Conservation of Plants and Animals Class 8 Notes

According to the CBSE Syllabus 2023-24, this chapter has been renumbered as Chapter 5.

Extinction

• Extinction is when a species is completely wiped out from the Earth.
• Once the last living individual of a species dies, the species is said to be extinct.

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Deforestation

• Deforestation is the destruction of forests by cutting down trees.
• Deforestation leads to habitat loss for many animals.

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Causes of Deforestation

Deforestation can occur due to one of the following reasons:

• Procuring land for cultivation.
• Building houses and factories.
• Making furniture or using wood as fuel.
• Natural causes such as forest fires and severe drought can also cause deforestation.

Consequences of Deforestation

• Deforestation increases the temperature and pollution level on the earth.
• It increases the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
• It also reduces the level of groundwater.

Droughts

• Drought is the lack of water in an area. Droughts can happen due to a lack of rainfall.

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Desertification

• The formation of a desert by erosion of vegetation due to harsh weather is called desertification.
• Human activities like deforestation and improper irrigation are also responsible for desertification of terrains.

Global Warming

• Global warming is the change of climate on a global level.
• Usually, average temperature increases, leading to the melting of ice caps in the poles.
• Excessive pollution and deforestation cause global warming.

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Species

• A species is a group of individuals that can breed and successfully produce fertile offspring.

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Make the World a Greener Place

Recycling of Paper

• The paper industry is a leading cause of deforestation since they need wood pulp.
• Recycling paper can help in reducing the consumption of wood pulp by the paper industry.

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Reforestation

• Reforestation is restocking the destroyed forests by planting new trees.

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Wildlife Conservation

Conservation of forest and wildlife

• Due to the threat from mankind’s indulgence, it is important for us to conserve the forest and its wildlife.
• Wildlife is important for us to maintain balance in nature.

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Wildlife sanctuary

• A wildlife sanctuary is a naturally occurring sanctuary, such as an island, that provides protection for species from hunting, predation, competition or poaching.

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National Park

Flora and fauna

• The plants and animals found in a particular area are termed flora and fauna of that area, respectively.

National Park

• A national park is a park that is used for biodiversity conservation.
• They are developed and maintained by the Union Government.

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Biosphere Reserves

Biosphere and Biodiversity

• The biosphere is the part of the earth in which living organisms exist or which supports life.
• Biological diversity or biodiversity refers to the variety of organisms existing on the earth, their interrelationships and their relationship with the environment.

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Endemic species

• Endemic species are those species of plants and animals which are found exclusively in a particular area.

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Biosphere Reserve

• Biosphere reserves are areas that are protected from human intervention.
• These areas help in the conservation of endangered species.

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Project Tiger

• Project Tiger was launched by the government to protect and conserve the dwindling tiger population in the country.
• Several Natural parks have been associated with the project tiger initiative.

Endangered Animals

• Animals whose numbers are diminishing to a level that they might face extinction are known as endangered animals.

Ecosystem

• An ecosystem is sum total of all the plants, animals and microorganisms in an area along with non-living components such as climate, soil, river deltas, etc.

Red Data Book

Red Data Book is the source book which keeps a record of all the endangered animals and plants.

Migration

• Migration is the periodic movement of animals from one place to another.
• It is usually done for breeding and to escape harsh climates.
• Migration is common in birds and fish.

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