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Local Self-government controls such forests, e.g. ” Gram Panchayat, Municipalities, Municipal Corporations, District Panchayat.

In the pasts tigers could be seen in the forests of Idar, Ambaji and Danta in Gujarat.

A wildlife sanctuary is quite similar to a national park, except that local people living there can continue living and the human activities are permitted. A wildlife sanctuary is basically established for protecting some specific species. Domesticated animals are allowed to graze after obtaining permission from the authorities. For example, Gir, Periyar, Chandraprabha, Eturnagaram, etc. are famous sanctuaries.

Today tigers are almost extinct from Gujarat forest areas. Cheetah is also becoming extinct from the Indian forests. Many birds, fishes, and sea animals are also on verge of extinction. Now it is a time to think about it seriously.

Nal Sarovar is located in Gujarat State.

Correct option is (c) Tiger

option (c) is correct  =tiger 

European animals like wolves, wild goats and Kashmiri deer are found in India.

Asian animals like elephants, gibbons are found in India.

Migrating birds from distant places come to the watershed areas of Keoladev and Bharatpur in Rajasthan and Nalsarovar in Gujarat.

Today many wild animals of the world are on the verge of extinction. A few of them have been become extinct. In the last century, tigers were found throughout India. One could see tigers even in Gujarat in the forests of Idar, Ambaji and Danta. Today, the have become completely extinct from Gujarat. Cheetah is also becoming extinct from Indian forests. Many species for birds which were very easily seen in Indian forests are now hardly seen. Birds like vulture, duck with pink throat, cranes and owls are on the verge of extinction. Chilotro bird which was once found in abundance in Arunachal Pradesh is hard to find today.

The fresh water alligators and Ganga River dolphins are on the verge of extinction. The number of sea turtles that used to r come to the coasts of Odisha and Gujarat is Constantly decreasing. Water-fowls (Jalbiladi) once found ‘ frequently in Narmada, Tapi, Mahi and Sabarmati rivers of Gujarat are almost extinct. Looking such a condition of dwindling wildlife, it is utmost necessary that we make concrete effort to save what is left. Reasons for the destruction of wildlife Human interference in grasslands and in watershed area of the forests has increased. This has put natural habitat of the wild animals in danger. Destruction of forests in the main reason for natural imbalance. When natural imbalance takes place the number of wild animals decrease.

Hunting the animals to obtain hair, skin (hide), bones, horns or nails is also responsible for reduction of wildlife. To fulfil his greed and need, man exploits forests to his maximum capacity. He keeps on building, roads, multi-purpose projects, mining minerals, expanding new settlements, etc. Thus, man has entered forests, cut them and has displaced wild animals. Forest fire is another reason in which several animals, birds and insects die.

When the forest fire occurs at the procreative time of animals or the time of hatching of eggs, it creates a very adverse effect on the number of wild animals in the forest. Due to the loss of their natural habitats animals become homeless. Hence, they enter into areas of human dwellings and even attack them and their domestic animals. To this humans attack wild animals and also kill them many a times. Humans also hunt animals to make certain medicines, perfume, etc. This also reduces their number.

Wildlife protection scheme has been implemented for those animal species which are in danger or which are likely to be extincted in near future.

Birds like vulture, pink throated duck, It was found in a large number in Arunachal Pradesh in India.

(a) One homed Indian Rhino – Assam

(c) There is a danger of survival to the waterfalls seen at the sea coast of Kachchh.

Wastelands refer to areas of land which are unused, empty, barren and unfit for cultivation and building. It is the result of neglect, excessive cultivation and sowing of crops over long periods of time with lesser time to retain its fertility. It can also occur due to use of harmful fertilizers and chemicals which increase acidic content of the soil, killing the micro-organisms which aid in its fertility, soil erosion which is caused by loss of fertile top soil by wind and water, deforestation etc.

Among the soils of India, alluvial soil is the most widely spread soil. This is due to its natural fertility and abundance in the river valleys and plains which constitute a major part of arable land in India. This soil contains adequate amounts of humus, potash, lime and phosphoric acid which is suitable for cultivation and bountiful harvests. It supports the growth of a wide variety of crops like sugarcane, rice, pulses etc. which are the basic foods of Indians.

Ecological balance refers to the balance of ecosystems which is maintained by the abundance of forest cover,vegetation, wetlands, rivers and streams and the harmony between the living organisms such as humans, plants and animals and their environment and ensuring their survival. This balance is maintained by natural phenomena such as photosynthesis which ensures that all organisms are coexisting. Humans must understand their role in maintaining the ecological balance by practicing sustained development, protecting the environment from pollution and degradation due to their activities which hinder the natural balance. The percentage of forest cover which maintains ecological balance is 33%.

(a) Terrace farming

Terraces are built on steep slopes to control soil erosion. It levels the soil and supports are built to prevent landslides. It requires skill and hard labour to build it.

(b) Shelter belts

Shelter belts are rows of trees, usually along fence lines. Where there is a lot of cultivated land, shelter belts reduce wind erosion. They reduce wind speed and provide sheltered areas on the leeward (the side away from the wind) and windward (the side toward the wind) sides of the shelterbelt.

(c) Forest or mountainous soils

It covers 8% of India’s total geographic area. They are loamy and silty and lack humus. They are useful for cultivating tea, spices, coffee and fruits. It is found in lower parts of valleys and hilly regions of J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, etc.

Because this belt is mostly covered by snow and ice. Only Mosses and Lichens grow in this belt.

Africa is called a ‘Dark continent’ because of the obstacles to explore its interior regions. The Sahara desert was a formidable obstacle to reach the interior of Africa.

Despite its large size and rich mineral and agricultural resources, the continent of Asia is generally less industrialized than Europe. The main reasons for this situation are lack of technology, capital, conservative attitude towards industrialization and large population which is engaged in agriculture.

South western Asia i.e., Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Iran, Bahrain, Qatar and United Arab Emirates (UAE).

South Asia, South-East Asia and East Asia.

Verkhoyansk in Siberia has -51°C and Omyakni has -71°C temperature in January.

Dairying is greatly developed in Denmark, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany and Britain. But Denmark is more important for dairying. The European countries export their dairy products, e.g., cheese, condensed milk, butter, chocolate, etc.

Most of the rainfall in Asia is caused by the Monsoon winds in summer season. In winter, the westerlies cause rainfall in western Asian countries, eastern parts of China, the Philippines, and Malaysia which receive rainfall from tropical cyclones.

Different methods to check soil erosion are:

(i) Control overgrazing by livestock- Cattle, sheep, goats and other livestock tear up roots from the soil and ruining the texture and leave the land barren and exposed to wind and rain.

(ii) Mixed Cropping- it involves growing a variety of crops, mixed together. It is sown in rows or in regular intervals to prevent the soil from erosion.

(iii) Plant trees- Planting trees help to break wind and guard the soil against erosion. It also binds the soil with its deep roots and regulates the climate of a place by bringing sufficient rainfall.

(iv) Terracing- Terraces are built on steep slopes to control soil erosion. It levels the soil and supports are built to prevent landslides. It requires skill and hard labour to build it.

(v) Ploughing of Contours- It involves ploughing the land along the contour line to protects the soil from surface run-off by water.

Coal and Petroleum.

Rice and Wheat.

(a) mountainous regions

Cause: Lack of trees lead to loosening of soil which gets washed away due to rainfall and wind

Remedy: Afforestation

(b) Steep slopes and plateaus

Cause: Lack of trees lead to loosening of soil which gets washed away due to rainfall and wind

Remedy: Afforestation

(c) Coastal areas

Cause: caused by hydraulic action, abrasion, impact and corrosion by wind, water, and other forces, natural or unnatural.

Remedy: Reduce human interference

(d) Desert areas

Cause: Desert areas are largely affected by winds as there is little vegetation to hold the soil.

Remedy: Change land-use pattern and reduce overgrazing and conversion into agricultural lands.

(e) River plains

Causes: Pollution of river bodies, encroachment of river banks

Remedy: Prevent urbanisation very close to river bodies, prevent dumping of wastes into the river bodies.

It is important to have a planned strategy for the development of resources because, in a country like India, there is a vast population and uneven distribution of resources. To make good use to the available resources, there must be good planning, by keeping in mind the technology, skills and economy required to resolve the problems of lack and enhance all areas of development. In India, therefore, its first Five Year Plan essentially includes Resource Planning. Through resource planning, the wastage caused over-consumption of resources, followed by our socio-economic problems can be prevented by the conservation of resources. Leaders like Gandhiji believed that modern technology caused massive exploitation and extinction of resources.

Mawsynram in Meghalaya (India) receives the highest rainfall in the world.

The Indian government launched a project to connect Delhi-Kolkata-Chennai-Mumbai by six-lane superhighways. The objective behind the making of these superhighways is to reduce the time and distance between the megacities of India. This project of superhighways is being implemented by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

China, Indonesia, India, Malaysia and Thailand

The major rivers of this groups are : The Tigris and the Euphrates of Syria and Iraq, flow into the Persian Gulf. The Sindhu, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra of lndia and Pakistan rises in the Himalayas and flow southward into the Indian Ocean. Rivers Sittang, Salween and lrrawadi of Myanmar flow into the Bay of Bengal.

• They are the old plateaus made of hard crystalline rocks. They comprise the Plateau of Arabia, the Deccan plateau (India) and the Plateau of Yunnan (Indo-China) and Shan Plateau (Myanmar). 
• The Plateau of Arabia occupies the entire Arabian Peninsula. It is dry region. 
• The Deccan Plateau occupies a large part of the Indian peninsula. It lies between the central mountains, the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats. It slopes to the east and most of its rivers flow in that direction. 
• The Yunnan Plateau is situated to the South-West of China. It is a high block consisting of lime-stone. The Shan Plateau is a continuation of Yunnan Plateau.

The five major regional divisions of Asia are: 

1. East Asia 

2. South-East Asia 

3. South Asia 

4. Southwest Asia 

5. Central Asia.

On the basis of structure and relief features, Asia can be divided into five major physical divisions. 

1. The North-Western Lowlands. 

2. The Central Highlands. 

3. The Southern Plateaus. 

4. The Great Plains of Rivers. 

5. The Island Groups.

Agricultural lands in India was estimated to be 60.45% in 2015. Agriculture is the principal means of income in India. The agricultural lands refer to the lands that are suitable for cultivation, that is arable land. Arable lands are those lands on which temporary crops are sown and cultivated. It includes meadows, gardens and fallowed land. Permanent crops are grown on lands for longer periods of time and do not need to re-cultivated after harvesting. This includes lands on which flowers, shrubs and trees with edible food products. The areas of land which are excluded from arable lands are those lands abandoned due to shifting cultivation and slash and burn cultivation and the lands on which trees grow naturally, or woods.

From 3^rd to the 14^th of June in the year 1992, Rio de Janeiro hosted the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development to discuss the state of the global environment. It concluded with the Earth Summit, and the leaders of 105 nations attended this conference to show their commitment to sustainable development. These nations

Some measures taken by my country are:

(i) Introduction of agro-industries or farm industries in the rural areas to provide employment to farmers and labourers.

(ii) Introduction of HIV seeds, agricultural machinery, eco-friendly fertilizers to boost the agricultural economy and better production.

(iii) Spreading awareness of environmental pollution and other issues like health, sanitation, and diseases among rural and urban areas on a massive level, by rallies, movements, programs, etc.

(iv) Building organizations to protect the environment and contribute to the welfare of poverty-stricken areas, the minorities like women children and elderly, providing facilities for healthcare, education and sanitation.

(v) Undertaking steps to protect forests and promote deforestation and reforestation, preserve the wildlife of forests by building national parks and biological reserves.

(vi) Protect marine life and ocean by curbing disposal of wastes from factories, domestic waste, and litter. Taking steps to prevent oils spill from petroleum platforms.

(vii) Marshy Soil: This soil occurs in humid areas with heavy rainfall. It is black in colour and highly acidic. It occurs in Sunderbans of West Bengal, coastal regions of Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Uttrakhand.

Sustainable development is a development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The different ideas of sustainable development are:

(i) Save electricity by using bulbs that consume less power. Turning off lights and fans and other appliances when it is not in use, using generators that store and preserve electricity, using solar lamps as much as possible etc.

(ii) Switching to conventional sources of energy to save fossil fuels by using solar cookers, lamps, panels, wind mills, hydroelectric power plants, etc. to conserve fossil fuels and generate less pollution.

(iii) Practicing eco-tourism, afforestation, and agro-forestry, and developing greener and better methods of irrigation to prevent wastage of water and soil erosion by surface runoff.

(iv) Generating less waste by recycling and reusing materials in our daily lives. Consuming less plastic and non-biodegradable materials to reduce waste and filter it before releasing it into the environment.

Conservation is the process in which the natural resources are cared for and protected from depletion and extinction. Renewable resources like trees and plants,water,and air can be replaced gradually. Non-renewable resources like fossil fuels, minerals and essential oils cannot be replaced as it takes millions of years to form naturally. Conservation of natural resources is necessary because as the years are passing, and the human population has increased rapidly, thereby adding to the demand and consumption of natural resources. This is placing extreme pressure on the resources, which are depleting faster than they are replaced. Through carefully planned methods and sustainable development, we can prolong the availability of natural resources for future generations. Through conservation, we can reduce wastage and maintain the biodiversity of nature and prevent natural cycles and eco-systems from getting disrupted, thus endangering our lives and that of the animal and plant species. We must not forget that animals too depend on on natural resources like forests, rivers and seas to thrive. Their survival cannot be compromised in the name of development. Using resources wisely will also ensure our survival and that of future generations.

Gandhiji voiced his opinions about the utilization of natural resources. He placed importance on simple living, that is, utilising resources to fulfil needs, not greed. His motive was to lift poverty from villages by introducing manual labour in the production of village economy and check unlimited consumption and exploitation of natural resources. He stated that renewable resources should be utilized and their usage should be minimalized to complete the natural cycle of regeneration and maintain permanence of our survival. His non-violent principles are evident in his methods to preserve natural resources as he believed that violence in the destruction and wastage of natural resources would disrupt the harmony of nature and hinder growth and progress.

Britain and Ireland.

Human activities include overgrazing, overcropping and deforestation. Overgrazing occurs when farmers stock too many animals such as sheep, cattle or goats on their land.

Two types of soil erosion observed in India
Gully erosion and sheet erosion are two types of erosion seen in India.

(i) Gullies cut the clayey soils into deep creeps and the land becomes unfit for cultivation and popularly known as bad lands.

(ii) Sheet erosion washes away top soils over a large areas and productivity is mostly decreased.

The highest point of Europe is Mt. Elbrus (5633 mt) in the Caucasus Mountain.

Soils in India are classified as:

(i) Alluvial Soil: This soil is the most common type found in India. It covers about 43% of the land area. It is abundant in northern plains and river valleys, and in the peninsula. It is grey in colour, and the texture is sandy, loamy or clayey. It is highly fertile because it consists of humus, lime and other organic compounds. It is also rich in potash. These soils are mainly transported and deposited by rivers . It consists of two types of soil:Khadar or new alluvium and Bhangar which is old alluvium. The main crops which can be sown are rice,sugarcane,and pulses.

(ii) Red Soil: This type of soil is found mostly in areas of low rainfall. It occupies about 3.5 lakh sq. km of land. It is mostly porous, and clayey and its fertility depends on the area. It is red in colour due to iron oxide and is rich in potash and potassium. It is found in parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Chota Nagpur Plateau, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. The crops that are sown on red soil are wheat,cotton,potatoes,fruits,and millets.

(iii) Black Soil: It is also known as regur soil. It is found in the Deccan Plateau and has a high water-retaining capacity. It is rich in iron,lime,calcium,potassium,aluminium and magnesium. It is clayey in texture and develops cracks when dried. It is best for growing cotton.

(iv) Laterite Soil: It is derived from the Latin word “later” which means brick. It is found in areas of high rainfall and temperature. It is red in colour due to the gravel of red sandstones. They are rich in ferric oxides and in higher places there may be a higher content of humus. It is rich in iron and aluminium. Heavy leaching occurs in this type of soil leading to its infertility. After irrigation and adding of manure, this soul is suitable for growth of tea, coffee, rubber and coconut. It also supports the growth of grazing grounds and is useful as a building material.

(v) Desert Soil: It is also known as arid soil. This soil occupies 4.32% of the land. It consists of Aeolian sand and clay. This soil is formed by sands blown by the wind which causes desertification of the land. Occurs in Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana. Sandy, clay less soil occurs in the coastal regions of Orissa, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It has very minimum organic matter and calcium carbonate and phosphate. Drought tolerant crops like pulses, cotton, barley and maize are grown on desert soil.

(vi) Forest Soil: This kind of soil is found in Eastern and Western Ghats. It occurs in places of high rainfall. Humus content is less lending to the acidic nature. It is suitable for tea, coffee and spices.

(vii) Mountain Soil: This kind of soil occupies 6.5% of land in India. This soil is mainly found on hill slopes covered by forests. It is found in the valleys of the Himalayan region on the north side. It requires a high amount of fertilizer for good crop yield. It is suitable for wheat, maize and temperate fruits.

The postmaster realized the need of Lencho. So he was kind. He collected money for him. He himself gave a part of his salary. So he was generous. When he read Lencho’s letter, he laughed heartily. So he was fun-loving.