Question

Explain how we depend on forests, directly or indirectly.

Answer 1

Mankind depends on forest either directly or indirectly for many things. Besides providing us with basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter, forests touch our lives in several other ways.

1. Most of the timber based industries rely on trees for the production of paper, plywood, pulp and cardboard.
2. Several trees in the forest are used to produce ayurvedic medicines, essential oils, spices, nuts and oil. Resins, bamboo and latex which serve as raw materials to produce several things such as varnish, rubber, furniture, paper.
3. Forests help in regulating the climate of a place and also help in increasing the rainfall by raising the water vapour content of the atmosphere.
4. Forests help in preventing floods and soil erosion
5. Few trees in the forest act as windbreakers against storms and strong tides.