NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science (Contemporary India II) Chapter 2: Forest and Wildlife Resources

Q: What is Chapter 2 of Class 10 Geography about?

Chapter 2, Forest and Wildlife Resources, from Contemporary India II, explains India's rich biodiversity, the categories and causes of depletion of flora and fauna, and how forests and wildlife are conserved through the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, Project Tiger, the classification of forests, and community conservation efforts.

These Class 10 Geography Chapter 2 solutions cover Forest and Wildlife Resources from Contemporary India – II, the NCERT Geography textbook for the 2026–27 session. The chapter explains India’s rich biodiversity, the categories of threatened species, the reasons behind the depletion of flora and fauna, and how the country conserves its forests and wildlife through laws like the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, projects such as Project Tiger, the classification of forests, and the powerful role of community conservation. Below you get step-by-step answers to every end-of-chapter exercise, key terms, extra practice, MCQs, Assertion–Reason questions and FAQs.

Class: 10 Subject: Social Science (Geography) Book: Contemporary India – II Chapter: 2 Topic: Forest and Wildlife Resources Session: 2026–27

On this page

Chapter overview
Key concepts & terms
NCERT Exercises — full solutions
Extra practice questions
MCQs & Assertion–Reason
Exam tips & common mistakes
FAQs

Class 10 Geography Chapter 2 – Overview

Chapter 2, Forest and Wildlife Resources, explains that India is one of the world’s richest countries in biological diversity, where humans and all other living organisms form a complex web of the ecological system. It traces the rapid decline in wildlife and forests caused mainly by human insensitivity to the environment — the colonial expansion of agriculture, large development projects, mining, shifting cultivation, grazing and fuelwood collection, and unequal access to resources. The chapter outlines India’s conservation response: the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, an all-India list of protected species, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, and species-specific projects such as Project Tiger (1973). It explains how forests are administratively classified as reserved, protected and unclassed forests, and powerfully illustrates how local communities — through the Chipko movement, the Bishnois, sacred groves, Beej Bachao Andolan, Navdanya and Joint Forest Management (JFM) — protect and restore forests while securing their own livelihoods.

Key Concepts & Terms

Biodiversity (biological diversity): the immense variety of wildlife and cultivated species, diverse in form and function but closely integrated in a system through a multiple network of interdependencies. India is one of the world’s richest countries in biodiversity.

Flora and fauna: ‘flora’ means the plant life of an area and ‘fauna’ means its animal life.

IUCN categories of species: normal species, endangered species, vulnerable species, rare species, endemic species and extinct species — classified according to their numbers and degree of threat.

Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: the central law that provided for protecting habitats, an all-India list of protected species, banning of hunting, legal protection of habitats and restriction of trade in wildlife.

Project Tiger: one of the world’s most publicised wildlife campaigns, launched in 1973 to save the dwindling tiger population (down to 1,827 from an estimated 55,000 at the turn of the century).

Reserved forests: more than half the total forest land, regarded as the most valuable for conserving forest and wildlife resources.

Protected forests: almost one-third of total forest area, declared by the Forest Department and protected from any further depletion.

Unclassed forests: other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private individuals and communities.

Permanent forest estates: reserved and protected forests maintained mainly for producing timber and other forest produce and for protective reasons.

Chipko movement: a Himalayan community movement that resisted deforestation and showed that community afforestation with indigenous species can be enormously successful.

Sacred groves: patches of forest left untouched by local people on the belief that all creations of Nature must be protected; the forests of Gods and Goddesses.

Joint Forest Management (JFM): a programme (formally existing since 1988, first adopted by Odisha) that involves local village institutions in protecting and restoring degraded forests in return for benefits like non-timber forest produce and a share in the timber harvested.

NCERT Exercises — Full Solutions

All questions below are reproduced verbatim from the NCERT textbook’s end-of-chapter Exercises. Answers are original, written in exam-ready style.

1. Multiple choice questions

(i) Which of the following conservation strategies do not directly involve community participation? (a) Joint forest management (b) Beej Bachao Andolan (c) Chipko Movement (d) Demarcation of Wildlife sanctuaries

ANSWER (d) Demarcation of Wildlife sanctuaries. The demarcation of wildlife sanctuaries is a top-down government measure carried out by the state; it does not directly require the participation of local communities. In contrast, Joint Forest Management depends on village institutions, the Beej Bachao Andolan is a farmers’ and citizens’ initiative, and the Chipko Movement was a people’s movement — all three directly involve community participation.

2. Match the following.

2. Match the following. Reserved forests — Other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private individuals and communities. Protected forests — Forests are regarded as most valuable as far as the conservation of forest and wildlife resources. Unclassed forests — Forest lands are protected from any further depletion.

ANSWER The statements in the textbook are deliberately mismatched. The correct matching is:

Type of forest	Correct description
Reserved forests	Forests are regarded as most valuable as far as the conservation of forest and wildlife resources.
Protected forests	Forest lands are protected from any further depletion.
Unclassed forests	Other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private individuals and communities.

3. Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(i) What is biodiversity? Why is biodiversity important for human lives?

ANSWER Biodiversity is the immense variety of plants, animals and micro-organisms that are diverse in form and function yet closely integrated through interdependencies. It is important because these living beings re-create the air we breathe, the water we drink and the soil that produces our food, sustaining our very existence.

(ii) How have human activities affected the depletion of flora and fauna? Explain.

ANSWER Human activities such as the colonial expansion of agriculture, large development projects, mining, commercial forestry, shifting cultivation, overgrazing, fuelwood collection, hunting, poaching and pollution have destroyed habitats and over-used resources, leading to the rapid depletion of flora and fauna. Unequal, wasteful consumption further worsens this loss of biodiversity.

4. Answer the following questions in about 120 words.

(i) Describe how communities have conserved and protected forests and wildlife in India?

ANSWER In India, forests are also home to many traditional communities, and several of them protect forests and wildlife as part of their own survival and culture. In the Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, villagers fought against mining by citing the Wildlife Protection Act. The inhabitants of five villages in the Alwar district declared 1,200 hectares of forest as the Bhairodev Dakav ‘Sonchuri’, with their own rules banning hunting and outside encroachment. The famous Chipko movement in the Himalayas resisted deforestation and showed that community afforestation with indigenous species can be highly successful. Nature worship through sacred groves has preserved virgin forests, and certain trees and animals (such as the blackbuck around Bishnoi villages) are revered and protected. Movements like the Beej Bachao Andolan and Navdanya have revived ecological farming without synthetic chemicals.

(ii) Write a note on good practices towards conserving forest and wildlife.

ANSWER Good conservation practices combine government action with community involvement. The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 protects habitats, bans hunting and restricts trade, while national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and species projects such as Project Tiger (1973) protect threatened animals. Conservation now focuses on whole biodiversity rather than a few species, even adding insects and plants to the protected list. Equally important are people-centric practices: the Joint Forest Management (JFM) programme involves village institutions in restoring degraded forests in return for benefits; the Chipko movement and afforestation with indigenous species heal forests; sacred groves and nature worship protect virgin forest; and ecological farming through Beej Bachao Andolan and Navdanya conserves seeds and soil. The best practices are people-centric, environment-friendly and economically rewarding.

Extra Practice Questions

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. When and why was Project Tiger launched?

ANSWERProject Tiger was launched in 1973 after the authorities realised that the tiger population had dwindled to 1,827 from an estimated 55,000 at the turn of the century. It aimed to save the endangered tiger from poaching, shrinking habitat and loss of prey, and to preserve biotypes of sizeable magnitude.

Q2. What are reserved and protected forests together called, and why?

ANSWERReserved and protected forests are together called ‘permanent forest estates’. They are maintained for the purpose of producing timber and other forest produce, and for protective reasons. Madhya Pradesh has the largest area under permanent forests, about 75 per cent of its total forest area.

Q3. What is the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and what did it provide for?

ANSWERThe Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act was implemented in 1972 to protect wildlife. It provided for protecting habitats, published an all-India list of protected species, and aimed to protect remaining populations of endangered species by banning hunting, giving legal protection to habitats and restricting trade in wildlife.

Q4. What are sacred groves and why are they significant?

ANSWERSacred groves are patches of forest, called the forests of Gods and Goddesses, left completely untouched by local people who believe all creations of Nature must be protected. They are significant because this age-old tribal belief has preserved several virgin forests in pristine form and conserved rare and diverse species.

Q5. What is Joint Forest Management (JFM)?

ANSWERJFM is a programme that involves local village institutions in the management and restoration of degraded forests. It has existed formally since 1988, when Odisha passed the first resolution. In return for protection work, community members get benefits like non-timber forest produce and a share in the harvested timber.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1. Explain the classification of forests in India on the basis of their administration.

ANSWERIn India, much of the forest and wildlife is owned or managed by the government through the Forest Department, and forests are administratively classified into three categories. Reserved forests make up more than half of the total forest land and are regarded as the most valuable for conserving forest and wildlife resources. Protected forests form almost one-third of the total forest area; they are declared by the Forest Department and are protected from any further depletion. Unclassed forests are the other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private individuals and communities. Reserved and protected forests are together called permanent forest estates, maintained to produce timber and for protection. Madhya Pradesh has the largest permanent forest area, while all north-eastern states and parts of Gujarat have a very high percentage of unclassed forests managed by local communities.

Q2. Why do we need to conserve our forests and wildlife? Give reasons.

ANSWERConservation has become essential because of the rapid decline in wildlife population and forestry. First, conservation preserves the ecological diversity and our life-support systems — water, air and soil — without which we cannot survive. Second, it preserves the genetic diversity of plants and animals, which is needed for the better growth and breeding of species; for example, in agriculture we still depend on traditional crop varieties, and fisheries depend on the maintenance of aquatic biodiversity. Third, forests are the primary producers on which all other living beings depend, so losing them threatens the entire ecological web. Finally, forests are home to traditional communities whose long-term livelihood depends on these habitats. Therefore conservation protects not only wild species but also human health, food security and culture.

Q3. Discuss the major causes of the depletion of forest and wildlife resources in India.

ANSWERThe depletion of forests and wildlife is caused mainly by human insensitivity to the environment. Conservation became necessary because of a rapid decline in wildlife and forestry. Major causes include the expansion of agriculture, which cleared large areas of forest; large development projects and the building of dams and roads; mining, which destroys habitats; and the over-extraction of forest produce through commercial forestry, fuelwood collection and overgrazing. Hunting and poaching for skins, bones and trade pushed species such as the tiger to the verge of extinction, while a growing human population and shrinking prey base added pressure. Pollution and the unequal, wasteful consumption of resources further damage biodiversity. The combined effect is the loss of habitats and the extinction or endangerment of many species, which is why strong legal protection, projects and community conservation are needed.

MCQs & Assertion–Reason

1. India is one of the world’s richest countries in terms of its:

(a) mineral wealth (b) biological diversity (c) coal reserves (d) solar energy

2. The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act was implemented in the year:

3. Project Tiger was launched in:

4. More than half of the total forest land has been declared as:

(a) protected forests (b) unclassed forests (c) reserved forests (d) sacred groves

5. Which state has the largest area under permanent forests?

(a) Assam (b) Kerala (c) Rajasthan (d) Madhya Pradesh

6. The Chipko movement is associated with which region of India?

(a) the Himalayas (b) the Western Ghats (c) the Sunderbans (d) the Thar Desert

7. The state that passed the first resolution for Joint Forest Management in 1988 was:

(a) West Bengal (b) Odisha (c) Rajasthan (d) Assam

8. The 1,200 hectares of forest declared as the Bhairodev Dakav ‘Sonchuri’ lie in which district?

(a) Tehri (b) Alwar (c) Kaziranga (d) Periyar

9. In which year, for the first time, were plants added to the list of protected species?

10. The blackbuck, nilgai and peacocks are protected as an integral part of the community in and around villages of which group?

(a) the Bishnois (b) the Mundas (c) the Santhals (d) the Lepchas

Answer key: 1-(b), 2-(b), 3-(b), 4-(c), 5-(d), 6-(a), 7-(b), 8-(b), 9-(c), 10-(a).

For each Assertion–Reason question, choose: (A) Both true and the Reason correctly explains the Assertion; (B) Both true but the Reason is not the correct explanation; (C) Assertion true, Reason false; (D) Assertion false, Reason true.

A-R 1. Assertion: Conservation of forests and wildlife has become essential.

Reason: Conservation preserves the ecological diversity and our life-support systems of water, air and soil.

A-R 2. Assertion: The demarcation of wildlife sanctuaries directly involves community participation.

Reason: Wildlife sanctuaries are demarcated by the government as a top-down measure.

A-R 3. Assertion: Reserved forests are regarded as the most valuable forests for conservation.

Reason: More than half of the total forest land has been declared as reserved forests.

A-R 4. Assertion: The Chipko movement showed that community afforestation with indigenous species can be successful.

Reason: The Chipko movement in the Himalayas resisted deforestation in several areas.

A-R 5. Assertion: Sacred groves have preserved several virgin forests in pristine form.

Reason: Nature worship is based on the belief that all creations of Nature must be protected and left untouched.

Answer key: 1-(A), 2-(D), 3-(B), 4-(B), 5-(A).

Exam Tips & Common Mistakes

How to score full marks in this chapter

Memorise the key dates and figures — Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, Project Tiger 1973, JFM resolution by Odisha in 1988, plants added to protected list in 1991, tiger numbers 1,827 from 55,000. For the forest classification question, present reserved, protected and unclassed forests in a clear three-part structure. In community-conservation answers, name concrete examples — Chipko movement, Bishnois, Sariska, Bhairodev Dakav Sonchuri in Alwar, sacred groves, Beej Bachao Andolan, Navdanya and JFM — to show you have studied the chapter. Always link conservation to ecological diversity and life-support systems.

Common mistakes to avoid

Mixing up the years of the Wildlife (Protection) Act (1972) and Project Tiger (1973).
Confusing reserved forests (most valuable, more than half) with protected forests (about one-third, protected from depletion).
Thinking the demarcation of wildlife sanctuaries is a community-based strategy — it is a government measure.
Forgetting to give the correct (not the mismatched) descriptions in the ‘Match the following’ question.
Writing about flora and fauna depletion without naming specific human causes (agriculture, mining, hunting, projects).
Confusing flora (plant life) with fauna (animal life).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chapter 2 of Class 10 Geography about?

Chapter 2, Forest and Wildlife Resources, from Contemporary India – II, explains India’s rich biodiversity, the categories and causes of depletion of flora and fauna, and how forests and wildlife are conserved through the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, Project Tiger, the classification of forests, and community conservation efforts.

Which conservation strategy does not directly involve community participation?

The demarcation of wildlife sanctuaries does not directly involve community participation, because it is a government measure. In contrast, Joint Forest Management, the Beej Bachao Andolan and the Chipko Movement all directly involve local communities.

What are the three categories of forests in India?

Forests in India are classified as reserved forests (more than half the forest land and the most valuable for conservation), protected forests (about one-third of forest area, protected from further depletion), and unclassed forests (other forests and wastelands owned by the government, private individuals and communities).

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