Environment · X-Factor Notes
Forest and Wildlife (Chapter 6) revision notes for UPPCS Prelims.
73 revision facts
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| National Forest Policy (1952) | Classified forests into Protected/Conserved, National, Village, and Tree Lands. National Parks are explicitly excluded from this classification. | U.P. R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2016 |
| Ecological Balance Requirement | The minimum land area recommended for forest cover to maintain proper ecological balance is one-third (33%) of the total geographical area. In mountainous regions, the aim is two-thirds. | UPPCS (Pre) 2014, 2002 |
| National Forest Policy 1988 | Objectives include Afforestation and wasteland development, Reforestation, encouraging wood substitutes, and encouraging public community participation in forest management. | U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2001 |
| India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023 | Total Forest and Tree Cover: 25.17% of the country's geographical area. Forest Cover: 21.76% of the total. Tree Cover: 3.41% of the total Increase in Cover: An increase of 1,445 sq km in forest and tree cover compared to the 2021 assessment (TFC 2023 : 24.62). Top States for Increase: The top four states showing the maximum increase in forest and tree cover are Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan. The report is released biennially (every two years). | U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2018 |
| Largest Forest Cover (Area) | Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover. Although, it has experienced the largest reduction in forest and tree cover. (ISFR 2023) | UPPCS (Pre) 2017 |
| Largest Forest Cover (Percentage) | Lakshadweep: 91.33% Mizoram: 85.34% Andaman and Nicobar Island: 81.62%. | U.P. P.C.S. (Mains) 2012; U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2016 |
| Maximum Increase in Forest Cover | Chhattisgarh recorded the largest increase in forest and tree cover between 2021 and 2023, with a gain of 684 square kilometers. | UPPCS (Pre) 2022 |
| UP Forest Cover | 6.24% of its geographical area | UPPCS (Mains) 2012 |
| UP Forest + Tree Cover | 9.96% of its geographical area. | |
| Country Forest Coverage | Bhutan has a constitutional provision to maintain forest on at least 60% of its geographical area (currently ~84%). Japan has the highest percentage (68.6%) among China, India, and Indonesia. | UPPCS (Pre) 2013, (Mains) 2016 |
| Teak Dominance | Teak is a dominant tree species in Tropical moist deciduous forest. | I.A.S. (Pre) 2015 |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Wildlife (Protection) Act | Enforced on September 9, 1972. Species under Schedule I (like the Tiger) enjoy the highest protection. | UPPCS (Pre) 2015, 2016 |
| Forest (Conservation) Act | Enacted on December 27, 1980. | U. P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2013; UPPCS (Pre) 2017 |
| Project Tiger | Launched in 1973 to save the Indian tiger from extinction. | UPPCS (Pre) 2019, 2020 |
| Project Elephant | Launched in 1992. | UPPCS (Pre) 2019, 2020 |
| Biological Diversity Act | Passed by Indian Parliament in 2002. | |
| Pugmark Technique | Used for the estimation of the population of various wild animals. | UPPCS (Mains) 2008 |
| Banned Drug | Diclofenac Sodium (a painkiller given to cattle) caused the rapid decline/near extinction of vultures in India. | UPPCS (Spl.) (Mains) 2008 |
| Endangered Animals (Protected by WPA, 1972) | Gharial, Indian wild ass, and Wild buffalo are animals that cannot be hunted by any person except under some provisions provided by law. | I.A.S. (Pre) 2017 |
| Great Indian Bustard | Listed in the critically endangered category; a highly endangered species. Natural habitat includes Desert National Park (Rajasthan). | I.A.S. (Pre) 2012; UPPCS (Mains) 2005 |
| Musk Deer Habitat | Found in high-altitude protected areas like Askot Wildlife Sanctuary and Gangotri National Park (Uttarakhand). | I.A.S. (Pre.) 2020 |
| Kharai Camel | Found in Kutch (Gujarat), capable of swimming up to three kilometres in seawater, and survives by grazing on mangroves. They are domesticated. | I.A.S. (Pre) 2016 |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Protected Area Type/Name | Details/Location | UPPCS/Exam Year |
| Largest Wildlife Sanctuary | Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary (Rann of Kachchh, Gujarat). | U.P.P.C.S (Pre) 2010 |
| First National Park | Jim Corbett National Park (Uttarakhand), established in 1936 (as Hailey National Park). | UPPCS (Pre) 2017; |
| Asiatic Lion Home | Gir Forest National Park (Gujarat). Translocation site proposed: Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary (MP). | |
| Rhinoceros Sanctuary | Kaziranga National Park (Assam) hosts two-thirds of the world's Great One-horned rhinoceros. Rhinos were also rehabilitated in Dudhwa National Park (UP). | UPPCS(Pre) 2012 |
| Elephant Sanctuary | Periyar Game Sanctuary (Kerala) is famous for wild elephants. | U.P.P.C.S (Pre) 2011 |
| Largest Critical Tiger Habitat Area | Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (AP/Telangana). | I.A.S. (Pre.) 2020 |
| Tiger Reserve in Two States | Pench Tiger Reserve is spread over Madhya Pradesh (90%) and Maharashtra (10%). | UPPCS (Mains) Spl. 2008 |
| Floating Vegetation Park | Keibul Lamjao National Park (Manipur) is unique in being a swamp with floating vegetation ('phumdis'). Located on Loktak Lake. | I.A.S. (Pre) 2015 |
| Maximum National Parks | Madhya Pradesh (11 National Parks). | UPPCS (Pre) 2008 |
| World Heritage Sites (Natural) | Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) declared in 1985. Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (Uttarakhand) declared in 1988. Khangchendzonga National Park (Sikkim) declared in 2016. (Mixed) | UPPCS (Pre) 2008; U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2016 |
| Biosphere Reserves for Traditional Life | Biosphere reserves are the most important strategy for conservation of biodiversity together with traditional human life. | I.A.S. (Pre) 2014 |
| Montreux Record | Implies that changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring or are likely to occur in the wetland as a result of human interference. | I.A.S. (Pre) 2010 |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Ecosystem Stability | The Oceanic ecosystem (Marine) is the most stable ecosystem. | U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2018 |
| Maximum Biodiversity | Tropical rain forests have the maximum biodiversity. | UPPCS (Pre) 2016, 2017 |
| Causes of Ecological Imbalance | Deforestation is one of the main causes. | |
| Environmental Hazard Tree | Eucalyptus is known as "Environmental evil" or "environmental hazard" because it consumes too much ground water, decreasing the water level. | U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2022; UPPCS (Pre) 2005; U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Mains) 2010 |
| Coral Bleaching | Most significant factor is Global warming (increase in temperature and acidity of the sea). | UPPCS (Pre) (Re-Exam) 2015 |
| Ecological Succession Sequence | The correct sequence is: Nudation → Migration → Ecesis → Reaction → Stabilization. | UPPCS (Pre) 2024 (Asked sequence as Migration-Ecesis-Reaction-Stabilisation) |
| Ecology is Permanent Economy | Slogan of the Chipko Movement (started in 1973). The movement was basically against deforestation. | UPPCS (Mains) 2007; UPPCS (Pre) 2012 |
| Chipko Leaders | Gaura Devi led the initial action (1974) in Raini village. Chandi Prasad Bhatt and Sundarlal Bahuguna played leading roles. | |
| Most Important Factor for Biodiversity Loss | Destruction of natural habitat and vegetation. | UPPCS (Pre) 2016, 2017; UPPCS (Pre) 2023 |
| Marine National Park | India's first Marine sanctuary was established in the Gulf of Kutch. Gulf of Mannar is also a marine national park. | UPPCS (Pre) (Re. Exam) 2015 |
| Largest Mangrove Area in India | Sunderban Delta (West Bengal). Second largest is Gujarat. | UPPCS (Mains) 2008 |
| Coral Reef Locations in India | Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Gulf of Kachchh, and Gulf of Mannar. | I.A.S. (Pre) 2014 |
| Lentic Ecosystem | Refers to static water habitats like ponds, lakes, swamps, and marshes. | |
| Lotic Ecosystem | Refers to moving water habitats like rivers. | UPPCS (Pre) 2023 |
| Ecological Niche | Coined by Joseph Grinnell in 1917. It represents the range of conditions a species can tolerate, the resources it utilizes, and its functional role. | UPPCS (Pre) 2005; UPPCS (Pre) 2022 |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Day/Event | Date | UPPCS/Exam Year |
| World Environment Day | June 5. India hosted in 2018 (Theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'). | UPPCS (Mains) 2014; U.P. R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2017 |
| World Wetlands Day (Ramsar Convention) | February 2. | UPPCS (Mains) 2008; UPPCS (Pre) 2023 |
| World Forestry Day (International Day of Forests) | March 21. | UPPCS (Pre) 2017 |
| World Wildlife Day | March 3. | Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2002 |
| International Tiger Day | July 29. | UPPCS (Mains) 2014 |
| Ozone Day | September 16. | UPPCS (Pre) 2022; I.A.S. (Pre) 2001 |
| Wild Life Week (India) | Celebrated in the middle of 2nd to 8th October. | N/A |
| World Water Day | March 22. | U.P.P.C.S (Pre) 2011; U.P. P.C.S. (Mains) 2017 |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| National Park/Sanctuary | State/Location | UPPCS/Exam Year |
| Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary | Chandauli district, Uttar Pradesh. | UPPCS (Pre) 2023 |
| Bandhavgarh National Park | Madhya Pradesh. | U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2002; |
| Bandipur National Park | Karnataka. | U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2002; U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2018 |
| Similipal National Park | Odisha. | U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2018; UPPCS (Pre) 2024 |
| Pin Valley National Park | Himachal Pradesh. | UPPCS (Mains) 2016; UPPCS (Pre) 2024 |
| Rajaji National Park | Uttarakhand (spread over Haridwar, Dehradun, Pauri Garhwal). | UPPCS (Mains) 2009; UPPCS (Pre) 2024 |
| Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary (Pakke Tiger Reserve) | Arunachal Pradesh (East Kameng district). | I.A.S. (Pre) 2018 |
| Nokrek Biosphere Reserve | Meghalaya. | UPPCS (Pre) 2019; UPPCS (Pre) 2024 |
| Manas Biosphere Reserve | Assam. | UPPCS (Pre) 2019; UPPCS (Pre) 2024 |
| Dampa Tiger Reserve | Mizoram. | I.A.S. (Pre) 2014 |
| Buxa Tiger Reserve | West Bengal. | UPPCS (Mains) 2010; UPPCS (Pre) 2003 |
| Gharial Habitat | Chambal River is the best place to visit. National Chambal Sanctuary falls in Rajasthan, MP, and UP. | I.A.S. (Pre) 2017; UPPCS (Pre) 2020 |
| Tallest Living Tree | Redwood (Sequoia), found in California (U.S.A.). |
