What are protected areas? Explain any one of them.

Explanation

They are biogeographical areas where biological diversity along with natural and cultural resources is protected, maintained and managed through legal or other effective measures e.g., cold desert of ladakh and spiti, hot desert of thar, welland of assam and N.E. state. protected area network includes national parks, wildlife sanctuaries , and biosphere reserves etc. sacred groves or sacred forests are traditional protected areas which serve as a refuge for a number of rare and endangered taxa.
1. National park.
2. Sanctuaries . A sanctuary is an area which is reserved for the conservation of wild animals only, operations such as harvesting of timber, collection o fminor forest products and private ownership rights are allowed so long as they do not affect the animals adversely. they are 41 sanctuaries in India. e.g., shikari devi sanctuary in Mandi (H.P) chilka lake bird sanctuary in Orissa.
Benefits of protected areas.
protection and management of important conponents of biodiversity helps in-
(a) Mantaining genetic diversity of the existing forms of life.
(b) it enable a special to survive and adapt to environment changes that serves as the basis of natural selection.
( c ) provides diversity of habitas, communities and ecosystems.
(d) prevents introduction of exotic species by man.