Forest and Wildlife

1. What is the primary habitat of the ‘Red Squirrel’ ?

What is the primary habitat of the ‘Red Squirrel’ ?

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Tropical rainforests
Desert regions
Coniferous forests
Grasslands
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UPSC Combined Section Officer – 2024
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The Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is primarily found in coniferous forests across Eurasia. While they can inhabit mixed or broadleaf woodlands, their main habitat preference, especially in the UK and parts of Europe, is often associated with coniferous tree species that provide a reliable food source (cones) and shelter.
– The Red Squirrel’s main habitat is coniferous forests.
– They are native to Europe and Asia.
The Red Squirrel’s range extends across much of Europe and Asia. In some areas, its populations have declined due to habitat loss and competition from the introduced Eastern Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). Coniferous forests offer a consistent food source through the year in the form of seeds from cones, which is crucial for their survival, particularly in winter.

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2. What are ‘Baobabs’ ?

What are ‘Baobabs’ ?

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New species of fish
Traditional medicines
Deciduous trees
Ancient paintings
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Baobabs are a genus of deciduous trees.
Baobabs (*Adansonia*) are large, distinctive trees known for their massive trunks and relatively sparse branches, which often make them appear upside-down. They are adapted to dry environments and shed their leaves during the dry season, making them deciduous.
There are several species of baobabs, primarily found in Africa, Madagascar, and Australia. They are known for their longevity and cultural significance in the regions where they grow.

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3. Silk cotton trees are mainly found in which of the following forests ?

Silk cotton trees are mainly found in which of the following forests ?

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Moist deciduous and semi-evergreen forests
Montane wet temperate forests
Himalayan moist forests
Swamp forests
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Silk cotton trees (such as *Bombax ceiba*) are mainly found in Moist deciduous and semi-evergreen forests.
These trees are characteristic species of tropical and subtropical regions that experience a distinct dry season but receive sufficient rainfall to support deciduous and semi-evergreen vegetation. They are large deciduous trees known for their bright red flowers and cotton-like fiber from their seed pods.
Montane wet temperate forests are found at higher altitudes with different tree species. Himalayan moist forests are specific to the Himalayas. Swamp forests are waterlogged areas. The ecological requirements of silk cotton trees align best with moist deciduous and semi-evergreen conditions.

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4. Trees Outside Forests in India (TOFI) programme is a five-year joint i

Trees Outside Forests in India (TOFI) programme is a five-year joint initiative by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. Which are the seven participating states of India in this programme ?

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Assam, Bihar, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh
Assam, Bihar, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab and West Bengal
Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, Odisha
Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh
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The seven participating states of India in the Trees Outside Forests in India (TOFI) programme are Assam, Bihar, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, and West Bengal. This matches option B.
The TOFI program is a joint initiative by USAID and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, aimed at increasing tree cover outside traditional forest areas to enhance carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and livelihoods. It is being implemented in specific states.
The TOFI program focuses on states with low tree cover outside recorded forest areas and high potential for expansion. The identified states are Assam, Bihar, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, and West Bengal. The program aims to leverage private sector investment and develop resilient tree-based enterprises.

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5. In terms of area under forest cover, the top three states in India are

In terms of area under forest cover, the top three states in India are :

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Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Chhattisgarh
Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya
Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha
Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Maharashtra
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According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR), which is published biennially by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), the ranking of states based on the total forest cover area often lists the following states in the top positions (based on ISFR 2021):
1. Madhya Pradesh
2. Arunachal Pradesh
3. Chhattisgarh
4. Odisha
5. Maharashtra
Option A correctly lists Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh as the top three states in terms of area under forest cover.
– Forest cover is measured in two ways: total area and percentage of geographical area.
– Different states top the list depending on whether area or percentage is considered.
In terms of percentage of geographical area under forest cover, the top states are often different, with Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, and Nagaland typically having very high percentages. The question specifically asks for area.

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6. Recently, the Supreme Court of India ordered the laying of underground

Recently, the Supreme Court of India ordered the laying of underground high-voltage power lines in Gujarat and Rajasthan to save the :

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Great Indian Bustard
Great Indian Hornbill
Spot-Billed Pelican.
Sarus Crane.
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The Supreme Court of India ordered the laying of underground high-voltage power lines in priority areas of Gujarat and Rajasthan specifically to protect the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB). These birds, which are large ground-dwelling birds, have poor frontal vision and are highly susceptible to collisions with overhead power lines, which is a major cause of their mortality.
– The Great Indian Bustard is a critically endangered bird species found in arid and semi-arid grasslands of India and Pakistan.
– Overhead power lines are a significant threat to the survival of GIB due to bird collisions.
– The Supreme Court intervened to mandate mitigation measures, including the undergrounding of power lines, in key GIB habitats.
Other avian species like raptors can also be impacted by power lines, but the Supreme Court’s specific directive was primarily aimed at protecting the severely threatened GIB population in these regions. The proposed action affects parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan, which are crucial GIB habitats.

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7. The Chipko Movement is related to which one of the following issues ?

The Chipko Movement is related to which one of the following issues ?

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Land rights of tribals
Commercial logging
Atrocities against Dalits
Rights of farmers
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The correct answer is B) Commercial logging. The Chipko Movement, which originated in the Garhwal Himalayas in the early 1970s, was a non-violent social and ecological movement primarily aimed at protecting trees and forests from destruction by commercial loggers. Villagers, particularly women, literally hugged trees (chipko means “to stick” or “to hug”) to prevent contractors from felling them.
– The movement started in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand (then part of Uttar Pradesh).
– Key figures associated with the movement include Sunderlal Bahuguna, Gaura Devi, and Chandi Prasad Bhatt.
– The movement was motivated by concerns over ecological damage and the impact of deforestation on the livelihoods of local communities.
While the movement had underlying connections to the rights and livelihoods of local communities (including tribals in some areas), its direct and iconic form of protest and stated objective was against the widespread commercial felling of trees permitted by the government, which was seen as detrimental to the local environment and economy.

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8. Which of the following statements about the Chipko Movement is/are cor

Which of the following statements about the Chipko Movement is/are correct?

  • 1. It was opposed to the commercial felling of trees in hill areas.
  • 2. It was a non-violent movement.
  • 3. It supported construction of dams in hilly regions.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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1 and 2 only
1, 2 and 3
2 and 3 only
1 only
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The correct option is A) 1 and 2 only. Let’s evaluate the statements:
1. It was opposed to the commercial felling of trees in hill areas: Correct. The Chipko movement began as a protest against the practice of clear-felling forests for commercial purposes by outside contractors, which threatened the ecological balance and the livelihoods of local communities dependent on forests.
2. It was a non-violent movement: Correct. The core tactic of the movement was hugging trees (Chipko means ‘to stick’ or ‘to hug’) to prevent them from being cut, employing non-violent resistance methods championed by figures like Gaura Devi and Chandi Prasad Bhatt.
3. It supported construction of dams in hilly regions: Incorrect. The Chipko movement and subsequent environmental activism in the Himalayas generally opposed large-scale development projects like big dams and mining, recognizing their potential for environmental damage and displacement in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
– Chipko movement opposed commercial logging.
– It was a non-violent movement where people hugged trees.
– Environmental movements in the region often opposed large infrastructure projects like dams.
The Chipko movement gained prominence in the 1970s in the Uttarakhand region (then part of Uttar Pradesh). It is seen as a precursor to many environmental movements in India and around the world. Sunderlal Bahuguna was a prominent leader who popularized the movement’s message.

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9. Consider the following statements : Statement-I : The Indian Flying F

Consider the following statements :

Statement-I :
The Indian Flying Fox is placed under the “vermin” category in the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

Statement-II :
The Indian Flying Fox feeds on the blood of other animals.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements ?

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Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct
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Statement-I is correct. The Indian Flying Fox (*Pteropus giganteus*) is one of the species that can be declared ‘vermin’ by state governments under Section 62 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. This is typically done in specific areas where they are considered a threat to agriculture or public health, allowing them to be hunted.
Statement-II is incorrect. The Indian Flying Fox is a frugivorous (fruit-eating) bat. It feeds primarily on fruits, nectar, and pollen. Vampire bats, which are native to the Americas, are the species that feed on blood, but the Indian Flying Fox is not a vampire bat.
Therefore, Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect.
Listing an animal as ‘vermin’ under the Wild Life (Protection) Act removes its protection status within specified areas. The diet of the Indian Flying Fox is mainly fruits and nectar, essential for plant pollination and seed dispersal.
The practice of declaring certain animals as vermin is controversial, as it can impact populations and ecosystems. The Indian Flying Fox plays an ecological role as a pollinator and seed disperser.

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10. The “Miyawaki method” is well known for the :

The “Miyawaki method” is well known for the :

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Promotion of commercial farming in arid and semi-arid areas
Development of gardens using genetically modified flora
Creation of mini forests in urban areas
Harvesting wind energy on coastal areas and on sea surfaces
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UPSC IAS – 2022
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The “Miyawaki method” is well known for the creation of mini forests in urban areas.
– The Miyawaki method is a technique pioneered by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki.
– It involves planting diverse native tree and shrub species very densely in a small area, after preparing the soil to be rich in organic matter.
– This method aims to accelerate the growth of a forest ecosystem, creating a dense, biodiverse mini-forest in a relatively short time (often cited as 10 times faster than conventional methods).
– It is particularly popular for creating green spaces, improving air quality, and enhancing biodiversity in urban environments where space is limited.
– Options A, B, and D describe unrelated concepts (commercial farming, genetically modified flora, wind energy harvesting).
The method emphasizes using native species suitable for the local conditions and planting them close together to encourage competition and faster growth towards canopy closure. These mini-forests are also referred to as “tiny forests”.

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