Logical Reasoning Questions for CLAT | QB Set 30

The exploitation of forest resources due to uncontrolled and unsustainable practices has degraded forest landscapes.
The World Bank estimates that the world has lost about 10 million square kilometres of forests since the start of the 20th century. The emphasis on forest restoration approaches to bring such degraded ecosystems back to their earlier state was the main purpose of declaring the decade of 2021-2030 as a Decade of Ecosystem Restoration, by the United Nations. This has targeted the restoration of 350 million hectares of degraded land to generate $9 trillion in ecosystem services and sequester an additional 13 gigatons-26 gigatons of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

As one of the proven methods to support and sustain biodiversity, tree planting is an undisputed, most appealing and popular approach, and with spectacular potential, to address climate-related crises and other environmental challenges. This includes biological carbon sequestration as a mechanism to store and remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This is one reason to consider a mass-scale drive of tree planting as a silver bullet to tackle the challenges of climate change globally, by governmental and non-governmental organisations including individuals. Realising the indispensable role of trees in maintaining the ecological balance, the then Indian Agriculture Minister, K.M. Munshi, launched the Van Mahotsava (‘festival of trees’) programme in July 1950. Since then, India has been religiously celebrating this programme of tree planting, annually, in the first week of July. To some extent, these efforts have been successful not only in motivating people but also in bringing tangible results that include improving the forest area.

Fancy drives, catchy slogans
In recent years there has been a spurt in tree planting in the name of special drives by various agencies, including governments, which is a welcome sign for environmental conservation.

With catchy slogans, glamorous drives and headline-grabbing campaigns, these programmes of tree planting, both globally and at a national level, have attracted huge media attention and the involvement of people including various organisations to fulfil their objectives. Be it a single day of a planting drive in various Indian States, or the “One Trillion Project” of the World Economic Forum, the “Great Green Wall of China”, the “10 Billion Tree Tsunami” of Pakistan or the “Bonn Challenge” to restore 150 million hectares of degraded and deforested landscapes by 2020 and 350 million hectares by 2030, many of these drives may seem welcome. But they have been criticised for limited community participation, a lack of adequate post-planting measures and for promoting monoculture, thereby proving less effective for carbon sequestration and biodiversity development.

The problem with such drives
The neglect of ecology and biodiversity with little involvement of people in various tree planting drives has become a major concern for environmentalists and scientists in recent years. In a study led by Josef Jedwadm it was found that planting locations such as grasslands and animal habitat disturbs plant and animals inhabiting those ecosystems, increase wildfire intensity and exacerbate damage during drought. Similarly, William Bond and colleagues, in their study, expressed scepticism in considering tree plantations on degraded land and degraded forests as a panacea for tree planting by highlighting their relatively unproductive and biodiverse, and slow-growing nature.

Even when tree plantations do not fulfil the intended environmental outcomes, we have continued to undertake post-planting measures without adequate considerations. Such plantations are also found to be a major driver for provision for adequate species mix. Without such provisions these programmes are not supported by the government. Contrary to popular belief, tree planting only is not a cost-effective climate solution when compared to another more rewarding approach of restoration and other alternative low-cost approach such as tree islands which involves planting in small patches or islands.

India’s challenges
In 2023, in a joint address with United States President Joe Biden, the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, said at the White House that “India is the only G20 country that has fulfilled its commitments under the Paris Agreement”. And in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, in February 2024, the Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, said that “India has achieved an additional carbon sink of 1.97 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent”. In India, nearly 10 million hectares of its forests are under encroachment, nearly 2.5 crore people are dependent on forests for subsistence and nearly 5.7 million hectares of forest land have been lost for non-forestry purposes since Independence.

These are challenges that pose problems for India’s initiatives to restore 26 million hectares of degraded forests by 2030 and to improve forest cover using its tree planting drives.

India’s remarkable policy changes, in recent times, to tackle the huge threats of forestry and restoration approaches are also being affected by these inherent problems. In the background of the criticism of mass planting drives, we need to introspect these strategies, giving much required space to adequate financial allocations, people participation and technical considerations. These have not been given priority. Along with massive awareness campaigns, social media, and incentivised community participation, such reoriented interventions and strategies can help to bring changes in the ecological systems of our forests, and with increasing human pressure, can create resilient forests that have diverse capacities and capabilities.

Question -1)
Statement: The World Bank estimates that about 10 million square kilometers of forests have been lost since the start of the 20th century due to unsustainable practices.
Conclusion: Forest restoration efforts are essential to mitigate the damage caused by deforestation.

A. Only the statement is correct.
B. Only the conclusion is correct.
C. Both the statement and conclusion are correct.
D. Neither the statement nor the conclusion is correct.

Question -2)
Statement: The Van Mahotsava program in India, initiated in 1950, aims to celebrate the importance of tree planting annually.
Assumption: Mass tree planting drives alone are sufficient to restore degraded ecosystems.

A. Only the statement is correct.
B. Only the assumption is correct.
C. Both the statement and assumption are correct.
D. Neither the statement nor the assumption is correct.

Question -3)
Statement: The criticism of tree planting drives often includes concerns about their effectiveness in promoting biodiversity.
Inference: Government-led tree planting initiatives are typically more successful in achieving ecosystem restoration goals.

A. Only the statement is correct.
B. Only the inference is correct.
C. Both the statement and inference are correct.
D. Neither the statement nor the inference is correct.

Question -4)
Statement: Tree planting in grasslands and animal habitats can have unintended negative consequences.
Assumption: All tree planting initiatives are designed with careful consideration of their ecological impact.

A. Only the statement is correct.
B. Only the assumption is correct.
C. Both the statement and assumption are correct.
D. Neither the statement nor the assumption is correct.

Question -5)
Statement: The Bonn Challenge aims to restore 350 million hectares of degraded landscapes by 2030.
Evaluation: The Bonn Challenge has been criticized primarily for its lack of specific targets and measurable outcomes.

A. Only the statement is correct.
B. Only the evaluation is correct.
C. Both the statement and evaluation are correct.
D. Neither the statement nor the evaluation is correct.

Question -6)
Statement: India has faced challenges in achieving its forest restoration targets due to issues like encroachment and loss of forest land.
Relevance: These challenges have hindered India’s efforts to fully capitalize on its tree planting initiatives.

A. Only the statement is correct.
B. Only the relevance is correct.
C. Both the statement and relevance are correct.
D. Neither the statement nor the relevance is correct.