Chapter 2 · Question 2
What are the main causes of depletion of flora and fauna in India?
Answer
Direct Answer
Flora and fauna are depleted by habitat destruction, agricultural expansion, commercial forestry, mining, river valley projects, hunting, poaching, forest fires, overgrazing, and pollution. Development projects can fragment habitats, while illegal trade threatens rare species directly.
Simple Explanation
Habitat destruction from farming, mining, dams, and commercial forestry, along with hunting, poaching, fires, overgrazing, and pollution, depletes flora and fauna.
Exam-Ready Structure
The depletion of flora and fauna in India is caused by a combination of human activities and developmental pressures:
• Habitat destruction: Clearing forests for agriculture, roads, railways, and settlements destroys natural habitats.
• Agricultural expansion: Shifting cultivation and conversion of forest land to farmland reduce biodiversity.
• Commercial forestry: Plantation of single commercial species replaces natural diverse forests.
• Mining: Open-cast and underground mining devastate large areas, destroying vegetation and displacing wildlife.
• River valley projects: Large dams submerge forests, fragment habitats, and disrupt wildlife corridors.
• Hunting and poaching: Illegal hunting for meat, fur, skin, ivory, and body parts directly reduces animal populations.
• Forest fires: Natural and man-made fires destroy vegetation and kill wildlife.
• Overgrazing: Excessive grazing by livestock prevents forest regeneration and degrades grasslands.
• Pollution: Industrial effluents, pesticides, and chemical waste contaminate soil, water, and ecosystems, harming both plants and animals.
• Illegal trade: Trade in rare species, medicinal plants, and animal products drives targeted exploitation.
Key Points
- Flora and fauna are depleted by habitat destruction, agricultural expansion, commercial forestry, mining, river valley projects, hunting, poaching, forest fires, overgrazing, and pollution.
- Development projects can fragment habitats, while illegal trade threatens rare species directly.
Answer Sources
- Causes of depletion of flora and faunatextbook section | Contemporary India-II | Forest and Wildlife Resources | Factors leading to depletion | Pages 2-3