Conservation of Plants and Animals

Extinction

• Extinction is when a species is completely wiped out from the Earth.
• Once the last living individual of a species dies, the species (species are a group of individuals that can breed and successfully produce fertile offspring) is said to be extinct.

Deforestation

• Deforestation is the destruction of forests by cutting down trees.
• Deforestation leads to habitat loss for many animals.

Causes of Deforestation

Deforestation can occur due to one of the following reasons:

• Procuring land for cultivation.
• Building houses and factories.
• Making furniture or using wood as fuel.
• Natural causes such as forest fires and severe drought can also cause deforestation.

Consequences of Deforestation

• Deforestation increases the temperature and pollution level on the earth.
• It increases the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
• It also reduces the level of groundwater.

Droughts

• Drought is the lack of water in an area. Droughts can happen due to a lack of rainfall.

Desertification

• The formation of a desert by erosion of vegetation due to harsh weather is called desertification.
• Human activities like deforestation and improper irrigation are also responsible for desertification of terrains.

Global Warming

• Global warming is the change of climate on a global level.
• Usually, average temperature increases, leading to the melting of ice caps in the poles.
• Excessive pollution and deforestation cause global warming.

Make the World a Greener Place

Recycling of Paper

• The paper industry is a leading cause of deforestation since they need wood pulp.
• Recycling paper can help in reducing the consumption of wood pulp by the paper industry.

Reforestation

• Reforestation is restocking the destroyed forests by planting new trees.

Wildlife Conservation

Conservation of forest and wildlife

• Due to the threat from mankind’s indulgence, it is important for us to conserve the forest and its wildlife.
• Wildlife is important for us to maintain balance in nature.

Wildlife sanctuary

• A wildlife sanctuary is a naturally occurring sanctuary, such as an island, that provides protection for species from hunting, predation, competition or poaching.

National Park

Flora and fauna

• The plants and animals found in a particular area are termed flora and fauna of that area, respectively.

National Park

• A national park is a park that is used for biodiversity conservation.
• They are developed and maintained by the Union Government.

Biosphere Reserves

Biosphere and Biodiversity

• The biosphere is the part of the earth in which living organisms exist or which supports life.
• Biological diversity or biodiversity refers to the variety of organisms existing on the earth, their interrelationships and their relationship with the environment.

Biosphere Reserve

• Biosphere reserves are areas that are protected from human intervention.
• These areas help in the conservation of endangered species (species  whose numbers are diminishing to a level that they might face extinction are known as endangered species)

Note : Red Data Book is the source book which keeps a record of all the endangered animals and plants.