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IFS

Indian Forest Service

Main Examination

FORESTRY Previous Years’ Papers (Solved) All Questions Solved by Experts with Selected Explanatory Answers

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IFS

Indian Forest Service

Main Examination

FORESTRY Previous Years’ Papers (Solved) PAPER I & II Conducted by

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Published by O.P. Gupta for Ramesh Publishing House Admin. Office 12-H, New Daryaganj Road, Opp. Officers' Mess, New Delhi-110002  23261567, 23275224, 23275124 E-mail: [email protected] For Online Shopping: www.rameshpublishinghouse.com Showroom Balaji Market, Nai Sarak, Delhi-6  23253720, 23282525 4457, Nai Sarak, Delhi-6,  23918938 © Reserved with the Publisher No Part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any transformation storage and retrieval system without written permission from the Publisher. Indemnification Clause: This book is being sold/distributed subject to the exclusive condition that neither the author nor the publishers, individually or collectively, shall be responsible to indemnify the buyer/user/ possessor of this book beyond the selling price of this book for any reason under any circumstances. If you do not agree to it, please do not buy/accept/use/possess this book.

Book Code: R-2119 ISBN: 978-93-89480-89-4 HSN Code : 49011010

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CONTENTS IFS – Forestry (Main Exam), 2021

(Exam held on 05/03/2022)

....................... 1-32

IFS – Forestry (Main Exam), 2020

(Exam held on 06/03/2021)

....................... 1-32

IFS – Forestry (Main Exam), 2019 ............................................................ 1-41 IFS – Forestry (Main Exam), 2018 ......................................................... 42-69 IFS – Forestry (Main Exam), 2017 ......................................................... 70-96 IFS – Forestry (Main Exam), 2016 ....................................................... 97-129 IFS – Forestry (Main Exam), 2015 ...................................................... 130-164 IFS – Forestry (Main Exam), 2014 ...................................................... 165-192 IFS – Forestry (Main Exam), 2013 ..................................................... 193-228 IFS – Forestry (Main Exam), 2012 ..................................................... 229-260 IFS – Forestry (Main Exam), 2011 ...................................................... 261-296

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Previous Years’ Paper (Solved) Previous Years’ Paper (Solved)

1

Indian Forest Service Main Exam, 2021

SUBJECT–FORESTRY (Exam held on 05-03-2022)

PAPER-I 4. (a) What are the conditions on which the choice of a particular silvicultural system to be adopted for specific species in any locality depends?

INSTRUCTIONS: Questions no. 1 and 5 are compulsory. Out of the remaining SIX questions, THREE are to be attempted selecting at least ONE question from each of the two Sections A and B. All questions carry equal marks. Answers must be written in English only.

(b) Elucidate the distribution, nursery techniques and economic importance of: (i) Cedrus deodara (ii) Acacia catechu (iii) Casuarina equisetifolia

SECTION–A

(c) How are forest sites classified on the basis of vegetation?

1. Answer the following : (a) Why is it difficult to carry out afforestation programmes in cold deserts?

SECTION–B

(b) What factors are considered important while choosing a species under avenue plantation?

5. (a) What are the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on environment and biodiver-sity?

(c) ‘An appropriate silvicultural system pro-motes better regeneration of forest stand. ’ Comment.

(b) How do the ownership rights of forests influence the success of joint forest management?

(d) Are non-native tree species an option or a threat in forest ecosystem/plantation under climate change?

(c) How can watershed management enhance and promote sustainable integrated water resource management?

(e) Do the trees of same species have different response to light conditions at different ages?

(d) How does soil organic matter decom-position influence forest productivity?

2. (a) What is the ecological significance of cold deserts? How do plants adapt and survive under cold and harsh desert conditions? Provide a list of common native species of a cold desert.

(e) How do agroforestry woody perennials protect the understorey crops? 6. (a) Explain the role of trees and forests in environmental conservation.

(b) Discuss the phenology, silvicultural characters and regeneration methods of:

(b) Discuss the problems of commons in social forestry. Suggest some effective strategies to overcome these problems.

(i) Gmelina arborea

(c) How does agroforestry promote sustainable livelihood of marginal farmers?

(ii) Pinus roxburghii (c) Elucidate the pattern of felling and mode of regeneration adopted under selection system of management. 3. (a) What do you mean by tending operations? Enumerate various tending operations carried out in forest crops. Discuss improvement felling.

7. (a) What is the relationship between air pollutants and climate change? How does forest vegetation abate different types of pollutants? Describe Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 in relation to pollution management. Suggest name of suitable plant species.

(b) What are the characteristics and significance of mangrove forests? Discuss important species formation in mangrove forests.

(b) How do you differentiate a springshed from a watershed? Explain how a healthy springshed can ensure a better hydrological cycle of an area.

(c) Why is grading operation of nursery seedlings essential for successful forest plantations?

(c) What are the advantages and disadvantages of treebreeding methods over biotechnological methods? 1

(2119) Forestry PP 2021—1

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Previous Years’ Paper (Solved)

8. (a) Give an overview of forest genetic resources and gene conservation programmes in India. Suggest effective practices for sustainable management for quality improvement of Indian forests.

(b) How does crop rotation and mixed farming improve soil productivity? (c) Discuss the role of tree domestication in biodiversity conservation.

PAPER-II INSTRUCTIONS: Questions no. 1 and 5 are compulsory. Out of the remaining SIX questions, THREE are to be attempted selecting at least ONE question from each of the two Sections A and B. All questions carry equal marks. Answers must be written in English only.

SECTION–A

(c) What is forest regeneration survey map ? How is it useful in management of natural forests? 4. (a) Define rotation of maximum volume production. Explain the method for fixing up of rotation of maximum volume production with the help of neat diagram.

1. (a) Describe the criteria and indicators of sustainable forest management.

(b) Briefly explain the steps involved in preparation of working plan according to National Working Plan Code, 2014.

(b) “Forestry enterprise is peculiar compared to other enterprises.” Justify.

(c) Describe structure of Suspension Bridge and Cantilever Bridge.

(c) “Working plan is a basic prerequisite for management of forest division. ” Discuss. (d) Differentiate Stand density and Canopy density. Mention Canopy density classification as per Forest Survey of India. (e) Explain the terms: (i) True meridian, (ii) Magnetic meridian, (iii) Reduced bearing, and (iv) Fore and back bearing. 2. (a) Define Geoinformatics. What are its elements? Explain its role in management and monitoring of forest resources. (b) What are the advantages and disadvantages of Plane table surveying? Describe Radiation, Intersection, Traversing and Resection methods of Plane table surveying.

SECTION–B 5. (a) Explain the terms: (i) Cation Exchange Capacity (ii) Salinity and Alkalinity (b) What is meant by climax in ecological succession? Give an example and describe types of ecological succession. (c) What is REDD+? How does clean development mechanism help in sustainable management of forests? (d) Unscientific harvesting of NTFPs has led to depletion of NTFP resources. Discuss. (e) Mention different methods of valuation of intangible services from forest ecosystem and explain any one.

(c) Define Working Circle. Mention different types of working circles generally constituted in India. Explain Biodiversity working circle.

6. (a) Write the general principles of wood seasoning. How is electrical kiln seasoning advantageous over air seasoning?

3. (a) Explain French method (1883) of yield regulation in irregular forests. What are its advantages and disadvantages?

(b) Write the provisions of Sections 35, 37 and 38 under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, applied to control over forests and land not being the property of the Government.

(b) What is Site Quality Index? How does it differ from fractional site quality? Explain any one method used for developing site quality classes with the help of neat diagram.

(c) Justify the statement “Wild animals are one of the biotic components of the forest ecosystem.” How do they help in forest regeneration? (2119) Forestry PP 2021—1-II

Previous Years’ Paper (Solved)

7. (a) Write the scientific names of ten medicinal plants and their uses. (b) Describe the provisions of Sections (3 - 27) of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 applied to declare any forest land or wasteland as a Reserve Forest over which the Government has proprietary rights. (c) What is the role of forest plantations in carbon sequestration?

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8. (a) What are gums, resins, oleoresins and gum resins? Classify and give at least two examples under each group. (b) What are holotype, neotype, lectotype and syntype of plant specimens? Describe the role of arboreta and clonal parks in conservation of biodiversity. (c) What is controlled burning? How does it help in improving forest regeneration?

ANSWERS PAPER-I 1. (a) Difficulty to Carry Out Afforestation Programmes in Cold Deserts: Deserts are a special kind of ecosystem bearing little vegetation. The edaphoclimatic conditions do not favour a great variety of plants and animals. Special efforts are required to improve the vegetational status of such places which, in turn, improve the environmental conditions of the area. Desertification commonly appears as degradation of plant, animal, soil and water resources and general loss of biological productivity in areas under ecological stress. In fragile ecosystems, such as those on desert margins, this degradation can easily become irreversible, and permanently reduce the capacity of the area affected to support human life. The production and life support systems in this region are constrained by bioclimatic and environmental limitations:  Low precipitation (100-400 mm MAR).  High pre-monsoon temperatures (mean maximum of the hottest month: 45-47°C). –1 with  High wind-speed: average annual 8-10 km h –1 figures upto 30-40 kmh occurring in summers.  High potential evapo-transpiration with an annual total of 1,500 to 2,000 mm 1. (b) Factors Considered Important While Choosing a Species Under Avenue Plantation: From windbreaks to uniform medium sized trees with great autumn colour, Fleming’s has delved deep into our catalogue of trees to recommend the finest trees to make a stately avenue for almost any space. The key to this category is uniformity in shape and size. These trees will all deliver a highly regular appearance making a stunning feature when planted in single or double rows. Trees suitable for avenue plantings include those that are narrow and upright such as the Green Pillar® Oak, Scarlet Sentinel Maple or poplars – these beauties

are ideal for those seeking a row of trees with a tall narrow form. For more traditional avenues of spreading trees, maples from the Lipstick Tree range will wow when planted in long rows. With vibrant autumn colour, they tell a powerful story. We should grow edible, and fruit-bearing trees within our cities (from nuts to citrus - not only soft fruits), on a number of grounds:  they will expose people to food - most urbanites have lost knowledge of what is seasonal, therefore don’t know anymore how to make sustainable consumer choices;  a wider variety of trees is important for biodiversity. Many birds and bees are at risks because of the amount of pesticides used in conventional agriculture in rural and peri-urban areas. Perhaps they could have some chances in cities?  there is growing urban malnutrition everywhere. It is absurd to grow exclusively ornamental species when we could have edible species.  aesthetic criteria are socially constructed. In Portugal is pretty much common to see orange trees in public space. The taste and social expectations for flowering trees can be shaped. 1. (c) An Appropriate Silvicultural System Promotes Better Regeneration of Forest Stand: A silvicultural system is a planned program of silvicultural treatments designed to achieve specific stand structure characteristics to meet site objectives during the whole life of a stand. This program of treatments integrates specific harvesting, regeneration, and stand tending methods to achieve a predictable yield of benefits from the stand over time. Naming the silvicultural system has been based on the principal method of regeneration and desired age structure. Silvicultural systems on most sites have been designed to maximize

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Previous Years’ Paper (Solved)

the production of timber crops. Non-timber objectives, such as watershed health and wildlife production, have been less common. Recently, ecological considerations and resource objectives have increased. A silvicultural system generally has the following basic goals:  Provides for the availability of many forest resources (not just timber) through spatial and temporal distribution.  Produces planned harvests of forest products over the long term.  Accommodates biological/ecological and economic concerns to ensure sustainability of resources.  Provides for regeneration and planned seral stage development.  Effectively uses growing space and productivity to produce desired goods, services, and conditions.  Meets the landscape- and stand-level goals and objectives of the landowner (including allowing for a variety of future management options).  Considers and attempts to minimize risks from stand-damaging agents such as insects, disease, and windthrow. 1. (d) Non-native tree species (NNT) raise a range of different associations and emotions—to many citizens they are just an exotic curiosity in parks, to many conservationists they are an evil to native ecosystems that should be eradicated, to a rising group of foresters they are part of the solution to climate change and an increasing timber demand, and to others they are already daily forestry business. Non-native forest tree species (NNT) are many times a sign of human action and as such can stir mixed or opposing reactions. People may focus on the achievements made by growing NNT, but they may also perceive the ‘unnaturalness’ of NNT plantations and their potential environmental impact. A high adaptive potential of the introduced tree species is the basis for tree survival and satisfying growth performance. Several important NNT originate from a large distribution range where numerous races, ecotypes and clines have evolved. Diversification, mixing and avoidance of invasion in relation to NNT are necessities that are relatively new on the agenda. In contrast, provenance research of major NNT has been going on for many decades and now provides important information for climate change adaptation. Despite the limitations to the use of NNT either through legal restrictions or forest certification that differ considerably, the careful integration of a range of tested NNT also into future forest management planning shows a high potential for climate change adaptation and mitigation.

The ecological impacts that have been attributed to NNT concern a negative impact on biodiversity and a significant change of native ecosystems (e. g. increased N-cycling by enhanced decomposition or N-fixation leading to eutrophication, depletion of soil nutrients, change in the water budget, increase in fire risk). The processes behind this can mainly be attributed to four impact classes following the unified classification of alien species according to their environmental impact, i.e. competition, hybridisation, disease transmission and chemical, physical or structural impact on the ecosystem. In addition, the presence of NNT may alter food- webs and cause outbreaks of native herbivores. While we cannot provide a full list of NNT that are perceived as invasive or harmful in one region or the other, we may claim that species with N-fixing ability and particularly strong resprouting ability receive the most attention from invasion biologists and nature conservationists in Europe, i.e. black locust, several species of Acacia sp., tree of heaven, black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) and in addition Eucalypt species on the Iberian Peninsula. But changes attributed to the occurrence of NNT also depend on the ecosystem that the NNT forest is compared with—whether it is a (near-) natural forest system, a native species plantation or any non-forest ecosystem like a grassland. Obviously, changes will be highest if compared with non-forest ecosystems (e.g. out-shading of the herbal layer), but here the tree species identity only makes a minor difference and thus effects of grassland colonisation by trees cannot be attributed to non-natives in particular. 1. (e) Is it possible that trees of same species have different response to light conditions at different ages? Vegetation with its biodiversity is a crucial part of the Earth Systems (soil, water, and atmosphere), offering essential services to both the ecosystem and human societies. Vegetation supports the functions of soil, which include decomposition, nutrient cycling, soil respiration, invasion resistance, and ecosystem stability. Soil biodiversity in turn provides many ecosystem services essential to mankind and the environment, such as the support of primary production, control of pests and diseases for man and his animals and crops, and the avoidance of environmental contamination through cycling of dead biomass. Also, soil biota plays a significant role in determining the soil physicochemical properties. Plants, in particular, play an important role in shaping soil profile with the diverse architecture of their root systems, being the center of soil-plant-microbial interactions.

Previous Years’ Paper (Solved)

For example, SLA (Specific Leaf Area) and biomass allocated to leaves have different responses to light condition at different ages. In other hand, in smaller trees, SLA decreased by increasing light availability but in bigger ones, it increased by increasing light availability. 2. (a) Cold deserts are characterized by cold winters with snowfall and large rainfalls widely during the winter and occasionally over the summer. They occur in areas with extremely high rainfall periods such as the Antarctic and Greenland and also the Nearctic realm. Most of the plants in cold deserts are low shrubs (a short bush like plant). Most cold desert shrubs are deciduous, but some are partially deciduous, meaning they lose part but not all of their leaves each year. Deciduous plants lose their leaves in dry and cold deserts due to drought, but in cold deserts the low temperatures also cause these plants to lose their leaves. Sagebrush, which only grows to a height of about 1/2 to 4 feet (15 cm to 120 cm), is one of the dominant plants in cold deserts. In some areas as much as 85 percent of the surface is covered with sagebrush, while other cold desert surfaces have only a small percentage. The soil of cold deserts tends to be salty. Rainwater washes mineral deposits down from the surrounding land, and when the water evaporates, it leaves these minerals behind in the soil. The world’s largest salt flat is located in the Iranian desert, and the Bonneville Salt Flats and Great Salt Lake are located in the Great Basin desert. There are no plants growing in regions with very high salt concentrations. But surrounding these areas is generally a region of plants, including creosote bush and salt grass, then a narrow belt of shrubs, including greasewood and finally sagebrush. Plants growing in salty soil of cold deserts have to be xerophytes (plants that are adapted to growing in dry conditions), halophytic (plants that are tolerant of salts in the soil), and have adaptations for the cold. The desert saltbush is such a plant. This shrub has tiny evergreen leaves that appear gray due to deposits of salt that are excreted (given off) by the plant onto the surface of the leaves. This release of salt by the plant prevents the buildup of salt in the plant. The salt crystals also help to keep the plant cool by reflecting sunlight. The climate of Antarctica does not allow extensive vegetation. A combination of freezing temperatures, poor soil quality, lack of moisture, and lack of sunlight inhibit plant growth. As a result, the diversity of plant life is very small and limited in distribution. The flora of the continent largely consists of bryophytes (there are about 100 species of mosses and 25 species of liverworts), with only two species

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of flowering plants, both found in the Antarctic Peninsula: Deschampsia antarctica (Antarctic hair grass) and Colobanthus quitensis (Antarctic pearlwort). Growth generally occurs in the summer, and only for a few weeks at most. Deserts plants have many adaptations to survive in such a dry environment. They are good at storing and finding water. Some plants have seeds that can stay dormant in the sand for a long time, until there is enough rain for them to grow. In hot deserts, you’ll often find Cacti. Cacti are great at storing water. With their waxy coating, water can’t escape and their spines protect them from being desert dinner. Their roots are shallow, and widely spread so that any rain can be absorbed immediately! Some other plants you might find in the hot desert are creosote bush, sagebrush, and ocotillo. Coastal deserts house a variety of plants. These plants must adapt to minimal rainfall by having extensive root systems that come up to the surface to absorb any possible rainfall, and go far down to absorb any water saturated in the ground. These plants also have very thick leaves that can absorb and store water whenever it is available. The plants that live in coastal deserts include salt bush, rice grass, black sage and chrysothamnus. Plants can even live in cold deserts, but you won’t find as many here as in other types of deserts. Plants in cold deserts include algae, grasses, and plants with spiny thin leaves. Usually these plants grow only in the summer. The dominant plants of the cold deserts are low stature shrubs and herbaceous plants. Algae, grasses, plants with spiny thin leaves are some of the examples of plants found in cold deserts. The spiny thin leaves help to prevent the evaporation of water in the cold deserts. The plants in the cold desert are saltbush, black sage, rice grass, and Chrysothamnus. 2. (b) Phenology, silvicultural characters and regeneration methods of Gmelina arborea and Pinus roxburgii (i) Gmelina arborea Linn. Family: Verbenaceae Local names: Gamar, gamari, khamari Description: A moderate sized or large deciduous tree; bark grey or brownish white, exfoliating in small scales. Stem rather irregular, but cylindrical. Bark light grey coloured exfoliating in light coloured patches when old. Leaves opposite, broadly ovate or cordate, entire or dentate (toothed margin), having two glands at the junction of the petiole. Flowers in a terminal yellowish, tomentose panicle; corolla brownish yellow. Distribution: Found in the mixed plains forest. Seed: Seed time in Northern Bengal is second week of April to end-May, and in Southern Bengal May to

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Previous Years’ Paper (Solved)

second week of June. 1 kg of fruit yields 62 gms of clean seeds; 12500 seeds weigh 1 kg. Fruits are collected from the clean swept forest floor. Brown fruits are the best; black and green fruits should not be collected. Fruits are heaped under shade or buried in pits for 4-5 days for the pulp to rot, which is washed off with water. Seeds are dried in the sun for 2-3 days. Germination percent varies widely from 13% to 90%. Propagation Artificial regeneration – Gamar can be raised artificially by direct sowing, planting out nursery raised seedlings or stump planting. Seeds can be dibbled direct in lines 15 cm apart and 10-20 cm apart in the lines. The species is not tried pure, and rather put out in mixture with other species of comparable growth. In order to do planting with nursery stock, seeds are sown in drills in nursery beds; shading is not necessary. Beds are regularly watered and weeded; germination starts in 2-3 weeks. Seedlings are pricked out to polypots, and planted out in the second rains after pruning the stem. Tending: Weeding is very important in the first two years. Besides, the seedlings also need cleaning/ thinning from the third year. Heavy D-grade thinning is normally recommended as it is a strong light demander. Injury/Damage: Seedlings are hardy against drought and frost. But the regeneration is prone to following damage:  Seeds are eaten away by squirrel;  Saplings are browsed by deer and cattle;  Attack by boring insects and white ants;  Attack by the parasitic plant Loranthus;  Attack by fungi. General: Gamar coppices well. It is advisable to grow it in mixed rather than pure plantations. The wood is yellowish white, strong, light, and is easily worked and does not warp. Wood is used for various purposes, namely, planking, furniture, cabinet work, paneling, agricultural implements etc. It is one of the best of the lower hill timbers. The wood is particularly suitable for match sticks, inside boxes and peeling purposes.

Fig. Gmelina arborea

(ii) Pinus roxburgii Local Name: Chir Trade Name: Chir Pine Scientific Name: Pinus roxburghii It is the most conspicuous and important constituent of sub-tropical Himalayan pine forests. Chir Forest occupies generally between 3000-5500 Elevation.

Fig. Pinus roxburgii Description  The crown is rounded.  Needles are in three, 20 to 30 cm long.  The bole is straight and erect.  It is light-demander.  Ripe cone appears during April-May.  Open and shed seed in hot and dry weather.  Cones are collected in March-April.  Fair seed year occurs every 2-3 years.  A good seed year once in 4 or 5 years.  Seed is winged.  No. of seed in each cone 40-50.  Seed weight varies from 8800 to 12,500 Kg.  Seeds retain viability for one year.  Germination capacity of fresh seed is 75-85%.  Natural Regeneration occurs readily on bare mineral soils.  It is frost hardy and fire resistant.  This is considered a fast-growing tree. 3  Yields of 7 to 14 m /Ra/year are recorded on sites of different quality. Periodic Blocks: The entire crop is divided into four period blocks PB. I, II, III, IV. PB I: (a) These areas comprise of a mature crop, which are prescribed for felling and regeneration. (b) Such area is of two kinds:  One in which felling has taken place  Other which is due for felling PB II: Comprises of a predominating middle-aged to mature crop which will be due for felling only after 25 to 30 years.

Previous Years’ Paper (Solved)

PB III: Consists of largely young to middle-aged crop in the age of 30 to 60 years. PB IV: Composed of a young crop in the age of 1 to 30 years. Fellings in Periodic Block I Areas: Fellings in these areas are carried out in two phases:(a) Seeding felling (b) Final felling (a) Seeding feedings:  About 20 to 30 trees per hectare are retained as seed bearers. Their number is more on southern and warmer aspects.  Uniform spacing of these seed bearers is ensured.  While selecting seed bearers, middle-aged, healthy trees are preferred.  Compact groups of regeneration up to 20 cm diameter, having a minimum area of 0.25 hectare are retained as a part of future crop.  Suitable gaps are created in the canopy so as to induce regeneration. (b) Final Fellings:  These fellings are undertaken only when the seedlings have attained a height of about 4 meters.  All seed bearers are removed during final fellings.  Certain seed bearers may have to be retained as a safety measure in patches where regeneration is not upto the mark.  Before felling; the trees are lopped so as to minimize damage to the young crop.  Care is also taken to avoid damage to the regeneration, during extraction operations.  During final fellings, all unhealthy poles, saplings and seedlings with stunted growth shall also the removed. Subsidiary Silvicultural Operations  All unfit and inferior trees are removed.  The felling debris is cut up, collected in heaps in places where it will cause least damage and subsequently burnt.  Weeding, bush cutting and cleaning operations are carried out as required.  The existing Natural Regeneration may have to be supplemented by planting seedlings.  All areas under the process of Regenera-tion are closed to grazing/browsing for a period of 10 to 15 years.  If required, light thinnings are carried out in PB III & PB IV areas. Natural Regeneration  In nature, seed falls April to June.

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Seed bearers are healthy and suitably spaced about 20 – 25 meter apart. The area is protected against fire, grazing/browsing and careless grass cutting for 10 to 15 years. Young seedlings are well weeded and cleaned. 20 to 30 seed bears are retained per hectare.

2. (c) Selection system is defined as a silvicultural system in which felling and regeneration are distributed over the whole of the area and the resultant crop is so uneven aged that trees of all ages are found mixed together over every part of the area. Basic feature  Felling distributed over the whole area.  Resultant crops are completely uneven aged.  The regeneration operations are carried out the life of the crop and thinning are done simultaneously for improving the growth and form of the trees. Pattern of felling  Selection system follows nature in respect of its pattern of felling. Scattered single mature trees are selected all over the area and felled to enable regeneration to replace them.  Regeneration appears in small groups because of periodicity in seed years and age classes are found in small groups.  Felling of scattered trees all over the area of a forest is possible when the area is small.  In large area forest is divided into coupes which create certain interval in felling of specific area know as felling cycle.  Felling cycle is defined as the time that elapses between successive main felling on the same area.  The length of the felling cycle affects the silviculture of species, exploitation of forests and the nature of crop produced. Example –felling of 2% of growing stock in 10 years rotation would result removal of 20% of the growing stock in the coupe. Base on felling system it can be divided into two categories: 1. Ideal selection system— selection from whole area each year. 2. Periodic selection system—selection carried out over only a part of the forest each year. Conduct of felling  Dead, dying, diseased, decay and deformed.  Undesirable species. Immature tree to balance different age class.  Mature tree (above exploitable diameter) Mode of regeneration: Natural regeneration, artificial regeneration has to be accepted in some cases.

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Previous Years’ Paper (Solved)

which could expose remote indigenous communities to the virus. Areas that are economically dependent on tourism face reduced resources as tourism has come to a halt, resulting in a rise in bushmeat (wild meat) consumption in Africa. Meanwhile, illegal mining for gold and precious stones in Latin America and Africa is on the rise, as prices spike and protected areas are left unguarded. From a public health perspective, the climate crisis is increasing the spread of certain diseases and complicating efforts to combat others. Seasonality and weather are two of the major factors that control the rate at which viruses such as the flu infect humans. Although scientists are currently uncertain how climate breakdown will impact the spread of COVID19, research predicts that rising global temperatures will alter the timing, distribution and severity of future disease outbreaks. COVID-19 pandemic remains a threat to biodiversity conservation through tourism revenue loss in PAs. The financial loss affects the budget, population monitoring/assessment programs, and job loss to negative human behaviour that drives human-wildlife conflicts and natural resources destruction.

Tending: Weeding and clearing Character of the crop produced: Absolutely uneven aged. Advantages of selection system  Full use of site factors.  Conserves soil and moisture to the fullest extent possible.  Most resistant to injuries by insect pests and adverse climatic factors.  Prevent invasion of grass and weeds.  Sufficient seed bearers for natural regeneration.  Produce more growing stock and large size tree per unit area.  Best system of producing large size tree.  Forest is superior biologically as well as in its aesthetic and scenic values. Disadvantages of selection system  Considerable skill is required for regeneration felling.  Cost of logging and extraction is higher.  Felling, logging and extraction results in damage to the young crop.  Quality of young crop might be low.  Difficult to control grazing and fire in regeneration area.  Success or failure of regeneration is difficult to assess.  Growing stock progressively degenerates with every felling. Condition of application  Topography  Catchments area  Low accessible area  Market requirement  Silvicultural consideration Application: This is very common and traditional practice of forest management.

5. (b) Joint Forest Management (JFM) is a system in which forestry departments and local communities share both responsibilities related to forest management and benefits in terms of the proceeds. The critical factor in its success is the resolution of conflicts between state (forest manager) and local communities and of conflicts within and between communities. JFM is an attempt to forge a partnership between the forestry department and local communities based on common management objectives. Under JFM, communities share both responsibilities related to forest management and benefits in terms of the proceeds. The critical factor in the success of JFM is the resolution of conflicts between state (forest manager) and local communities and of conflicts within and between communities.

5. (a) Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Environment and Biodiversity: There is a misperception that nature is “getting a break” from humans during the COVID19 pandemic. Instead, many rural areas in the tropics are facing increased pressure from land grabbing, deforestation, illegal mining and wildlife poaching. People who have lost their employment in cities are returning to their rural homes, further increasing the pressure on natural resources while also increasing the risk of COVID-19 transmission to rural areas. Meanwhile, there are reports of increased deforestation in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Illegal miners and loggers are encroaching on indigenous territories,

5. (c) Conservation Authorities rely on an Integrated Watershed Management (IWM) approach to protect water resources and address escalating environmental challenges from the impacts of climate change and rapid urbanization. Our activities on the land impact the health and sustainability of natural resources and can threaten how much water remains available, as well as, how well we can adapt to the impacts of climate change. IWM is an approach that requires us to manage human activities and natural resources, together, on a watershed basis taking into consideration the connected interests and needs of the environment, economy and society.

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5. (d) Soil organic matter (SOM) is generally assumed to be important to forest productivity, but its direct influence has been difficult to clearly demonstrate. SOM has a myriad of interactions with other soil properties, and levels of SOM depend on plant factors such as productivity and litter chemistry, and on environmental factors such as temperature and water. SOM is thus both cause and effect with respect to productivity. Additionally, SOM is inversely related to productivity where conditions such as low temperatures or reduced aeration are adverse for both plant growth and for microbial activity, and SOM accumulates. Conventional experimental methods are unlikely to provide a wholly inclusive general demonstration of the effects of SOM on forest productivity because the relationship is complex and site-specific. In spite of that caveat, circumstantial evidence indicates that SOM positively affects longterm forest productivity, with its specific role and contribution depending on the limiting site factors. In coarse-textured soils, SOM is important for retaining water and for supplying and retaining nutrients. As soils become finer, those roles become less important but its role in promoting favourable soil physical properties increases. Forest management practices can alter the amount and type of SOM, but because inherent soil or site characteristics sometimes compensate for or mitigate the effects of SOM change, the direct impacts on productivity may be equivocal. Nonetheless, because of the strong ties of SOM to a wide range of soil properties and functions across soil textures, most prudent forest management regimes should maintain or enhance SOM levels. The particular role and contribution of SOM to productivity vary greatly, however, depending on limiting environmental factors. In coarse-textured soils, SOM is clearly important for retaining water and for supplying and retaining nutrients. As soils become finer, with more silt and clay, the roles of SOM in nutrient and water become less important but its role in promoting soil physical properties that are conducive to root growth increases. The effects of managementinduced changes in SOM on forest productivity also depend on the initial amount of SOM. Although inherent properties of the mineral soil may compensate for or mitigate the effects of SOM loss on some sites, the importance of SOM to long-term site productivity has been demonstrated across the full range of mineral soil textures. Because of the strong ties of SOM to a wide range of soil properties and functions, prudent forest management policies should consider the implications of practices on SOM, and in most cases should be designed to maintain or enhance SOM levels.

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5. (e) Crops planted under forest, orchard, or other trees are called “understory crops.” Understory crops can be vines, shrubs, herbaceous plants, or shorter trees. When integrated with tree crops, they can provide earlier returns and diversify farm yields. Understory cropping systems can also make more efficient use of land, labour, and resources, while increasing the total productivity of an area. However, combining understory crops with tree crops is complex, and requires careful planning. The needs of the species to be planted should be well understood, as well as the effect each species will have on the other species in the system. Planning helps to avoid problems, minimize risks, and maximize benefits in crop combinations. The understory is a unique environment, involving more than just shade. Shade influences air temperature, humidity, soil temperature, soil moisture content, wind movement, and more. These factors impact plants.  Reduces evapotranspiration (evaporation of water through the leaves and branches of the plant), conserving moisture in the plants and reducing water use.  Buffers crops from temperature extremes and fluctuations.  Protects crops from winds.  Suppresses many invasive problem weeds, which tend to prefer open conditions and full sun.  Supports a range of beneficial soil microlife that do not thrive in the open. 6. (a) If you’ve ever taken a walk in a forest, you know how rewarding that experience can be. Imagine you’re in a forest right now. Can you hear the wind blowing through the leaves and the songs of birds? Do you feel like you’ve become a part of something bigger than yourself? Forests play a symbolic role in many of humanity’s oldest stories. They are often a place of transformation, mystery, and even danger. In folk tales, trees can take on a life of their own, providing a connection between the physical and spiritual realms. Tragically, the world’s forests face many threats such as deforestation and man-made climate change.  Forests create oxygen: Trees are nature’s recycling machines. They take carbon dioxide and transform it into oxygen. On average, two mature trees produce enough oxygen for a family of four every year. If we don’t protect our forests, we’re endangering our own lives and the lives of everything that needs oxygen to survive. By itself, the Amazon rainforest is responsible for about 6% of the oxygen created by photosynthetic organisms. (2119) Forestry PP 2021—2

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Forests filter the air and reduce pollution: Trees don’t only create oxygen from carbon dioxide, they’re also natural filters. They remove air pollutants like carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. Using their “stomata,” which are essentially pores, trees absorb all kinds of gases and particles, filtering them from the air. Forest conservation can play an important role in reducing air pollution around the world. Forests provide food security: Besides the nuts, berries, fruits, mushrooms, and seeds that humans eat, the forest supports a huge variety of animal life we also depend on for food. Without forests, these animals would die, leaving us with significantly limited options. There are already people in the world struggling with food insecurity because of deforestation. Forests help reduce climate change: Carbon dioxide is one of the greenhouse gases that drive climate change. Trees reduce the amount that’s released into the atmosphere. As a result, forests cool the environment around them. In cities where it tends to be hotter, green spaces can help keep down the heat. If natural systems like forests were protected and restored, they could help the world get 1/3 of the way closer to meeting our climate change mitigation goals by 2030. On the other hand, destroying forests accounts for 15% of all greenhouse emissions. Forests are an important part of the water cycle: With their roots, trees pull water from the earth and release it back into the atmosphere. Especiallylarge forests create their own climates and can trigger rainfall. This is especially important in areas vulnerable to drought. Forest watersheds also provide clean drinking water, acting as a natural water collection, filtration, and storage system. Forests protect crops from wind: The wind is a powerful force. Especially-strong winds can destroy crops, while constant wind causes plants to lose more water thanks to evaporation. In certain areas, the dust and debris blown around by wind can hurt plants, as well. Trees can block these dangerous winds and protect valuable crops. Forests prevent soil erosion: Soil erosion has dangerous consequences. It causes the loss of fertile land, leads to increased pollution in streams and rivers, and harms the animal population. Flooding, dust storms, and mudslides are also common in areas with high soil erosion. Trees reduce soil erosion by anchoring the soil with their roots. The leaves and branches that fall from trees also help keep rainfall from washing soil away.

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Forests provide medicine: Throughout history, people have known forests have healing powers. There are several types of trees known for their medicinal properties, like the moringa tree. Extracts have shown antibiotic and antibacterial properties. The compounds in the original form of aspirin came from a tree, while two chemotherapy drugs are based on chemicals extracted from the Pacific yew tree. There are countless other examples of trees creating or inspiring medicine development. Forests support biodiversity: Bio-diversity is very important for the health of our planet. When species are threatened and go extinct, it disrupts the ecosystem. This sets off a chain reaction that makes life much more difficult for every living thing, including humans. Forests provide perfect environments for a wide variety of creatures. Experts estimate that between 3-50 million species make the tropical rainforest their home. Of the world’s total terrestrial biodiversity, the forest contains 80%. People depend on forests: Over 1.5 billion people depend on forest resources for their livelihoods. These resources provide food, fuel, medicine, shelter, and more. Forests are also essential as a backup plan for when crops don’t do well. According to the World Wildlife Fund, 300 hundred million people live in forests. If these forests were gone, it would cause poverty to skyrocket and create millions of refugees.

6. (b) Common Problems of Social Forestry and Effective Strategies to Overcome these Problems  Social forestry was conceived as people centered program. A program to empower poor people for the fuel wood, fodder and other timber needs. But it actually became a government program and the program of the forest department.  People’s participation was the major causality and it was realized later on that people’s participation cannot be achieved through bureaucratic structure.  There had been a neglect of land use policy especially for the forest lands, revenue lands and community lands and the price for this had been paid by the poor.  Different administrative jurisdictions of land have led to property and custodial approaches to land use policies, irrespec-tive of their best use and contribution to social welfare.  There is a lack of appropriate policy regarding access of land for afforestation purposes. Deformed act and laws hindered rather than motivate people, resulted in vested interest controlling social forestry

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program. Instead of fuel wood and fodder, social forestry has largely provided raw materials to paper, pulp and building industry by passing rural poor.  The structure of marketing arrangements and pricing of minor fodder produce has been totally ignored in comparison of production efforts under social forestry program. The forest cooperatives which have once played a significant role have now been disappeared.  The employment programs under anti-poverty schemes have specific target provision to cover forest development work which could be easily linked to social forestry program. Such linkage is missing due to lack of coordination among government departments.  Social forestry programs did not involve the women who had to collect the fuel for the family every day. It has also not involved the tribals who are deeply interested in promotion and protection of forests. Constraints in obtaining people’s participation in social forestry  Antipathy to trees.  Credit schemes, market support measures and tax rules.  Lack of appropriate technology.  Lacking of appropriate policies and public awareness.  Lacking of suitable organization.  Most people show future ignoring behaviour.  Small size of holdings and land ownership.  Social forestry generates common property resource. Social forestry can be defined as a develop-ment strategy of professional foresters and other development organizations with the aim of stimulating active involvement of local people in small-scale, diversified forest management activities as a means to improve the livelihood conditions of these people. Legal regimes such as involvement of the species in CITES, cultivation, sustainable harvesting, social forestry programs with community participatory management, etc. are important initiatives needed for the conservation and sustainable utilization of the species. 6. (c) Agroforestry systems in India include both traditional and modern land use systems and have significant potential and use in many aspects like provides employment to rural as well as urban population through production, processing and value addition. According to an estimate, one hectare of the plantation in wood-based industries create about 450 man employment, thus, 30 million hectare has the potential

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to create approximately 15,000 million man-days of employment besides creating job opportunities in wood based value chain. According to Forest survey of India (2017); current forest and tree cover in country is 79.42 million hectare which is 24.39% of the total geographical area, but as per the National Forest Policy (1988) one third of country’s geographical area must be under forest and tree cover. However, unfortunately, we have still a shortage of approximately 9% and, there is an urgent need for large-scale afforestation activities in the non-forest areas but it is very tough task for the developing countries like India. Perhaps, agroforestry is the only viable option to achieve the forest and tree cover to 33 per cent of total geographical area of country. According to CAFRI by 2050, there is a scope of increasing the area under agroforestry by another 28.0 million hectare and thus a total of 53.23 million hectare or 17.5 per cent of country reported area under agroforestry. Most of this area will come from fallows, cultivable fallows, groves, degraded and wasteland and have the potential to change fortunes of small and marginal farmers and rural people by providing the resources to meet livelihood and food security along with the economic growth in the region. Agroforestry, the integration of woody perennials with farming systems, has been practiced in India since time immemorial as a tradition land use system because it offers both economically and ecologically viable option to farmers and rural people community for large-scale diversification in agriculture to get supplement fuel, fodder, fruits and fibers on one hand and environment amelioration on the other hand. Despite Agroforestry’s huge potential in India, the adoption rates are still low because there are several challenges that reap the benefits of agroforestry like shortage of superior planting material, insufficient research, lack of market infrastructure, cumbersome and frustrating legislation in respect of tree felling, wood transportation, processing. The adoption of National Agroforestry policy by the government of India in 2014 expected to remove these challenges as well as increases the farm productivity and the livelihood of the small and marginal farmers substantially in the future. Agroforestry is the key path to prosperity for farmers and rural people, leading to the generation of employment and revenue; food and nutritional security; meeting the other basic human needs on the sustainable basis and cushioning farmers from the harshness of climate change. Agroforestry creates more integrated, diverse, productive, profitable, healthy, sustainable land use systems and only option

About the Book This immensely valuable book of Previous Years’ Solved Papers of Forestry has been specially published for the aspirants of Indian Forest Service (IFS) Main Exam. The book is highly recommended for the aspirants to improve their problem solving skills with speed and accuracy, and help them prepare well by practising through these papers to face the exam with Confidence, Successfully.

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