Importance of Forest

A forest is described as an area of land that is completely covered by trees and other vegetation. A forest, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, is defined as “land that encompasses more than 0.5 hectares and contains trees that are higher than 5 metres in height and have a canopy cover greater than 10%, or trees that are capable of reaching these thresholds in this situation.” Land that is primarily used for agricultural or urban purposes is excluded from this category.

Importance of forests

Forests provide a natural habitat for a wide variety of creatures. The trees contribute to the supply of oxygen in the atmosphere. In a specific region, they have an effect on the amount of rainfall. They also offer us with a variety of other goods such as wood, medicines, food, fragrances, paper, and clothing. Trees are the world’s largest carbon sinks, and their carbon sequestration is critical to maintaining global temperatures. The increase in carbon dioxide levels is widely regarded to be the primary cause of global warming. Despite the numerous benefits of forests, deforestation has become increasingly widespread in the modern era, resulting in a variety of problems such as pollution, soil erosion, and climate change. Here are a few examples of the reasons why forests are so important to all living things and why they should be protected and kept as soon as possible.

Importance of trees to provide a natural habitat

Forests provide a safe haven for millions of creatures by providing a long-term habitat for them. A variety of species, including snakes, turtles, and crocodiles, as well as insect-borne creatures such as birds and butterflies, as well as monkeys and other wild animals, call this place home. It creates an environment conducive to the survival of the animals. The forest floor also serves as a thriving habitat for microbes, which are critical for the conversion of dead materials into nutrients and other substances. Forests are also the habitat of indigenous people, who rely on them for their subsistence and survival.

Importance of forests as watershed region 

Forest-based water tables, rivers, streams, and lakes are all important sources of water for humans and wildlife. By shielding the water reserves from the sun’s rays, they can last longer. The Amazon forest is home to the world’s greatest watershed and river system, which is found nowhere else on the planet.

Importance of forests to support biodiversity

Forests support around 90 percent of the world’s species, which include a wide range of plants and animals. They provide the required habitat and contribute to the conservation of biodiversity. They serve as a repository for the genes of biodiversity.

Importance of forests to purify the air 

For plants to be able to produce food and energy, photosynthesis is an essential process. During the day, plants, bushes, and trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen into the atmosphere. According to one estimate, an acre of mature trees can generate enough oxygen to support 18 people’s breathing needs. By extracting carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and maintaining balanced quantities of oxygen in the environment, they serve as giant lungs, purifying the air that we breathe every day. Trees are excellent in absorbing odours and harmful pollutants such as ammonia and sulphur dioxide from the air. These toxins are held in place by the leaves and bark of the plant.

Importance of forests to enrich the soil

The decomposition process eventually results in the conversion of dead leaves and broken branches to soil, and this conversion nourishes the soil with nutrients. As a result of the presence of microorganisms in the soil, the biodegradable material is broken down into smaller particles that can be used by the plants again. Trees have extremely strong roots, which help to keep the soil intact in the event of a flood or any other event that causes soil evaporation. They are extremely important in hilly places or on stream slopes because they slow down runoff and help to keep the soil in place. Uncontrolled soil erosion can deplete the land’s fertility, resulting in arid conditions in the future.

Importance of forests in our life

Herbs, plants, and trees with therapeutic properties can be found in abundance in forests. Extracted substances from these plants and trees, as well as seeds, leaves, and bark, are used to cure a variety of ailments while being non-toxic to the human body. Quinine, curare, pink periwinkle, wild yams, willow tree extracts, calabar bean, and samambaia are just a few of the natural remedies available.

importance of national forest management

• Preservation and, when necessary, restoration of the ecological balance that has been severely affected by the severe depletion of forests in the country is essential for the preservation and, where necessary, restoration of environmental stability.
• Conserving the country’s natural heritage through maintaining the country’s remaining natural forests, which contain a diverse range of flora and fauna and symbolise the country’s exceptional biological richness and genetic resources.
• The prevention and control of soil erosion and denudation in the catchment areas of rivers, lakes, and reservoirs in the “interest of soil and water conservation, for the mitigation of flooding and droughts, and for the prevention and control of reservoir siltation.”
• Monitoring the expansion of sand dunes in Rajasthan’s desert regions and along the country’s coastline regions is a priority.
• Afforestation and social forestry programmes, particularly on all denuded, degraded, and unproductive lands, are being implemented in large-scale to increase the forest/tree cover of the country significantly.

Conclusion

No one should underestimate the significance of forests. From the oxygen we breathe to the timber we burn, we rely on forests for our very survival.A forest is described as an area of land that is completely covered by trees and other vegetation. A forest, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, is defined as “land that encompasses more than 0.5 hectares and contains trees that are higher than 5 metres in height and have a canopy cover greater than 10%, or trees that are capable of reaching these thresholds in this situation.Herbs, plants, and trees with therapeutic properties can be found in abundance in forests. Extracted substances from these plants and trees, as well as seeds, leaves, and bark, are used to cure a variety of ailments while being non-toxic to the human body.