Question

Which of these statements is not a valid reason for the depletion of flora and fauna?
A. Agricultural expansion
B. Large scale development projects
C. Grazing and fuel-wood collection
D. Rapid Industrialisation and urbanisation

Answer 1

Hint:
> Flora and Fauna create a balance in the ecosystem and both together represent the rich diversity of any area.
> Today due to various factors they are being severely affected and this is resulting in a steep decline in the quantity and variety of both.
> This depletion in turn is behaving as a warning before the real destruction of the environment.

Complete answer:
A. According to India's forest survey, between 1951 and 1980, over 26,200 sq. kilometres of forest lands have been turned into farm fields. Substantial parts of the tribal belts have been deforested or degraded by shifting cultivation (jhum), which is a kind of 'slash and burn' agriculture, particularly in northeastern and central India. Thus agricultural expansion is one of the major factors of depletion of flora and fauna.

B. For the development of the economy and for a better lifestyle various large scale development projects have been set up in those areas which were earlier covered by thick forests. This has affected the flora and fauna to a large extent.

C. Grazing and fuel-wood collection does not result in much depletion of flora and fauna. These activities are carried by the people living in rural areas for sustaining their lives. Grazing if done properly does not harm flora and fauna much. But overgrazing does harm flora and fauna.

D. On one hand where industrialisation and urbanisation are increasing the pace of progress of the economy, on the other hand, it is resulting in large scale destruction of forest cover thus posing a fear on our flora and fauna.

Therefore, the correct answer is C

Note:
- In the whole world, India is the only country which has its indigenous lion and tiger species i.e. Asiatic Lion and Bengal Tiger.
- India constitutes about 6 per cent of the world's total flora and within India, Madhya Pradesh has the richest biodiversity.