to Short Answer Questions

Ans 11. The main provisions of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 included: (i) Various provisions for protecting habitats of wildlife (ii) Publishing an all-India list of protected species (iii) Banning hunting of endangered species (iv) Giving legal protection to wildlife habitats (v) Restricting trade in wildlife Ans 12. Permanent forest estates refer to Reserved and Protected forests maintained for producing timber and other forest produce, and for protective reasons. States with large percentages of reserved forests: Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Maharashtra have large percentages of reserved forests.

Ans 13. Genetic diversity is crucial for: Agriculture: We are still dependent on traditional crop varieties. Genetic diversity of plants ensures better growth of species and successful breeding programs. Fisheries: They are heavily dependent on the maintenance of aquatic biodiversity for sustaining fish populations and ecosystem balance. Ans 14. In and around Bishnoi villages in Rajasthan, herds of blackbuck (chinkara), nilgai, and peacocks can be seen as an integral part of the community. Nobody harms these animals as they are protected by the community, demonstrating traditional conservation practices based on religious and cultural beliefs.

SECTION C - Answers to Short Answer Questions

Ans 15. Tiger conservation was viewed with much broader significance than just saving an endangered species:

1. Ecosystem preservation: It was seen as a means of preserving biotypes of sizeable magnitude, as tigers are key species in the faunal web

2. Habitat protection: Protecting tigers meant protecting entire forest ecosystems and their biodiversity

3. Indicator species: Tigers serve as indicator species - their presence indicates a healthy, balanced ecosystem with adequate prey base and forest cover Ans 16. Plants, animals, and micro-organisms play a crucial role in maintaining life support systems:

1. Air quality: They re-create and maintain the quality of the air we breathe through processes like photosynthesis and oxygen production

2. Water purification: They help maintain the quality of water we drink through natural filtration and the water cycle

3. Soil fertility: They create and maintain the soil that produces our food through decomposition, nutrient cycling, and preventing erosion Ans 17. Traditional communities play a vital role in forest conservation through Sacred Groves: Concept: Sacred Groves are based on nature worship and the belief that all creations of nature must be protected. These are patches of virgin forests preserved in pristine form. Protection mechanism: Any interference with Sacred Groves is banned by local people, preserving diverse and rare species Examples: Sacred qualities are ascribed to springs, mountain peaks, plants, and animals. Troops of macaques and langurs around temples are fed and protected as part of religious devotion.

SECTION D - Answer to Long Answer Question

Ans 18. India's forest resources are classified into three main categories based on ownership and management:

1. RESERVED FORESTS: • Comprise more than half of the total forest land • Most valuable for conservation of forest and wildlife resources • Strictly protected with government control • States: Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Maharashtra have large percentages of reserved forests

2. PROTECTED FORESTS: • Constitute almost one-third of total forest area • Protected from further depletion by Forest Department • Less restrictive than reserved forests • States: Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan have a bulk under protected forests

3. UNCLASSED FORESTS: • Other forests and wastelands • Belong to both government and private individuals/communities • Least protected category • Regions: All North-eastern states and parts of Gujarat have very high percentage as unclassed forests managed by local communities Special Note: Madhya Pradesh has the largest area under permanent forests (Reserved + Protected), constituting 75% of its total forest area.

SECTION E - Answers to Case Study Based Questions

Ans 19.
(a) Joint Forest Management (JFM) formally began in India in 1988 when the state of Odisha passed the first resolution for joint forest management.
(b) Village institutions under JFM undertake protection activities mostly on degraded forest land that is managed by the forest department. They work to restore and manage these degraded areas.
(c) Community members under JFM receive: • Intermediary benefits like non-timber forest products (fruits, leaves, medicinal plants) • Share in the timber harvested by 'successful protection' • Sustainable livelihood opportunities while conserving forests Ans 20.

(a) Tiger is called a key wildlife species because it occupies an important position in the faunal web. As an apex predator, tigers help maintain the balance of the entire ecosystem.
(b) Three major threats to tiger population are:

1. Poaching for trade (tiger skins and bones for traditional medicines)

2. Shrinking habitat due to deforestation and human encroachment

3. Depletion of prey base species that tigers depend on for food
(c) India and Nepal were prime targets for poaching and illegal tiger trading, as these two nations provide habitat to about two-thirds of the surviving tiger population in the world.