Answer:
(Producer)
(Primary Consumer)
(Secondary Consumer)
(Tertiary Consumer)
(Top Predator)
This food web represents an agricultural (cultivated) ecosystem, specifically a Paddy Field ecosystem. The paddy crop is the initial producer. Grasshoppers feed on the paddy. Frogs inhabit the field and prey upon the grasshoppers. Snakes, in turn, hunt the frogs, and the food chain culminates with the eagle as the top predator, feeding on the snakes.
Answer:
This phrase highlights that human survival is completely dependent on the natural world. It imposes a fundamental ethical obligation on humanity to safeguard nature and maintain its ecological balance.
- Temporary Custodians: By stating that the Earth is 'on lease' from future generations, it emphasizes our role as temporary custodians, not permanent owners.
- Intergenerational Responsibility: We must actively work to conserve the environment, not just for our own present use but to ensure its health and availability for those who will eventually inherit it.
- Sustainable Development: This philosophy underpins the concept of sustainable development - meeting our needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.
- Moral Imperative: It transforms environmental conservation from an optional activity to a moral imperative for current generations.
Answers:
Environmental conservation addresses the interconnected relationship between human society and its surroundings. Humans have historically exploited natural resources extensively, intensifying ecological problems.
Prohibits use of forest land for non-forestry purposes. Penalty: Up to 15 days custody.
Manages contamination and penalizes environmental harm. Penalty: 5 years imprisonment or ₹1 lakh fine.
Ensures effective enforcement of environmental statutes.
The Chipko Movement gained prominence in the 1970s, but its principles were practiced centuries earlier by the Bishnoi community.
- First Chipko Action (18th Century): Bishnois from 84 villages, led by Amrita Devi, gave their lives protecting trees ordered to be cut by the Maharaja of Jodhpur.
- Result: The Maharaja issued a royal order prohibiting tree cutting in all Bishnoi settlements.
- Modern Chipko (1970s): Villagers embraced trees to prevent logging, inspired by the Bishnoi example.
Variation among organisms of the same species. Example: Every human is unique. Reduction increases extinction risk.
Countless distinct life forms (plants, animals, microorganisms) found in the environment.
Variety of ecological systems formed by interaction between organisms and their environment.
Sacred Groves are patches of woodland maintained and protected by local communities in reverence to a deity.
- Function as community-managed "sanctuaries" independent of governmental forest management.
- Spiritual protection ensures better preservation.
- Over 13,000 documented across India, not limited to Western Ghats.
- Examples: Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Kerala.
Answer:
Addressing pollution is critical because the planet currently faces numerous ecological crises stemming from both natural and human-made factors. Environmental pollution stands out as one of the most significant challenges.
Any undesirable or unnecessary change in the physical, chemical, or biological quality of air, water, or soil due to natural events or human actions. Such modifications are detrimental to human health and other life forms.
- Exponential population growth
- Rapid industrial expansion
- Excessive use of natural resources
- Widespread deforestation
- Chaotic urban development
By focusing on controlling these sources of contamination, environmental management can effectively mitigate a major cause of ecological instability and restore balance to ecosystems.
Answer:
Using education, guidance, public campaigns, setting good examples, forming dedicated groups, and encouraging community participation to promote responsible resource use.
Mechanism: Workshops, media campaigns, school programs, community meetings.
Stopping potential damage, developing protective strategies, and identifying environmental hazards before they occur.
Mechanism: Environmental impact assessments, regulations, monitoring systems.
Safeguarding intact resources, finding solutions to stop further deterioration, and setting aside unexplored areas.
Mechanism: Protected areas, wildlife sanctuaries, conservation reserves.
Restoring damaged ecosystems, researching novel solutions, controlling destructive actions, and promoting attitude shifts.
Mechanism: Reforestation, pollution cleanup, sustainable technology development.
- Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS): Research and conservation since 1883
- Green Peace: World's largest environmental organization
- Centre for Environment Education (CEE): Education and awareness programs
- World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Global conservation since 1961
Detailed Answers:
- Environmental contamination (air, water, soil pollution)
- Rapid human population growth (population explosion)
- Uncontrolled industrial expansion (fast industrialization)
- Excessive consumption of natural resources (indiscriminate use)
- Widespread clearing of forests (deforestation)
- Unplanned urban development (chaotic urbanization)
- Climate change (global warming)
- Loss of biodiversity (species extinction)
Humans hold a pivotal position due to their long-standing, interconnected relationship with the environment.
- Superior Intellect: Advanced cognitive abilities (intellect, memory, creativity) distinguish humans from other species.
- Dominance and Responsibility: Human dominance allowed extensive resource exploitation, aggravating ecological issues, thus creating a responsibility for restoration.
- Custodial Role: Only humans possess the capacity to preserve and enhance environmental quality after causing imbalance.
- Awareness and Education: Since many harmful activities stem from ignorance, raising awareness is a critical human role in environmental protection.
- Sustainable Development: Humans must balance development with conservation for intergenerational equity.
The abundance of living things in nature, characterized by the multitude of organisms, ecological communities, and genetic variations within individual species.
Variation among organisms of the same species. Example: Every human is unique. Reduction increases extinction risk in sexually reproducing species.
Countless distinct life forms including plants, animals, and microorganisms found in the environment.
Variety of ecological systems based on interactions between flora, fauna, and their environment. Can be natural or human-made.
Providing protection for endangered or uncommon species through legislation like Wildlife Protection Act.
Creating and maintaining national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and biosphere reserves.
Launching dedicated programs for preservation of particularly vulnerable species (Project Tiger, Project Elephant).
Documenting and preserving indigenous ecological knowledge and traditional practices.
The power of individual commitment: One person's sustained, dedicated action can lead to monumental ecological change. Payeng's story demonstrates that environmental restoration is possible through persistent personal effort, regardless of scale or resources.
Geographically distinct areas facing high ecological risk with exceptional concentrations of endemic species experiencing exceptional habitat loss.
- Global Status: 34 hotspots worldwide, historically covering 15.7% of Earth's surface, but 86% of that area already lost.
- Remaining Area: Just 2.3% of planet's surface contains 50% of world's plant species (150,000 species).
- Indian Hotspot: The Western Ghats (Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Kerala) with approximately 1,500 endemic plant species.
- Other Indian Hotspots: Himalayas, Indo-Burma region, Sundaland.
- Excessive Exploitation: Overhunting/overharvesting (e.g., Passenger Pigeon hunted to extinction).
- Habitat Loss: Destruction of native living areas through deforestation, urbanization.
- Specialization Vulnerability: Species with narrow habitat requirements struggle with environmental changes.
- Environmental Contamination: Pollution injures or kills organisms, threatening entire species.
- Invasive Species: Non-native species outcompete local populations for resources.
- Climate Change: Alters habitats beyond species' adaptive capacity.
- Protecting rare and endangered species through legislation.
- Establishing national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and biosphere reserves.
- Implementing species recovery programs (Project Tiger, Project Elephant).
- Controlling pollution and habitat destruction.
- Managing invasive species.
- Documenting and preserving indigenous ecological knowledge.
- Promoting community-based conservation initiatives.
Answer:
- Recycling Symbol (Three Arrows): Personal responsibility: Separate waste, reduce, reuse, recycle.
- Energy Star: Personal responsibility: Use energy-efficient appliances, turn off unused electronics.
- Wildlife Protection Symbols: Personal responsibility: Don't disturb wildlife, report poaching, support conservation.
- Water Conservation Symbols: Personal responsibility: Fix leaks, use water wisely, avoid pollution.
- Forest Stewardship Council (FSC): Personal responsibility: Buy sustainable wood products, avoid illegal timber.