question_answer 5)

Answer in brief. (a) Why should we conserve biodiversity? (b) Protected forests are also not completely safe for wild animals. Why? (c) Some tribal’s depend on the jungle. How? (d) What are the causes and consequences of deforestation? (e) What is Red Data Book? (f) What do you understand by the term migration?  

Answer:

(a) Conservation of biodiversity is essential because of the following reasons: (i) Biodiversity maintains balance in the ecosystems. (ii) Wild animals and plants provide a variety of commodities. (iii) Wildlife is needed for breeding programmes in agriculture, horticulture, sericulture, apiculture, etc. Any damage to biodiversity will threaten the whole support system and will be a threat to human existence. Therefore, biodiversity needs to be conserved.   (b) The protected forests are also not completely safe for wildlife because illegal poaching takes place at large scale in these areas.   (c) Some tribals depend on jungle for their food, clothes, shelter, wood, medicines and other requirements.   (d) Man-made causes of deforestation are : (i) Procuring land for cultivation. (ii) Building houses and factories. (iii) Making furniture or using wood as fuel. Some natural causes of deforestation are forest fires, severe droughts, landslides, earthquakes, floods, etc. Deforestation is responsible for desertification, natural calamities, reduced rainfall, change in climate, scarcity of products and global warming. Many species of plants and animals are destroyed due to deforestation.   (e) Red Data Book is the record book and source book of all the endangered animals and plants.   (f) Some animals, especially birds, travel from their homes or habitats to a different geographical areas, often following a seasonal pattern. This movement is called migration.