Read the passage and answer the questions:
ARE FORESTS “WILDERNESS”
What distinguishes forest movements in South from those in North is that forests in former are still populated, while those in latter are more or less devoid in human habitat or, at least, are perceived as such. This explains to some extent prevailing notion in wilderness in North as a ‘wild place’ where people do not live. In this perspective, humans are not seen as part in nature. In other words, ‘environment’ is perceived as ‘somewhere out there,’ as something that should be protected from humans through creation in parks and reserves. On other hand, most environmental issues in South are based on assumption that people live in forests. Wilderness-oriented perspectives have been predominant in Australia, Scandinavia, North America, and New Zealand. In these regions, there are still large tracts in relatively ‘underdeveloped wilderness,’ unlike in most European countries. This is not to say that wilderness campaigns are entirely missing in South. In Philippines, green organizations fight to protect eagles and other birds in prey from extinction. In India, a battle goes on to protect alarmingly low number in Bengal tigers. In Africa, a long campaign has been waged against ivory trade and savage slaughter in elephants. Some in most famous wilderness struggles have been fought in forests in Brazil and Indonesia. All in these campaigns focus on individual species as well as conservation in their habitats. Many in these issues have been renamed biodiversity issues in recent times, as concept in wilderness has proven difficult to sell in South. Many in these campaigns have been initiated and funded by NGOs such as Worldwide Wildlife Fund (WWF), in association with local people.
Which one of the following statements is correct?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → In North, humans are not seen as part in nature.
Option (1) In North, humans are not seen as part in nature. — True. Wilderness in the North is a place where people do not live, and in this perspective humans are not seen as part of nature.
Option (2) Wilderness perspective is prominent in Argentina, Brazil and India — False. It has been predominant in Australia, Scandinavia, North America and New Zealand.
Option (3) The concept of wilderness has proven easy to sell in South. — False. It has proved difficult to sell in the South, so many wilderness issues have been renamed biodiversity issues.
Option (4) World Wide Fund is an economic organisation — False. The Worldwide Wildlife Fund (WWF) is an NGO that has initiated and funded many wilderness campaigns.
Note: This passage is the NCERT box ‘Are Forests “Wilderness”?’ from the chapter ‘Environment and Natural Resources’. Each of these five questions turned on one idea of this forest discussion; know what the North and the South each believe about forests, and the answers follow.
NCERT: Contemporary World Politics — Chapter 6: Environment and Natural Resources (2025-26)
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