Question

How are forests useful to mankind? Explain briefly.

Answer 1

Forests are useful to mankind in various ways:

1. They provide all basic needs of mankind such as food, clothing and shelter.
2. They provide us timber, which is widely used for making furniture, construction and other domestic purposes.
3. They prevent soil erosion and floods. Roots of trees help to control soil erosion as roots bind the soil. This in turn prevents the topsoil from getting eroded by wind and water.
4. Forests maintain a healthy balance between carbon dioxide and oxygen in the atmosphere. They provide us oxygen.
5. Forests reduce global warming by using carbon dioxide (during photosynthesis). Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas.
6. Forest maintains the climate of a place. It cools the air by releasing water vapours into the air. This phenomenon is called vaporisation.
7. Forests are filled with medicinal plants. Plants such as amla, Eucalyptus, neem, etc. are used for making several ayurvedic medicines.