Forests and Conservation

Forest cover in Rajasthan

Forest cover

According to Forest Survey of India reports, Rajasthan is among the states with the lowest actual forest-area percentage, because a large part of the state is desert or semi-arid[Source 2]

Types of forest

Tropical dry deciduous forests (southern Rajasthan — Udaipur, Mount Abu region), thorny scrub forests (western Rajasthan)

Aravalli forests

Forest area spread along the Aravalli range, which helps prevent soil erosion and the spread of the desert

Major national parks and sanctuaries

The Bishnoi community and the Khejarli sacrifice

Rajasthan's most inspiring story of tree conservation is tied to the Bishnoi community. In 1730, when khejri trees began to be felled on royal orders in Khejarli village near Jodhpur, Amrita Devi Bishnoi sacrificed her life by clinging to the trees — according to tradition, hundreds of Bishnoi men and women (popularly believed to be around 363) gave their lives in this event. It is counted among India's oldest environmental-conservation movements and is also considered an inspiration for the later 'Chipko movement'.

The Bishnoi community is still known today for protecting trees and wildlife (particularly the chinkara and blackbuck) — in EVS this example is well suited to teaching children that 'local traditions also teach environmental conservation'.

Government conservation initiatives

'Project Tiger' was launched across India in 1973, and Rajasthan's Ranthambore was among its original 9 tiger reserves. In addition, the Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve was also established in the Kota region. Annual tree-planting programmes such as Van Mahotsav are also observed at the school level, directly involving children.

In recent years, work has also been underway on projects such as the 'Aravalli Green Wall' to increase greenery in the Aravalli region, aimed at stopping the spread of the desert and increasing forest cover.

Tree-planting campaigns

'Van Mahotsav', observed every July, is an annual campaign promoting tree-planting in schools and government institutions, begun after independence with the aim of increasing India's forest cover. In recent years, nationwide campaigns such as 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' (a tree in mother's name) have also been run, encouraging citizens to plant a sapling in their mother's name — such campaigns also turn tree-planting into an emotionally driven mass movement.

Involving children in such campaigns at the school level inspires them to become environmentally responsible citizens from a young age, which is also a core objective of the EVS subject.

Challenges in conservation — the Sariska example

Wildlife conservation has never been simple — Alwar's Sariska Tiger Reserve is a well-known example of this. Due to poaching, all tigers had disappeared from Sariska by 2004-05, which raised serious questions about wildlife-conservation policy nationwide. Following this, from 2008, a programme was started to translocate (reintroduce) tigers from Ranthambore to Sariska, counted among India's first successful tiger-reintroduction projects.

This incident is a strong example for teaching children that merely declaring a national park isn't enough — continuous monitoring, local community participation and strict law enforcement are equally necessary for conservation.

Livelihoods from forests and the importance of the Aravallis

Forests are not just a source of timber — they are also the basis of rural livelihoods. Fuelwood, fodder for animals, and minor forest produce (Non-Timber Forest Produce) such as gum, mahua and tendu leaves are an important source of income for local communities. This is why forest conservation is considered not just an 'environmental' issue but also one tied to the livelihoods of millions of families.

The forest area spread along the Aravalli range is particularly important because it prevents soil erosion, helps maintain groundwater levels, and slows the spread of the desert towards eastern Rajasthan's fertile land. If the Aravalli forests shrink, the risk of desertification increases — this is a precise example in EVS for explaining the concept of 'environmental balance'.

How to teach this to children

Practice Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

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