A successful forest conservation strategy should involve (d) a comprehensive program to protect all the physical and biological components.
Explanation:
A successful conservation strategy needs to address the entire ecosystem, including not just the animals at the top of the food chain, but also plants, insects, soil conditions, water quality, and other physical factors that contribute to the forest’s health and balance.
Why other options are incorrect:
(a) Protection of animals at the highest trophic level:
Focusing only on top predators might neglect the important role of other organisms in the ecosystem, such as herbivores, pollinators, and decomposers.
(b) Protection of only consumers:
Consumers rely on producers (plants) for food, so protecting only consumers without considering the plant population would lead to an imbalance.
(c) Protection of only herbivores:
Herbivores are important for maintaining plant populations, but their protection alone wouldn’t address the needs of the entire ecosystem.