Collect information on endangered species of plants (any five) animals (any five) in our country. Make tabulor record including name of the species, scientific name, location where it is found, threats to the species and any special feature mentioned. – Maharashtra State Board Class 11 Environmental Studies (EVS) project topic and guidance.
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Project 17 : Collect information on endangered species of plants (any five) animals (any five) in our country. Make tabulor record including name of the species, scientific name, location where it is found, threats to the species and any special feature mentioned. is an officially approved project topic in the Maharashtra State Board Class 11 Environmental Studies and Water Security curriculum. This comprehensive study equips students with practical field methodologies, ecological analysis, and empirical data required for securing an 'A' grade in school/junior college internal assessments.
Environmental Education and Water Security emphasizes sustainable development through scientific investigation. The practical documentation provided below covers the core findings, observations, and policy measures needed for comprehensive academic evaluation.
Aim of the Study: To document and compile a rigorous tabular record of five critically endangered plant species and five endangered animal species of India, detailing their habitats, anthropogenic threats, and conservation needs.
Literature survey of Botanical Survey of India (BSI) and Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) publications, IUCN Red List databases, Wildlife Protection Act 1972 schedules, and CITES appendices.
This scientific investigation conforms strictly to Maharashtra State Board practical guidelines, incorporating primary survey data, empirical observations, and practical field documentation.
The following empirical observation matrix demonstrates standard data collection parameters, field measurements, and recorded outcomes for this project study:
| Species (Common & Scientific) | Type & IUCN Status | Geographic Distribution | Key Threats Faced | Special / Distinctive Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) | Fauna (Critically Endangered) | Thar Desert (Rajasthan), Kutch (Gujarat), Solapur (MH) | Collision with overhead power lines, agricultural expansion | One of the heaviest flying birds on Earth; flagship indicator of healthy grassland ecosystems. |
| Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) | Fauna (Vulnerable / Endangered) | High Himalayas (Ladakh, HP, Uttarakhand, Sikkim) | Poaching for pelts, retaliatory herder killings, prey decline | Thick smoky-grey fur and massive long tail used for thermal insulation and steep balance. |
| Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) | Fauna (Critically Endangered) | Chambal, Girwa, and Son river basins | Riverbed sand mining, dam construction, fishing net entanglement | Long narrow snout with ghara at the tip; specialist fish predator, harmless to humans. |
| Hangul / Kashmir Stag (Cervus hanglu) | Fauna (Critically Endangered) | Dachigam National Park (Kashmir Valley) | Habitat fragmentation, poaching, livestock disease transmission | Magnificent 10 to 12-tined antlers; state animal of Jammu & Kashmir. |
| Lion-tailed Macaque (Macaca silenus) | Fauna (Endangered) | Tropical evergreen forests of Western Ghats | Habitat loss due to tea/coffee estates, road fragmentation | Striking silver-white mane surrounding face; strictly arboreal frugivore. |
| Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) | Flora (Endangered) | Seshachalam & Veligonda Hills (Andhra Pradesh) | Illegal felling and international smuggling for heartwood | Dense, deep red timber that sinks in water; highly prized for furniture and acoustics. |
| Sarpagandha (Rauvolfia serpentina) | Flora (Endangered) | Moist deciduous forests of Western Ghats & Terai | Over-harvesting of wild roots by pharmaceutical industries | Source of alkaloid reserpine used for treating hypertension and mental disorders. |
| Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes khasiana) | Flora (Endangered) | Khasi and Garo Hills (Meghalaya) | Habitat destruction, road construction, over-collection by tourists | Indias only native carnivorous pitcher plant; traps insects to obtain scarce nitrogen. |
| Coptis teeta (Mishmi Teeta) | Flora (Endangered) | Sub-alpine forests of Arunachal Pradesh | Destructive commercial harvesting of bitter rhizomes | Valued in traditional Chinese and tribal medicine for fever and intestinal cures. |
| Beddome Cycad (Cycas beddomei) | Flora (Critically Endangered) | Tirumala Hills (Eastern Ghats, Andhra Pradesh) | Forest fires, clearing for agriculture, pharmaceutical trade | Ancient living fossil plant with immense evolutionary value dating back to dinosaur era. |
The field study and investigation of Project 17 focuses on the following key environmental observations and highlights:
A comprehensive analysis of Project 17 reveals crucial insights regarding endangered wildlife and local ecological resilience. By examining empirical data collected in the field, students understand the direct impact of human activity on ecosystems and learn practical conservation strategies applicable to Maharashtra's local environment.
Every species lost is an irreplaceable masterpiece of millions of years of biological evolution. Conserving endangered species preserves ecological web stability, protects unique genetic resources for future medicines, and fulfills our ethical duty to share the planet with all living beings.
To secure full marks (30/30) in your internal project evaluation, structure your handwritten project file in the following official order:
A species is endangered when its population has declined by over 50 to 70 percent within 10 years, its geographic range is severely fragmented, or fewer than 2,500 mature individuals remain in the wild.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species is the world most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species.
Red Sanders heartwood possesses rich red color, high acoustic resonance, and medicinal value, fetching exorbitant prices in international luxury furniture and traditional craft markets.
Centrally sponsored government conservation programs designed to safeguard the habitats and populations of these iconic apex predators.
Species placed in Schedule I of the Act receive the highest level of legal protection, with severe mandatory prison terms and penalties for hunting or trading.