Natural Vegetation
NCERT Solutions • Class 11 Geography (India) • Chapter 51. Multiple Choice Questions
(i) Sandalwood is an example of:
(b) Deciduous forest
Reason: Sandalwood is a commercially important tree found in the Tropical Moist Deciduous forests, particularly in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Reason: Sandalwood is a commercially important tree found in the Tropical Moist Deciduous forests, particularly in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
(ii) Which one of the following was the purpose of Project Tiger?
(c) to protect tigers from illegal hunting
Reason: Project Tiger was launched in 1973 to ensure the maintenance of a viable population of tigers in India and to preserve their habitats, protecting them from poaching.
Reason: Project Tiger was launched in 1973 to ensure the maintenance of a viable population of tigers in India and to preserve their habitats, protecting them from poaching.
(iii) In which one of the following states is the Nanda Devi Biosphere reserve situated?
(c) Uttarakhand
Reason: The Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, which includes the Nanda Devi National Park and Valley of Flowers, is located in the Himalayas of Uttarakhand.
Reason: The Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, which includes the Nanda Devi National Park and Valley of Flowers, is located in the Himalayas of Uttarakhand.
(iv) How many of the Biosphere reserves from India are recognised by the UNESCO?
(c) Twelve
Reason: According to the latest NCERT text (Reprint 2025-26), 12 out of the 18 Biosphere Reserves in India have been included in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
Reason: According to the latest NCERT text (Reprint 2025-26), 12 out of the 18 Biosphere Reserves in India have been included in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
(v) Which one of the following proportion of area of the country was targeted to be under forest in Forest Policy of India?
(a) 33
Reason: The National Forest Policy (1952, revised in 1988) aims to bring 33% of the geographical area of the country under forest cover to maintain ecological balance.
Reason: The National Forest Policy (1952, revised in 1988) aims to bring 33% of the geographical area of the country under forest cover to maintain ecological balance.
2. Short Answer Questions
(i) What is natural vegetation? Under what climatic conditions are tropical evergreen forests develop?
Natural Vegetation: It refers to a plant community that has grown naturally without human aid and has been left undisturbed by humans for a long time.
Tropical Evergreen Forests: These develop in warm and humid areas with:
Tropical Evergreen Forests: These develop in warm and humid areas with:
- Annual precipitation of over 200 cm.
- Mean annual temperature above 22°C.
(ii) What do you understand by social forestry?
Social Forestry means the management and protection of forests and afforestation on barren lands with the purpose of helping in the environmental, social, and rural development. It involves the local community in planting trees for fuel, fodder, and timber to reduce pressure on traditional forests.
(iii) Define Biosphere reserves.
A Biosphere Reserve is a unique and representative ecosystem of terrestrial and coastal areas recognized internationally under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme.
Objectives: Conservation of biodiversity, sustainable economic development, and scientific research/education.
Objectives: Conservation of biodiversity, sustainable economic development, and scientific research/education.
(iv) What is the difference between forest area and forest cover?
| Forest Area | Forest Cover |
|---|---|
| Refers to the area notified and recorded as forest land in government records (Revenue records). | Refers to the actual presence of trees and canopy on the ground, detected by satellite imagery. |
| It is a legal/administrative status. | It is a geographical/physical reality. |
3. Long Answer Questions
(i) What steps have been taken up to conserve forests?
The Government of India has taken several steps to conserve forests:
- National Forest Policy (1988): Aims to bring 33% of land under forests and involve people in conservation.
- Wildlife Protection Act (1972): Provides legal protection to habitats and endangered species.
- Project Tiger & Project Elephant: Specific schemes to protect key species and their habitats.
- Biosphere Reserves: Establishing 18 reserves to conserve genetic diversity and promote sustainable development.
- Social Forestry & Joint Forest Management (JFM): Encouraging local communities to protect forests in exchange for a share in forest produce (minor forest products).
(ii) How can people’s participation be effective in conserving forests and wildlife?
People’s participation is crucial because local communities are the best guardians of their environment.
- Grassroots Movements: Movements like Chipko (Uttarakhand) and the Bishnoi community’s protection of Blackbucks (Rajasthan) show that when locals value nature, conservation succeeds.
- Joint Forest Management (JFM): This formalizes the partnership between the Forest Department and local village committees. Villagers protect the forest from fire and grazing, and in return, they get non-timber forest produce and a share in the timber harvest.
- Knowledge: Tribals possess traditional knowledge about medicinal plants and sustainable harvesting, which is vital for long-term conservation.
Project Work
Map Work Guidance
On the outline map of India, locate the following:
- (i) Mangrove Forests: Mark the Sunderbans (West Bengal), Mahanadi Delta (Odisha), Godavari-Krishna Delta (Andhra Pradesh), and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
- (ii) Biosphere Reserves:
– Nanda Devi: Uttarakhand.
– Sunderbans: West Bengal.
– Gulf of Mannar: Between India and Sri Lanka (Tamil Nadu coast).
– Nilgiri: Junction of Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. - (iii) Forest Survey of India HQ: Dehradun (Uttarakhand).