Forest Types of India — Set 9

Correct Answer: B. Forests help attract and enhance rainfall through moisture transpiration

Forests help attract and enhance rainfall through moisture transpiration, where trees release water vapour into the atmosphere which contributes to cloud formation and precipitation. The Western Ghats forests, for example, play a crucial role in intercepting the Southwest Monsoon and ensuring adequate rainfall for peninsular India. Deforestation in the Western Ghats has been linked to reduced rainfall in inland regions. Forests thus act as natural rain enhancers and water cycle regulators.

Correct Answer: B. Ashok (Saraca asoca)

Ashok (Saraca asoca) is the state tree of Uttar Pradesh. The Ashok tree is sacred in Hindu mythology and is associated with the legendary figure of Sita in the Ramayana. Its bark and flowers have medicinal properties and are used in Ayurvedic medicine, particularly for women's health conditions. The tree is found across India and produces clusters of orange-red fragrant flowers. It is commonly planted in temples, gardens, and along roadsides.

Correct Answer: B. The uppermost layer of tree crowns in a forest

The Canopy Layer is the uppermost layer of a forest formed by the crowns of the tallest trees. It captures most of the sunlight, creates habitat for epiphytic plants, birds, and arboreal animals. Below the canopy are the understorey, shrub layer, and forest floor. Canopy cover (percentage of sky obscured by leaves) determines the light, temperature, and humidity conditions for all forest layers below. The forest canopy is crucial for carbon sequestration and regulating the forest microclimate.

Correct Answer: B. Three states

The Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve is a meeting point of three states — Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka — forming the Nilgiri Biosphere at the convergence of the Western and Eastern Ghats. It was India's first Biosphere Reserve established in 1986 and designated by UNESCO in 2000. The reserve covers an area of about 5,520 sq km including Mudumalai, Nagarhole, Bandipur, and Wayanad. It harbours one of the largest tiger and elephant populations in Asia.

Correct Answer: B. Traditional shifting cultivation where forests are cut and burned to clear land

Slash and Burn, also called Jhum cultivation or shifting cultivation, is a traditional agricultural practice where forests are cut and burned to clear land for cultivation. After a few years of cultivation, the land is abandoned and a new forest patch is cleared. This practice is traditional among tribal communities in Northeast India (where it is called Jhum). Modern slash and burn has become destructive due to shortened fallow periods and growing populations. India's forests in Northeast states are under pressure from intensified Jhum.

Correct Answer: B. Natural rubber latex

Natural rubber latex is the main product extracted from Rubber Trees (Hevea brasiliensis) through a process called tapping. India is one of the world's leading producers of natural rubber, with Kerala accounting for over 80% of India's rubber production. The rubber latex is processed into sheets, crepe, and other forms for manufacturing tyres, footwear, and industrial goods. Rubber plantations in Kerala and Northeast India occupy significant forest land converted from natural forests.

Correct Answer: B. Process where forests absorb and store CO2 from atmosphere through photosynthesis

Forest Carbon Sequestration is the process by which forests absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis and store it in tree biomass, soil, and other organic matter. Forests globally absorb about 2.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. India's forests sequester about 177 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year. Protecting existing forests and planting new ones is a key strategy in India's climate commitments under the Paris Agreement. Forest carbon sequestration is monitored through biomass assessments.

Correct Answer: C. Biosphere Reserve buffer zone

Biosphere Reserve buffer zones and transition zones allow human habitation and sustainable resource use while protecting the core conservation area. Biosphere Reserves are organised into core (strictly protected), buffer (limited research and education), and transition (sustainable human activities) zones. This zoning concept recognises that conservation must coexist with human communities. Tiger Reserve buffer zones similarly allow sustainable use by local communities unlike the strict core areas.

Correct Answer: B. Madhya Pradesh

Panna Tiger Reserve is located in Madhya Pradesh in the Vindhya Hills region. It is famous for the successful reintroduction of tigers in 2009 after the tiger population had declined to zero due to poaching and mismanagement. Panna is currently one of India's success stories in wildlife recovery. The reserve lies on the Ken river and includes diverse habitats of dry deciduous forests, riverine forests, and rocky terrain.

Correct Answer: B. Deforestation increases CO2 levels by releasing stored carbon

Deforestation significantly increases atmospheric carbon dioxide levels by releasing the carbon stored in tree biomass and soil organic matter. When forests are burned or allowed to decay, their carbon is released as CO2. Global deforestation contributes about 10-15% of annual greenhouse gas emissions. This makes deforestation a major driver of climate change. Reducing deforestation (REDD+) is recognised as a cost-effective climate change mitigation strategy under international climate agreements.