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Forest Policy, Social Forestry, Project Tiger Class 11

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GeographyCBSE Class 11 · Natural Vegetation

Forest Conservation, Social Forestry and Wildlife Conservation in India (Class 11 Geography, Chapter 5)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

The forest policy of 1952, modified in 1988, aims at sustainable forest management and 33 per cent of the area under forest, supported by social forestry (urban, rural and farm). India holds 4 to 5 per cent of known species, which have declined through exploitation, clearance and poaching; the Wildlife Act 1972, Project Tiger (1973), Project Elephant (1992) and biosphere reserves protect them.

Understand Forest Conservation, Social Forestry, Wildlife Decline and Conservation Programmes

Why this topic matters. Policy aims, the three kinds of social forestry and the conservation programmes (with their numbers) are standard short-answer and map items.

1. Forest policy. Adopted in 1952 and modified in 1988, it stresses sustainable forest management to conserve and expand forests while meeting local needs. Aims: 33 per cent of the area under forest; environmental stability and restoration of degraded forests; conservation of natural heritage, biodiversity and the genetic pool; checking soil erosion, desert spread, floods and droughts; more cover through social forestry and afforestation; higher productivity for timber, fuel, fodder and food; and a people's movement involving women to plant trees and stop felling.

2. Forests and tribal people. For many tribal communities the forest is home and livelihood. They should be growers and not just collectors of minor forest produce and partners in conservation.

3. Social forestry. Management and protection of forests and afforestation of barren land for environmental, social and rural development. As classified by the National Commission on Agriculture (1976): urban forestry (trees on public and private land in and around cities, such as green belts, parks and avenues); rural forestry with agro-forestry (trees and crops on the same land) and community forestry (trees on public or community land such as village pastures, temple land and canal banks, benefiting even the landless); and farm forestry (farmers growing trees on their own land, with free seedlings from states to small and medium farmers).

4. Wildlife. India has about 4 to 5 per cent of all known plant and animal species. Numbers have fallen from exploitation of forests, land clearance for agriculture and settlement, lopping and grazing, hunting and poaching, and forest fires.

5. Programmes. The Wildlife Act 1972 (amended in 1991) protects scheduled species and conservation areas; India has 107 national parks and 573 wildlife sanctuaries. Project Tiger (1973) has grown from 9 to 58 tiger reserves, and tiger numbers rose from 1,411 in 2006 to 3,682 in 2023. Project Elephant (1992) covers 18 states. Biosphere reserves under UNESCO's Man and Biosphere programme: 18 in India, of which 12 are in UNESCO's World Network.

Forest Conservation, Social Forestry, Wildlife Decline and Conservation Programmes: key facts

Forest policy
  • Adopted 1952
  • Modified 1988
  • Target 33 per cent of area under forest
  • Sustainable forest management
Aims include a people's movement with women.
Social forestry
  • Urban forestry
  • Rural forestry: agro-forestry and community forestry
  • Farm forestry
National Commission on Agriculture, 1976.
Wildlife programmes
  • Wildlife Act 1972, amended 1991
  • 107 national parks
  • 573 wildlife sanctuaries
  • Project Tiger 1973
  • Project Elephant 1992
  • 18 biosphere reserves
Numbers in the chapter.
Tigers
  • 1,411 in 2006
  • 3,682 in 2023
  • Reserves grew from 9 to 58
Project Tiger results.

How to answer Forest Conservation, Social Forestry, Wildlife Decline and Conservation Programmes questions

Policy and programme questions need the year, aim and one result.

  1. 1Give the year and the body or Act.
  2. 2State the main aim in one line.
  3. 3Add the number (reserves, parks, per cent).
  4. 4Add one example of a result or place.

Forest Conservation, Social Forestry, Wildlife Decline and Conservation Programmes in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

City green belt

Suppose a municipal body plants trees along roadsides, in parks and as green belts around a factory zone in a city.

Which type of social forestry is it?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Trees on public and private land in and around cities.
  2. This is urban forestry.

Answer: Urban forestry.

Memory hook: City green is urban.

Trees on field bunds

Suppose a farmer receives free seedlings from the state and plants trees on the margins of his own fields for timber and fuel.

Which type of social forestry is this?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. The farmer grows trees on his own land.
  2. States give free seedlings to small and medium farmers.

Answer: Farm forestry.

Memory hook: Own land, farm forestry.

Tricks to remember Forest Conservation, Social Forestry, Wildlife Decline and Conservation Programmes

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

  • 52, 88, 33

    Policy 1952, modified 1988, target 33 per cent

    Use it when: Forest policy.

  • 72-73-92

    Wildlife Act 1972, Project Tiger 1973, Project Elephant 1992

    Use it when: Dates.

  • UCF

    Urban, Community and Farm forestry plus agro-forestry

    Use it when: Social forestry.

Forest Conservation, Social Forestry, Wildlife Decline and Conservation Programmes: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Project Tiger year · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

Project Tiger was launched in:
(A) 1952
(B) 1972
(C) 1973
(D) 1992

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Project Tiger began in 1973 (1 mark).

Answer: (C)

Example 2: Forest policy target · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level

What share of the geographical area did the forest policy aim to keep under forest cover? Name the two years linked with it. (2 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. 33 per cent (1 mark).
  2. 1952 and 1988 (1 mark).

Answer: The policy aims at 33 per cent of the geographical area under forest. It was adopted in 1952 and modified in 1988.

Example 3: Social forestry types · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

Explain agro-forestry and community forestry with one place each. (3 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Agro-forestry: trees and crops raised together on the same land, with an example such as trees on the margins of a farm plot (1 mark).
  2. Community forestry: trees on public or community land such as village pastures or canal banks (1 mark).
  3. Community forestry benefits the whole community including the landless (1 mark).

Answer: Agro-forestry combines trees and crops on the same land, for example trees planted on the field margins of a farm plot. Community forestry raises trees on public or community land, for example village pastures, temple land or canal banks, and benefits the whole community including the landless.

Example 4: Assertion and reason: wildlife decline · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonHarder board level

Assertion (A): Wildlife numbers in India have fallen in recent times.
Reason (R): Hunting, poaching, land clearance and forest fires have reduced habitats and animals.
(A) Both true, R explains A
(B) Both true, R does not explain A
(C) A true, R false
(D) A false, R true

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. The causes named in R account for the fall (1 mark).

Answer: (A)

Example 5: HOTS: tiger numbers · 5 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

Tiger numbers rose from 1,411 in 2006 to 3,682 in 2023. Calculate the increase and the percentage increase, comment on the change in the number of reserves, and say what such figures can and cannot show. (5 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Increase = 3,682 - 1,411 = 2,271 (1 mark).
  2. Percentage = 2,271 / 1,411 x 100 = about 161 per cent (1 mark).
  3. Reserves grew from 9 to 58 since 1973 (1 mark).
  4. The figures show a recovery with protection (1 mark).
  5. They do not by themselves show the cause or habitat quality or that all threats ended (1 mark).

Answer: The increase is 3,682 - 1,411 = 2,271 tigers, which is 2,271 / 1,411 x 100 = about 161 per cent. Reserves grew from 9 to 58 under Project Tiger. The figures indicate a recovery during a period of protection, but they do not by themselves prove the cause or show that habitat loss, poaching and other threats have ended.

Where students lose marks in Forest Conservation, Social Forestry, Wildlife Decline and Conservation Programmes

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

  • Mistake: Mixing Project Tiger and Project Elephant years

    Dates close.

    Wrong working

    Project Elephant was launched in 1973.

    Right working

    Project Tiger 1973; Project Elephant 1992.

    Do this: Memorise 73 and 92.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Writing 33 per cent as the present forest cover

    Target mistaken for achievement.

    Wrong working

    India has 33 per cent forest cover now.

    Right working

    33 per cent is the policy target for the area under forest.

    Do this: Write "target".

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Confusing community forestry with farm forestry

    Both are village based.

    Wrong working

    Community forestry is on a farmer's own land.

    Right working

    Community forestry is on public or community land; farm forestry is on a farmer's own land.

    Do this: Ask who owns the land.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

  • Always give the year with each programme.
  • Describe social forestry by the three types and by who owns the land.
  • Show working when computing change in tiger numbers.

Practice questions on Forest Conservation, Social Forestry, Wildlife Decline and Conservation Programmes

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

  1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

    Biosphere reserves are part of the UNESCO programme called:
    (A) Ramsar
    (B) Man and Biosphere
    (C) Project Tiger
    (D) CITES

    Hint

    Man and Biosphere.

    Answer

    (B)

  2. Q2 · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level

    State two reasons for the decline of wildlife in India. (2 marks)

    Hint

    Clearance, poaching.

    Answer

    Land cleared for agriculture and settlement, and hunting and poaching, have reduced wildlife; exploitation of forests, grazing and forest fires also contributed.

  3. Q3 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Write any three aims of the forest policy. (3 marks)

    Hint

    33 per cent, erosion, people.

    Answer

    The policy aims at (i) 33 per cent of the area under forest, (ii) checking soil erosion, desert spread, floods and droughts, and (iii) a massive people's movement involving women to plant trees and stop felling. It also seeks conservation of biodiversity and higher forest productivity.

  4. Q4 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Describe farm forestry and the help given to farmers. (3 marks)

    Hint

    Own land.

    Answer

    In farm forestry farmers plant trees on their own land for commercial and non-commercial use. States give free seedlings to small and medium farmers, and field margins and land around houses and cow sheds can be used.

  5. Q5 · 4 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency

    A panchayat near a sanctuary wants villagers who depend on minor forest produce to take part in conservation. Using the chapter, suggest how, and why such participation helps. (4 marks)

    Hint

    Growers not collectors.

    Answer

    Tribal and village people should be treated as growers of minor forest produce rather than mere collectors, and as partners in conservation, using their age-old knowledge of forests. Because the forest is their home and livelihood, they have a stake in protecting it, which supports forest policy aims.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

  1. 1.Who classified social forestry in 1976?Show answer

    The National Commission on Agriculture.

  2. 2.How many tiger reserves now?Show answer

    58.

  3. 3.How many national parks?Show answer

    107.

  4. 4.How many biosphere reserves?Show answer

    18.

Forest Conservation, Social Forestry, Wildlife Decline and Conservation Programmes: frequently asked questions

What is the Wildlife Act?

The 1972 Act, amended in 1991, protecting scheduled species and conservation areas.

How many of India's biosphere reserves are in the World Network?

12 of the 18.

Which states does Project Elephant cover?

It covers 18 states.