Forest, Grassland, and

Desert Ecosystems

CHAPTER 3
Environmental Studies, 2e

EnvironmentalStudies,
Environmental Studies,2e
2e
©©Oxford
OxfordUniversity
UniversityPress
Press2011
2011 All rights
All reserved
rights reserved
 Chapter Objectives

After studying this chapter, the reader should

be able to:
• Recall the factors that give rise to different kinds of
biomes in different regions
• Describe the main characteristics and importance of
tropical rain forests
• List the main features of temperate and coniferous
forests as well as the arctic tundra

Environmental Studies, 2e
© Oxford University Press 2011 All rights reserved
 Chapter Objectives (contd)
• Give an account of the forest cover in India based on
the Forest Survey.
• Appreciate the tremendous impact of human
activities and natural forces on the forests of the
world
• Describe the main characteristics of grasslands and
deserts
• Recall the ecological services provided by mountain
ecosystems

Environmental Studies, 2e
© Oxford University Press 2011 All rights reserved
 The Story of the Nilgiris
• Massive mountain range at the junction of the
Western and Eastern Ghats
• Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR) established in 1986
• Diverse flora and fauna
Destruction:
• Forests destroyed, replaced by plantations
• Frequent landslides
• Traditional ways of local tribals destroyed

Environmental Studies, 2e
© Oxford University Press 2011 All rights reserved
The story of the Nilgiris: Blue mountains in peril

Environmental Studies, 2e
© Oxford University Press 2011 All rights reserved
 Types of Biomes

• tropical rain forests

• temperate forests
• coniferous forests
• tundra
• grasslands
• deserts
• mountains

Environmental Studies, 2e
© Oxford University Press 2011 All rights reserved
 Forests in India

State of Forest Report 2009:

• Forest and tree cover about 78 million ha in 2007
(24% of the geographical area)
• Net increase of 0.18 million ha (0.23%) in the forest
and tree cover between 2005 and 2007.
• Increase in the forest cover of 3.13 million ha
(4.75%) between 1997 and 2007
• The seven north-eastern States of India have nearly
one-fourth of the country’s forest cover.

Environmental Studies, 2e
© Oxford University Press 2011 All rights reserved
 Impact of Human Activities on
Forests
• The clearing and burning of the forests result in:
• loss of biodiversity
• extinction of species
• soil erosion
• disturbance of the carbon cycle leading to global warming.
• landslides and floods
• increased siltation of rivers.
• Many forests affected by acid deposition originating
from industries.
• Harvesting of old growth forests destroys habitat
for endangered species.

Environmental Studies, 2e
© Oxford University Press 2011 All rights reserved
Human activities have a very adverse
impact on forests

Environmental Studies, 2e
© Oxford University Press 2011 All rights reserved
 Even
deserts are
affected
by human
activities

Environmental Studies, 2e
© Oxford University Press 2011 All rights reserved
 Impact of Human Activities on
Forests (contd)
• Pesticide spraying in forest plantations leads to
poisoning of the food chain and loss of species
• Dams built in forest areas drown huge areas,
destroying species and depriving people of their lands
• In wilderness areas like the Arctic, oil exploration
and military activities disrupt the ecosystem,
contaminate areas, and lead to the decline of species.

Environmental Studies, 2e
© Oxford University Press 2011 All rights reserved
 Mountain
ecosystems
provide vital
ecosystem
services, but
they are
facing severe
degradation

Environmental Studies, 2e
© Oxford University Press 2011 All rights reserved
 Keywords & Phrases of Chap.3

• biosphere reserve
• coniferous forest
• grassland
• precipitation
• rain forest
• savanna
• temperate forest
• tundra

Environmental Studies, 2e
© Oxford University Press 2011 All rights reserved
 Key Points of Chap.3
• Terrestrial biomes are determined by temperature and
precipitation.
• Forest ecosystems still cover a large area on land.
• Human beings have interfered in about 73% of land
• Tropical forests store the world’s biodiversity; they are
being destroyed rapidly.
• Forest ecosystems are experiencing serious ecological and
social problems.
• Deserts can be damaged easily and take very long to recover
from any disturbance.
• Mountains are unique ecosystems providing valuable services.

Environmental Studies, 2e
© Oxford University Press 2011 All rights reserved