Question

What is the importance of forests? Write a note on it.

Answer 1

Forests:

Forest is the dominant terrestrial ecosystem covering one-third of the land surface on Earth.

Importance :

1. Regulates the water cycle: As plants absorb the water from the soil and release water vapor into the atmosphere, which then condenses and falls on the ground as rainfall. Thus, forests play a significant role in continuing the water cycle.
2. Purifies the air: Forests are a huge reserve of plants and trees, they play a significant role in balancing the oxygen level in the atmosphere by a process called photosynthesis.
3. Stabilizes the climate: Forests absorb the excess carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases present in the atmosphere from human activities contributing to climatic changes. This helps in stabilizing the climate.
4. Regulate temperature: Forests produce atmospheric moisture and rainfall and thus, help in maintaining the temperature and preventing global warming.
5. Natural habitat: Forests provide habitat for thousands of species of plants and animals and all the other life forms.
6. Support biodiversity: Forests support biodiversity by offering enabling environments where different species can easily thrive and also support the life of some of the world's endangered species.
7. Medicinal value: Forests are rich in herbs, plants, and trees of medicinal value. diverse medical treatments are extracted from the animals that live in the forests.
8. Enrich the soil: Plants and trees help to recycle soil nutrients through the shedding of leaves and vegetative wastes. Trees play a significant role in holding the soil particles firmly with the roots and thus, help in preventing soil erosion.
9. Prevents soil erosion: Trees play a significant role in holding the soil particles firmly with the roots and thus, help in preventing soil erosion.
10. Economic significance :

1. Forests provide humans with all the basic necessities such as wood, timber, perfumes, paper, clothes, and various other raw materials for numerous products.
2. Forests are also a source of rare animals like wild rabbits and foods or vegetables such as berries, tubers, and edible mushrooms that grow in forests.