The document discusses the concepts of conservation and land degradation. It defines conservation as the wise usage, improvement, and protection of natural resources for long-term sustainability. Land degradation is the deterioration of soil quality and fertility, which can be caused by overpopulation, urbanization, damage to topsoil, industrial waste contamination, and soil erosion. Methods to reduce land degradation include organic farming, mulching, terrace farming, strip cropping, and contour ploughing. The National Wastelands Development Board was established in 1985 to address land degradation and deforestation issues.

2.  The word “ conservation “ was coined by
Gifford Pinchot head of the US forest service
shortly after White house conference on
natural resources (19O8)
 Conservation actually means usage ,
improvement and protection of natural
resources in a wise manner for a long term
basis.

4.  To maintain essential ecological processes
and life support system.
 To preserve biological diversity.
 To develop rational use of all resources so
that they do not lost for longer time.
 To check environmental pollution.
 To ensure safety for all organisms.

5. TOPIC: 1

6.  Land is the most valuable resource for mankind. It
provide food , shelter and various other purposes.
 Land degradation is a process of
deterioration of soil or loss of fertility.
 CAUSES OF LAND DEGRADATION
A. Overpopulation
B. Urbanization
C. Damage of top soil
D. Contamination of soil with industrial
wastes.
E. Soil erosion

7.  ORGANIC FARMING – Process of increasing organic input to the
soil. Example – bio fertilizer.
 MULCHING – Soil is covered with crop residue and other forms of
plant litter.
 TERRACE FARMING – Conversion of steep slopes into a series of
broad terraces which run across the contour.
 STRIP CROPPING – Planting of crops in rows to check flow of
water.
 CONTOUR PLOUGHING – It is very useful areas with low rainfall
that placing some furrows to store water which reduces runoff
and erosion.

8.  The Board was established in 1985 to
formulate action plans to arrest land
degradation and deforestation.
 The current mission of the NWDB is to check
land degradation , bring wasteland into
sustainable use, increase biomass availability
and restore ecological balance.

9. MULCHING TERRACE FARMING
STRIP CROPPING CONTOUR PLOUGHING

10. TOPIC: 2

11.  Exploitation of water resources has
increased manifolds due to continuous
increase in population , industrialization ,
and expansion in irrigation.
 Consumption of water is nearly 50 liters a
day per person in rural areas and 150 liters a
day per person in urban areas.
 Industries use large quantities of water daily.
 Agriculture is a major sector in consuming
huge quantities of water.

12.  REDISTRIBUTION OF WATER – Redistribution of
water helps in creating regional balance.
River water can be redistributed into two
forms –
 Reservoirs
 Canals
 RATIONAL USE OF UNDERGROUND WATER – Use
water only to the extent to which they are
recharged to the natural way.
 RAINWATER HARVESTING – Rainwater
harvesting is a simple method by which
rainwater is collected for future use.

13.  FOR IRRIGATION PURPOSES
 FOR HOUSEHOLD PURPOSES
 FOR INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES
 AND MANY OTHER PURPOSES

14. TOPIC: 3

15.  Resources which are living in nature are
known as biotic resources.
 Example- forest , animals etc.
BIOTIC RESOURCES

16.  LEGISLATION: Formal policies should be organized to
conserve and for sustainable utilization of resources.
 PROTECTED AREA: An area of land or sea especially
dedicated to the protection and maintenance of
biological diversity through legal or other effective
means . example: national park , wildlife sanctuaries
etc.
 IN-SITU CONSERVATION: Conserving the animals and
plants in their natural habitat.
 EX-SITU CONSERVATION: Conserving the plants and
animals away from their natural habitat.
 SOCIAL FORESTRY / COMMUNITY FORESTRY: It is
concerned with the welfare of the society
particularly rural people depend on forest for their
livelihood.

17.  PROJECT TIGER
 GIR LION PROJECT
 CROCODILE BREEDING PROJECT
 PROJECT ELEPHANT

18. NATIONAL PARKS IN INDIA

19.  LEGISLATION FOR CONSERVATION:
 Environment Protection Act (1986)
 Forest Conservation Act(1980)
 Chipko Movement Act (1988)

20. REFERENCES:
 ADVANCED ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY; BY
DR. ALKA GAUTAM
ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT; BY P.D.
SHARMA