Q1. Which of the following is not a direct cause of deforestation?
- Shifting cultivation
- Hydroelectric projects
- Urbanization
- Photosynthesis
Correct Option: 4. Photosynthesis
Explanation: Photosynthesis is a natural process by which plants produce food and oxygen using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide. It has no role in deforestation. The other options—shifting cultivation, hydroelectric projects, and urbanization—are all human activities that lead to deforestation.
Q2. What is the main environmental effect of deforestation on the water cycle?
- Increase in evaporation
- Increase in groundwater recharge
- Decrease in rainfall and groundwater level
- Increase in snowfall
Correct Option: 3. Decrease in rainfall and groundwater level
Explanation: Forests recycle moisture through transpiration, which contributes to rainfall. Deforestation disrupts this cycle, leading to reduced precipitation and lowered groundwater levels due to increased runoff.
Q3. Which Indian government program aims at creating employment and combating land degradation?
- National Afforestation Program
- Green India Mission
- Integrated Watershed Management Program
- Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA)
Correct Option: 4. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA)
Explanation: MGNREGA provides employment through activities like afforestation, water conservation, and land development, thus also addressing land degradation and desertification.
Q4. According to the Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India (2021), what percentage of India’s total land area is undergoing degradation?
- 20.18%
- 29.07%
- 68%
- 35%
Correct Option: 2. 29.07%
Explanation: As per the Atlas published by ISRO, 97.58 million hectares or 29.07% of India’s total land area is undergoing degradation.
Q5. What is the practice of clearing and burning vegetation for farming called?
- Agroforestry
- Crop rotation
- Shifting cultivation
- Intensive farming
Correct Option: 3. Shifting cultivation
Explanation: Shifting cultivation involves clearing forest land by burning vegetation, using the area for a few years, and then abandoning it. This is a major cause of deforestation in many forested regions.