Page 38 - SST Class 04

cannot live. They consume carbon dioxide and give out oxygen. Environmental
pollution can be checked with them effectively. And above all, forests are habitat to a
great number of species of wildlife.

Conservation of Forests
In view of the significance of forests, it is necessary to protect them. At the same time,

we need to cut trees for different needs. Forests are cleared for many reasons, such as
for laying roads and railways, for building dams and cities, for farming etc. So, we
have to find a solution.

When we cut down a tree, we must grow a new one in its place. A great problem arises
when we cut down a tree but do not grow a new one to replace it. So, it is necessary
that the number of trees being cut should match with the number of trees to be
planted.

Ideally, one-third of the total land area should be covered with forests. In India, less
than one-fourth of the total land area is under forests. So, there is need to grow more
and more trees. Many social workers and the government are making effort to
conserve trees and plant more trees.

Sundarlal Bahuguna worked for conservation of trees. He started the Chipko
Movement in 1973. He started it in Chamoli (now in Uttarakhand). In this movement,
people hugged trees when somebody came to cut them.

The government of India has started a number of programmes for conservation of
forests, such as Van-Mahotsavas . In them, a large number of trees are planted in cities,
towns and villages. The students are also
encouraged to take part in them. Some other
important forest conservation programmes
are ‘A Tree for Every Child’ and ‘Cut one-

Plant one’ . We all must participate in this
effort. You can plant a new tree on your
each birthday. This will be your return gift
to the world on your birthday. Sundarlal Bahuguna Planting a tree

Wildlife

India possesses a rich variety of wildlife. Wildlife means different species of animals,
birds, insects, fishes and reptiles which live in the nature. The place where an animal
normally lives is called its natural habitat . Many of these species are found only in
India, such as elephant, Indian lion, tiger, one-horned rhinoceros, Indian bison, swamp

deer, four-horned antelope, Kashmir stag, chital, nilgai and many more.

38 Contemporary Social Science-4