Ch 1 Resources and Development
Topics in the Chapter
• Resources
• Classification of Resources
→ On the basis of origin
→ On the Basis of Exhaustibility
→ On the Basis of Ownership
→ On the Basis of the Status of Development
• Development of Resources
• Resource Planning
• Land Resources
→ Land Resources in India
• Land Use Pattern in India
• Land Degradation and Conservation measures
• Soil as a Resource
• Classification of Soils
→ Alluvial Soils
→ Black Soil
→ Red and Yellow Soils
→ Laterite Soils
→ Arid Soils
→ Forest Soils
• Soil Erosion and Soil Conservation
Resources
• Everything available in our environment which can be used to satisfy our needs, provided, it is technologically accessible, economically feasible and culturally acceptable can be termed as ‘Resource’.
Classification of Resources
• The resources can be classified as:
→ On the basis of origin – biotic and abiotic
→ On the basis of exhaustibility – renewable and non-renewable
→ On the basis of ownership – individual, community, national and international
→ On the basis of status of development – potential, developed stock and reserves.
On the Basis of Origin
• Biotic Resources: These are obtained from biosphere and have life such as human beings, flora and fauna, fisheries, livestock etc.
• Abiotic Resources: All those things which are composed of non-living things are called abiotic resources. For example, rocks and metals.
On the Basis of Exhaustibility
• Renewable Resources: The resources which can be renewed or reproduced by physical, chemical or mechanical processes are known as renewable resources. For example, solar and wind energy, water, forests and wildlife, etc.
• Non-Renewable Resources: The resources once consumed cannot be replaced are known as non-renewable resources. These resources take millions of years in their formation.For example: Oil, Coal etc.
On the Basis of Ownership
• Individual Resources: The resources owned privately by individuals are called Individual resources. For example: Plot, houses etc. owned by a person.
• Community Owned Resources: The resources which are accessible to all the members of the community. For example: Public parks, picnic spots owned by a community.
• National Resources: The resources which come under nation are known as National Resources. Technically, all the resources belong to the nation.
• International Resources: The resources lying beyond 200 kms of Exclusive Economic Zone in the oceans are called International Resources. No one can use these resources without the permission of international institutions.
On the Basis of the Status of Development
• Potential Resources: Resources which are found in a region, but have not been utilised. For example: the regions Rajasthan and Gujarat have enormous potential for the development of wind and solar energy.
• Developed Resources: Resources which are surveyed and their quality and quantity have been determined for utilisation.
• Stock: The resources that have been surveyed, but cannot be used due a lack of technology. For example: water is a compound of two inflammable gases; hydrogen and oxygen, which can be used as a rich source of energy but we don’t have technical know-how to use them.
• Reserves: The resources that have been surveyed and we can use them with present technology but their use has not been started are known as Reserves. For example: the water in the dams, forests etc.
Development of Resources
• Resources are vital for human survival.
• It was believed that resources are free gifts of nature so, human beings used them indiscriminately and this has led to the following major problems:
→ Depletion of resources for satisfying the greed of few individuals.
→ Accumulation of resources in few hands which divides the society into rich and poor.
→ Indiscriminate exploitation of resources has led to global ecological crises such as, global warming, ozone layer depletion, environmental pollution and land degradation.
• For a sustained quality of life and global peace, an equitable distribution of resources has
become essential.
• For using resources judiciously, we need to adopt sustainable economic development.
• Sustainable economic development means development should take place without damaging the environment, and development in the present should not compromise with the needs of the future generations.
Resource Planning
• Resource planning is a complex process which involves :
(i) Identification and inventory of resources across the regions of the country. This involves surveying, mapping and qualitative and quantitative estimation and measurement of the resources.
(ii) Evolving a planning structure endowed with appropriate technology, skill and institutional set up for implementing resource development plans.
(iii) Matching the resource development plans with overall national development plans.
Land Resources
• Land is a natural resource of utmost importance.
→ It supports natural vegetation, wild life, human life, economic activities, transport and communication systems.
• Land is present in limited size so we must use them effectively.
Land Resources in India
• About 43 percent of the land area is plain, which provides facilities for agriculture and industry.
• About 30 percent of the total surface area of the country are mountains which ensure perennial flow of some rivers and provide facilities for tourism and ecological aspects.
• About 27 per cent of the area of the country is the plateau region that possesses rich reserves
of minerals, fossil fuels and forests.
Land Use Pattern in India
• The use of land is determined by:
→ Physical factors such as topography, climate, soil types
→ Human factors such as population density, technological capability and culture and traditions etc.
• Land use data, however, is available only for 93 per cent of the total geographical area because the land use reporting for most of the north-east states except Assam has not been done fully.
→ Also, some areas of Jammu and Kashmir occupied by Pakistan and China have also not been surveyed.
Land Degradation and Conservation measures
• Human activities such as deforestation, over grazing, mining and quarrying contributed in land degradation.
• Measures to control land degradation:
→ Afforestation
→ Planting of shelter belts of plants
→ control on over grazing
→ stabilisation of sand dunes by growing thorny bushes
→ Proper management of waste lands
→ control of mining activities
Soil as a Resource
• Soil is the most important renewable natural resource.
• It is the medium of plant growth and supports different types of living organisms on the earth.
Classification of Soils
On the basis of the factors responsible for soil formation, colour, thickness, texture, age, chemical and physical properties, the soils of India can be classified in different types:
• Alluvial Soils:
→ Entire northern plains are made of alluvial soil.
→ Also found in the eastern coastal plains particularly in the deltas of the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri rivers.
→ Fertile soil therefore, fit for agriculture purpose.
→ Regions of alluvial soils are intensively cultivated and densely populated.
→ Rich in potash, phosphoric acid and lime which are ideal for the growth of sugarcane, paddy, wheat and other cereal and pulse crops.
• Black Soil:
→ Black in colour and are also known as regur soils.
→ Ideal for growing cotton and is also known as black cotton soil.
→ Found in the plateaus of Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh also along the Godavari and the Krishna valleys.
→ Made up of extremely fine i.e. clayey material.
→ Well-known for their capacity to hold moisture.
→ Rich in calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash and lime.
• Red and Yellow Soils:
→ Found in the areas of low rainfall in the eastern and southern parts of the Deccan plateau.
→ Also found in parts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, southern parts of the middle Ganga plain and along the piedmont zone of the Western Ghats.
→ Develop a reddish colour due to diffusion of iron in crystalline and metamorphic rocks.
• Laterite Soils:
→ Develops in areas with high temperature and heavy rainfall.
→ Found in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and the hilly areas of Odisha and Assam.
→ Suitable for cultivation with adequate doses of manures and fertilizers.
→ Low Humus content because decomposers, like bacteria, get destroyed due to high temperature.
• Arid Soils:
→ Found in the western parts of Rajasthan.
→ After proper irrigation these soils become cultivable.
→ Lacks humus and moisture because dry climate, high temperature make evaporation faster.
→ Salt content is very high and common salt is obtained by evaporating the water.
• Forest Soils:
→ Found in the hilly and mountainous areas where sufficient rain forests are available.
→ Feature differs based on location.
→ Loamy and silty in valley sides and coarse grained in the upper slopes.
→ Silt in the lower parts of the valleys particularly on the river terraces and alluvial fans are fertile.
Soil Erosion and Soil Conservation
• Natural ways of Soil erosion: Wind, glacier and water lead to soil erosion.
• Human activities: Deforestation, over-grazing, construction and mining etc., contributes in soil erosion.
• Measures to control Soil erosion:
→ Strip cropping
→ Planting shelter belts
→ In the hilly areas, using contour ploughing and terrace farming.
Ch 2 Forest and Wildlife Resources
Topics in the Chapter
• Introduction
• Flora and Fauna in India
• Classification of Species
• Causes of depletion of the flora and fauna
• Conservation of Forest and Wildlife in India
• Types and Distribution of Forest and Wildlife Resources
• Community and Conservation
Introduction
• Our earth is home for millions of living beings, starting from micro-organisms and bacteria, lichens to banyan trees, elephants and blue whales.
Flora and Fauna in India
• India is one of the world’s richest countries in terms of its vast array of biological diversity, and has nearly 8 per cent of the total number of species in the world (estimated to be 1.6 million).
• At least 10 percent of India’s recorded wild flora and 20 per cent of its mammals are on the threatened list.
→ Many are categorised as ‘critical’, that is on the verge of extinction like the cheetah, pink-headed duck etc.
Classification of Species
• The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) has classified plants and animals in order of existence:
→ Normal Species: Species whose population levels are considered to be normal for their survival, such as cattle, sal, pine, rodents, etc.
→ Endangered Species: These are species which are in danger of extinction. For example, black buck, crocodile, Indian wild ass etc.
→ Vulnerable Species: These are species whose population has declined to levels from where it is likely to move into the endangered category in the near future if the negative factors continue to operate. For examples, blue sheep, Asiatic elephant, Gangetic dolphin, etc.
→ Rare Species: Species with small population may move into the endangered or vulnerable category if the negative factors affecting them continue to operate. For example, Himalayan brown bear, wild Asiatic buffalo, desert fox and hornbill, etc.
→ Endemic Species: These are species which are only found in some particular areas usually isolated by natural or geographical barriers. For example, Andaman teal, Nicobar pigeon, Andaman wild pig, mithun in Arunchal Pradesh.
→ Extinct Species: These are species which are not found after searches of known or likely areas where they may occur. For example, Asiatic cheetah, pink head duck etc.
Causes of depletion of the flora and fauna
• Human beings transformed nature into a resource obtaining directly and indirectly from the forests and wildlife such as wood, barks, leaves, rubber, medicines, dyes, food, fuel, fodder, manure, etc. which depleted our forests and wildlife.
• The various factors that cause depletion of the flora and fauna are:
→ Large-scale development projects
→ Shifting cultivation
→ Mining
→ Grazing and fuel-wood collection
→ Over-population
• Factors responsible for decline in India’s biodiversity:
→ Habitat destruction
→ Hunting
→ Poaching
→ Over-exploitation
→ Environmental pollution
→ Poisoning
→ Forest fires
Conservation of Forest and Wildlife in India
• Conservation preserves the ecological diversity and our life support systems – water, air and soil.
• Due to conservationist’s demand, The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act was implemented in 1972, with various provisions for protecting habitats.
→ The aim of the programme was protecting the remaining population of certain endangered species by banning hunting, giving legal protection to their habitats, and restricting trade in wildlife.
→ The central and many state governments established national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
→ The central government also announced several projects for protecting specific animals, which were gravely threatened, including the tiger, the one-horned rhinoceros and others.
• Project Tiger was also launched by the Government of India in the year 1973 to save the endangered species of tiger in the country.
• Under Wildlife Act of 1980 and 1986, several hundred butterflies, moths, beetles, and one dragonfly have been added to the list of protected species.
• In 1991, for the first time plants were also added to the list, starting with six species.
Types and Distribution of Forest and Wildlife Resources
• In India, much of its forest and wildlife resources are either owned or managed by the government
through the Forest Department or other government departments.
• The forests are classified under the following categories:
→ Reserved Forests: These forests are regarded as the most valuable as far as the conservation of forest and wildlife resources are concerned. It covers half of the total forest land.
→ Protected Forests: This forest land are protected from any further depletion. Almost one-third of the total forest area is protected forest.
→ Unclassed Forests: These are other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private individuals and communities.
Community and Conservation
• The forests are also home to some of the traditional communities.
→ Local communities are struggling to conserve these habitats along with government officials,
to secure their long-term livelihood.
• In Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, villagers have fought against mining by citing the Wildlife Protection Act.
• The famous Chipko movement in the Himalayas has successfully resisted deforestation in several areas
→ Also shown that community afforestation with indigenous species can be enormously successful.
• Farmers and citizen’s groups like the Beej Bachao Andolan in Tehri and Navdanya have shown
that adequate levels of diversified crop production without the use of synthetic chemicals are possible and economically viable.
• Joint forest management (JFM) programme introduced in 1988 in the state of Odisha shown good example for involving local communities in the management and restoration of degraded forests.
Ch 3 Water Resources
Topics in the Chapter
• Water
→ Some facts and Figures
• Dams
• Multi-purpose river projects
→ Objectives of multi-purpose river projects
→ Disadvantages of Multi-purpose river projects
→ Movements against Multi-purpose river projects
• Rainwater Harvesting
→ How Tankas works
Water
• Water is a renewable resource
• Three-fourth of the earth’s surface is covered with water but only a small proportion of it accounts for freshwater fit for use.
Some facts and Figures
• 96.5 percent of the total volume of world’s water is estimated to exist as oceans and only 2.5 per cent as freshwater.
• India receives nearly 4 percent of the global precipitation and ranks 133 in the world in terms of water availability per person per annum.
• By 2025, it is predicted that large parts of India will join countries or regions having absolute water scarcity.
Water Scarcity and need for water conservation and management
• The lack sufficient water as compared to its demand in a region is known as Water Scarcity.
• Causes of Water Scarcity are:
→ over-exploitation
→ excessive use and unequal access to water among different social groups.
→ Large population
Dams
• A dam is a barrier across flowing water that obstructs, directs or retards the flow, often creating a reservoir, lake or impoundment.
Multi-purpose river projects
• Multi-purpose river projects large dams that serve several purposes in addition to impounding the water of a river and used later to irrigate agricultural fields. For example, the Sutluj-Beas river basin, the Bhakra–Nangal project etc.
Advantages of multi-purpose river projects are:
→ Electricity generation
→ Irrigation
→ Water supply for domestic and industrial uses
→ Flood control
→ Recreation
→ Inland navigation
→ Fish breeding
Disadvantages of Multi-purpose river projects are:
→ It affects the natural flow of river causing poor sediment flow and excessive sedimentation at the bottom of the reservoir.
→ It destroys the habitats for the rivers’ aquatic life.
→ It submerges the existing vegetation and soil if created on the floodplains.
→ It displaces the local people of the place where it is created.
→ These are unsuccessful in controlling floods at the time of excessive rainfall.
→ These projects induced earthquakes, caused water- borne diseases and pests and pollution resulting from excessive use of water.
Movements against Mult-purpose river projects
• These projects cause of many new social movements like the ‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’ and the ‘Tehri Dam Andolan’ etc.
→ This is due to the large-scale displacement of local communities.
• Inter-state water disputes are also becoming common with regard to sharing the costs and benefits of the multi-purpose project.
Rainwater Harvesting
• Rainwater Harvesting refers to the practice of storing and using of rainwater from the surface on which it falls.
• In hill and mountainous regions, people built diversion channels like the ‘guls’ or ‘kuls’ of the Western Himalayas for agriculture.
• In Rajasthan, ‘Rooftop rain water harvesting’ was commonly practised to store drinking water.
• In the flood plains of Bengal, people developed inundation channels to irrigate their fields.
• In arid and semi-arid regions, agricultural fields were converted into rain fed storage structures that allowed the water to stand and moisten the soil.
• In the semi-arid and arid regions of Rajasthan, almost all the houses traditionally had underground tanks or tankas for storing drinking water.
• How Tankas works:
→ Tankas were connected to the sloping roofs of the houses through a pipe.
→ Rain falling on the rooftops would travel down the pipe and was stored in these underground ‘tankas’.
