Forest resources

 Forest is an important natural resource.

 It is most important natural habitat for Wild life.
 Forest vary in composition and diversity and can Contribute
Substantially to the economic development of any country.
 Plants along with trees cover large area, produce variety of
products and provide food for living organisms, And also
important to save the environment.
 Forest Plays Most important role from commercial point of
view.
 Forest based on the cottage industries, Such as bee-
keeping, Bamboo mat and basket making provides small
scale industry to tribal people.
 Importance of forest Resources
 Forests are important renewable natural
resources. Our ecosystem is dominated by trees,
Their species-Content vary In different parts of the
world.
 By providing goods and services to the people and
industry.
 They play an important role in enhancing the
quality of environment by influencing the life
supporting system.
 Forests are Linked with our culture and civilisation.
 Forests also supply with chief products and minor
forests products.
 India has a very rich flora and fauna, much of
which is present in forest areas.
 Forests are also a major factor of environmental
concern, providing protection to wildlife, help in
balancing the gaseous cycles of atmosphere.
 Forests also have aesthetic and touristic values
and serve as gene reserve of important.
 Forest Cover in India
State percentage of forest area:
The following is the list of percentages
total area in a state occupied by forest,
1) Arunachal Pradesh 79%
2) Bihar 17%
3) Himachal Pradesh 48%
4) Haryana 2%
5) Punjab 2%
 6) Jammu and kashmir 61%
7) Rajasthan 4%
8) Tripura 50%
9) Uttar Pradesh 13%

Forest area in important countries

Present area for some important
countries of the world are given below:
 America 33%
 Burma 68%
 Japan 62%
 Sweden 56%
 Russia 44%
 Total area in the world 29.3%
 Functions of Forests
 Forests were the sole providers of natural resources for early
humans and continuous to support several indigenous
communities today.
 They manage the balance between carbon dioxide and
oxygen in the atmosphere.
 Forests shields the soil from erosion.
 They act as an ecosystem for the wide variety of flora and
funa.
 Helps to reduce noise pollution.
 Shield the surrounding areas from extreme weather
conditions.
 Controls the passage of heavy winds.
 Forests also restrict the sudden movement of flood water.
 Characteristics of forests
 Extensive, visible and open resources.
 Renewable resources.
 Forests are productive capital assets.
 Long time lags from seeding to full maturity.
 Forests are multi-functional.
 Forests are both ecosystem and production
system.
 Geographical and biological varieties.
 Long rotation times.
 Uses of the forests
Commercial Values :
 Forests are main source of many commercial
products such as wood, timber, pulpwood etc.
 Forests can provide food, fibre, edible oils
and drugs.
 Forest lands are also used for agriculture and
grazing.
 Forest is important source of development of
dams, recreation and mining.
Life and economy of tribal :
Forests provide food, medicine and other
products needed for the Tribal people and play a vital
role in the life and economy of tribes living in the
forest.
Ecological uses :
Forests are habitat to all wild animals, plants
and support millions of species. They help in
reducing global warming caused by green house
gases and produces oxygen upon photosynthesis.
 Forest can act as pollution purifier by absorbing
toxic gases.
 Forests also helps to regulate the hydrological
cycle.
 Aesthetic values :
 Forests have a greatest aesthetic value.
 Forest provide opportunity for recreation and
ecosystem research.
 Over exploitation of forests

Forests contribute Substantially to the national

economy. with increasing population increased demand of
fuel wood,expansion of area under Urban Development and
industries has lead to over exploitation of forest.At present
International level we are losing forest at the rate of 1.7
crore hectares annually. Over exploitation also occurs due
to overgrazing and conversion of forest to pastures and
domestic use.
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