Natural Vegetation — Important Questions

Sunder Lal Bahuguna

Step 1: The Chipko Movement began in 1972 in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. Step 2: The movement was started under the leadership of Sh. Sunder Lal Bahuguna, a social and environmental worker. Step 3: Chandi Prasad Bhat is also credited along with Bahuguna for starting this movement. Step 4: The word 'Chipko' means 'to stick' — people hugged trees to prevent loggers from cutting them. Step 5: Medha Patkar is associated with the Narmada Bachao Andolan, not Chipko. Hence, Sunder Lal Bahuguna is correct.

100 cm to 200 cm

Step 1: The chapter clearly describes the rainfall requirements for each forest type. Step 2: Tropical Evergreen = above 200 cm; Tropical Deciduous = 100-200 cm; Tropical Dry = 50-100 cm; Arid = less than 50 cm. Step 3: Deciduous forests are called so because they shed their leaves at the beginning of summer due to water shortage. Step 4: Important trees of deciduous forests include Sal, Teak, Shisham, Sandalwood, and Khair. Step 5: These are the most economically important forests in India and cover about 20% of India's forest area.

National Commission on Agriculture, 1976

Step 1: Social Forestry is a very important concept in forest conservation. Step 2: The term was first used by the National Commission on Agriculture in 1976. Step 3: It was introduced to describe tree-raising programmes that supply firewood, small timber, and minor forest produce to rural populations. Step 4: Social forestry is described as 'forestry of the people, by the people, and for the people.' Step 5: Its main aim is to reduce pressure on traditional forest areas by developing plantations of fuelwood, fodder, and grasses on barren and community lands.

Kikar, Babul and thorny bushes

Step 1: Arid forests are found in areas receiving less than 50 cm annual rainfall, mainly in Rajasthan, southwest Punjab, southwest Haryana, and parts of Gujarat. Step 2: The vegetation here is specially adapted to dry conditions — small size kikar, babul, and thorny bushes/shrubs are characteristic. Step 3: These plants have small leaves to reduce water loss, thick bark, and long thick roots to access underground water. Step 4: Deodar and Silver Fir belong to Himalayan mountainous forests; Mahogany and Ebony are tropical evergreen trees; Sal and Teak are deciduous forest trees. Step 5: The wo