Question

Describe how communities have conserved and protected forests and wildlife in India.

Answer 1

The communities have conserved and protected forests and wildlife in India in the following ways:

(a) In Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthani villagers have fought against mining by citing the Wildlife Protection Act. In many areas villagers themselves are protecting habitats and explicitly rejecting government involvement.

(b) Many states have launched the Joint Forest Management Programme to involve local communities in the management and restoration of degraded forests. Odisha was the first state to launch this programme.

(c) The inhabitants of five villages in the Alwar district of Rajasthan have declared about 1200 hectares of forest area as the 'Bhairodev Dakav Sonchuri'.