Forest Resources

Module 1- Resources

Chapter 2-Forest resource

4. Importance of forests

Forest is one of the very important resource available on earth surface. Their importance can be listed as :

1. They contribute sustainability to the economic development of a country

2. Forest is the essential source of livelihood and fuel for tribal people

3. Forest is the habitat for wild life

4. Forest give us a number of commodities like wood, timber, fruits, nuts,honey, spices, drugs, herbs, sandal, bamboo, silk, animal skin etc. etc.

    Raw materials for cosmetics, soap etc.

    Tanning materials like dyes, gums, resins, lac, wax etc.

5. Act as Oxygen factory

As trees convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, forest maintain the oxygen level in the atmosphere

6. Reduce the global warming effect

Trees absorb the CO2 which is one of the green house gas causing global warming, Thus forest helps to reduce the global warming

7. Reduce the effects of draught

As forests increase local precipitation, regulate the hydrological cycle and act as storage tank of underground water, it reduce the effects of draught. soil erosion and its after effects.

5. Cause and effect of deforestation

Deforestation is the large scale removal of forests

Causes of deforestation

1. Converting forest land to agricultural land,  dam cite, industrial or housing land

2. Felling trees for industrial purpose,  fire wood etc.

3. Overgrazing of cattle in the forest land

4. Forest fire

Effects of deforestation

The after effects of deforestation are:

1. Global warming

Increase in carbon dioxide and air pollutants contribute to global warming

2. Soil erosion, land slide and flood

In absence of trees, soil get washed away with rain water easily and its after effects like river sedimentation,  loss of fertility of land, land slide and flood occurred

3. Draught

Decrease in rainfall and under ground water storage enhance draught and its after effects like crop failure and famine

4. Loss of habitat for wild life and subsequent extinction of some of the species of flora and fauna

5. Lack of availability of forest commodities adversely effect the economy of the country and increase of living expenses

6. Tribal people are adversely affected as they depend forests for their livelihood and fuel

6. Global warming

Temperature of our planet earth is go on getting increased in every year. Increased Deforestation, burning of fossil fuels,  air conditioning and refrigeration system, industrialization, modern agricultural practices etc.  contribute to global warming.

The heat of the sun rays reflect back to into the space after touching the earth surface. The green house gases like CO2, CFC (chloro-fluro carbon), methane etc. will absorb this heat and hold it in the atmosphere which causes the elevated atmosphere temperature. This is the reason for global warming.

The effects of global warming are:

1. Melting of ice in the polar caps, mountain glaciers ,rise of water level in the sea and other water bodies causes flood.
2. Extreme weather conditions like hottest summer and coldest winter, hurricane, lightening strikes etc.  are the after effects of global warming
3. Plants, animals and birds are being effected as it makes changes in the ecosystem, migratory patterns, wind and weather patterns

4. It will cause draught ,affect the human health and food security.