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The word forest is derived from the Latin word ‘foris’ meaning “out of door”. It is large uncultivated tract of land covered by trees and underwood’s.
In other words, forest is a natural ecosystem of tree-dominated vegetational association.
The occurrence of forest indicates optimal growth conditions in the area. The ecological conditions which favour the forest growth are availability of moisture throughout the year, favourable temperature conditions during growth period and decreased biotic interference. Forests are very rich in flora and fauna.
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Thus they store maximum information by way of diversity of species and life forms. The maximum energy transactions take place in the forests where nature produces maximum biomass in minimum space. The present status of forest areas in different continents of the world is illustrated by the following Table 16.1.
Present Status of Forest Wealth of the World:
At present the earth is occupied by 3.87 billion ha forest having biomass 421.27 billion tons. Of the total world biomass Africa shares 16.79%, Asia 17.86%, Europe 14.5%, and South America 22.89%. Brazil has the largest biomass which is about 27% of the total world biomass Table 16.1 and Fig. 16.1.
In developing countries like India forests play important role in providing economic wealth, maintaining ecological balance and improving the productivity of agriculture. With the rapid increase in human population more and more areas of forests are converted into agricultural land. The consequences of this are the increased soil erosion, frequent floods, drought and landslides. The role of forests in sustaining agriculture must, therefore, be realized and the conversion of forest areas into agricultural land must be checked.
Additional Information:
Ecological Significance of Forest:
Forest is an important natural resource which plays several important roles in nature. It is a store house of biological diversity. It is most important natural habitat for wildlife Forest is composed of a large flora and fauna. It maintains ecological balance and biological diversity, acts as catchment for soil and water, and provides food, fuel, fodder, fibre, shelter and timber to man.
It supports industrial and commercial activities and provides job opportunity to a large number of people. It maintains life support systems essential for food production health and all round human development. Forest is best site of recreation, meditation, peace and it provides aesthetic sense. It conserves water and soil moisture. Development and conservation of forest will improve the living standard of local people and tribals. Forests control air and noise pollution to a great extent. Forest prevents landslides in the hills and flood havoc in the plains. It is harbour of genetic resources.
Green plants of the forest are primary producers of the food chains. In forest ecosystem they trap solar energy and transform CO2 absorbed from the air and water and nutrients absorbed from the soil into food substances as starch, sugar and protein through the process of photosynthesis. Food materials are stored in the different parts of the plants such as fruits, nuts, legumes, seeds and wood in various forms.
Thus forest acts as energy house by taking energy from the sunlight and converting that in to potential or biochemical form. Forest plays a significant role in keeping the balance of atmospheric gases by consuming CO2 and releasing O2. Oxygen is essential for living organisms. Thus the removal of forest will disturb the composition of natural air.
In forests, the roots of the trees bind the soil and increase the porosity and water absorbing capacity of soil. About 90 per cent of the water falling on the forests is retained in the humus or in plant tissue. Thus forest plays a major role in the water cycle or hydrologic cycle. It maintains soil fertility, regulates earth’s temperature, checks soil erosion, landslides, shifting of sand and flood. Thus it helps in the improvement of environment.
