Forest : Our Natural vegetation

Forests are important renewable natural resources. Forest plants are dominated by trees, their species varying in different parts of the world.

The large areas where trees, shrubs and herbs grow very close to one another are called forests. Here all types of plants grow on their own. India has a very rich flora and fauna, much of which is present in forest areas. According to Central Forestry Commission the forest cover was around 22.7% of the total land mass in 1980. Among various forests types of the country, most common is deciduous.

The forests are spread over the Himalayas, the Western Ghats, the North-Eastern Hills, the Sunderban, the Tarai and the Highlands of Central India.

Types of Forests:

1. Deciduous or Monsoon Forests: These forests are found in monsoon areas (100 to 200 cm rain). The common trees are Teak, Sal, Sesum and Sandal. These trees shed their leaves towards the beginning of summer. These forests are mostly found in the Southern Plateau and in the foothills of the Himalayas.

2 Evergreen Forests: These are called evergreen as at no particular time they shed their leaves. The trees are 50 to 60 metres tall. They make a canopy of broad leaves on the top. The common trees are rosewood, ebony and mahogany They are found in the hot and rainy (more than 200 cm rain per year) parts particularly in the hills of Western Ghats and North-East India.

3. Mountain or Alpine Forests: The trees of these forests are very tall. They bear cones and have pointed leaves. So these forests are also called coniferous forests. These trees have soft wood. The common trees are Chir (pine) and deodar. These forests are found in the Himalayas above 1500 metre height.

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4. Tidal Forests: These forests are found near the sea in the large deltas of rivers. The trees have the roots covered by salt water at high tide. Common trees are mangroves. In the delta of Ganga these forests are called the Sunderban because of Sundri trees.

5. Dry Forests or Thorny Shrubs): They growin scanty rainfall areas. Common trees are Babul and Kikar. These are found in the north-western part of theIndian Desert.

Forest Products for Humans

The chief product that forests supply is wood, which is used as fuel; raw-material for various  industries as paper, news-print, board, timber for furniture items; packing, sports goods, matches etc. Indian forests also supply minor forest products like canes, gums, resins, dyes, tannins, lac, fibres like coir, rubber, medicines, catechu, etc. For tribal people forests also provide food (tuber, roots, leaves, fruits, honey etc.)

Wood used for making furniture, agricultural implements, sports goods or used in building construction is called timber. Timber is obtained from the stems or heavy branches of dried trees. Timber from deodar, pine, teak and sal are used for making furniture such as tables, chairs, cots, cupboards etc. Smell of certain timber such as deodar and pine repel the insects. Sandal wood is sweet scented and used for cabinets, toys and decorative items. Agricultural implements are made from the wood of babul, neem etc. Some tribals make their houses entirely of bamboo or wood.

Trees likes neem, amla, eucalyptus are used for medicinal properties. Besides some medicinal plants and their uses are given below.

Forests Give Protection to Wildlife

Forests provide food, home and protection to wildlife. Wild animals are part and parcel of Indian forests. Deciduous forests give shelter to the tigers, leopards, bears, wild buffaloes and boars. Elephants, rhinos, tigers and deer are found in the forests of north east hills. The Gir forests in Gujarat are famous for lions. Sunderban is the home of famous Bengal Tiger. Besides a large variety of birds and reptiles are found in all forests.

Interdependence of Plants and Animals in Forests

The green plants prepare their own food using water and carbon dioxide in the presence of sunlight. Animals cannot make their own food. They have to take ready-made food. As green plants produce their own food, they are called producers. Animals consume plants or other animals. So they are called consumers.

Some animals like elephant, langur, hippo and squirrel eat only the plants. They are called herbivores. They may eat grasses, leaves, fruits, grains or the bark of trees. Some animals like tiger, lizard, vulture and frog eat only other animals. They are called carnivores. Some animals like dog, crow, sparrow and ant eat both plants and animals. They are called omnivores.

Carnivores are also indirectly dependent on plants because they eat the animals dependent on plants.

Animals depend upon Plants

1. For food: All animals depend, directly or indirectly on green plants for their food.

2. For oxygen: Plants give out oxygen during the process of making their own food. Animals depend upon plants for oxygen for their respiration.

3. For shelter: Some animals make their homes in holes in the trees. Several birds make their nests in the trees. They use different types of plant materials to build their nests such as dry twigs, leaves etc. Monkeys and apes also live in the trees and sleep safely on the branches. Many insects live in trees and plants like beetle, butterfly, ant etc. Plants provide shade and protection from heat and rain.

Plants depend upon Animals

1. For carbon dioxide: Animals give out carbondioxide during respiration. Plants depend upon plants for carbon dioxide to prepare food through photosynthesis.

2. For manure: The excreta of animals and the decomposed dead bodies of animals add nutrients to the soil. These nutrients then become available to the plants. These nutrients help in better growth of the plants.

3. For dispersal of seeds : Animals unknowingly disperse the seeds. This helps in better distribution of space, minerals and water to plants. Thus they grow better.

4. For pollination: In some plants, pollination

is brought about by insects, birds and bats. Without animals' help, fruits of many plants would not be formed.

Other Uses of Forests

Forests cause rainfall. They check soil erosion. They control floods and reduce damage by winds. Forests protect us from dust storms. Forests freshen up the air because plants release oxygen and use CO₂ during the day through the process of photosynthesis.

Thus they help in regulating the balance of CO2 and 02 in the atmosphere. Forests make the climate cool and pleasant. Forests increase the water holding capacity of soil, maintain the soil fertility, regulate the earth's temperature regime and the water cycle, check land slides, shifting of sand and silting.

Plant roots allow slow movement of water in the soil. In turn the suspended impurities settle down and water is purified.

Deforestation (Forest Destruction)

Cutting of forests is called deforestation. The effects of deforestation include soil erosion, landslides, floods and drought (because forests increase rainfall). Shivalik sal forests were over exploited for industrial use (railway sleepers etc.) Thus foothills of the Shivaliks once covered with dense forests are facing an acute water scarcity and semi-desert conditions. Removal of vegetation cover brings about marked changes in the local climate of the area. Thus deforestation, overgrazing etc. bring about changes in rainfall, temperature, wind velocity, etc. and also lead to soil erosion. Such changes then lead to desertification of the area.

Forests are being cut to create land for industries and housing of the ever increasing human population, to create land for raising more food crops, to create land for transport facilities. The forest area of a country should be at least 33 per cent of its total area. But careless cutting down of trees has reduced our forest area to 22.7 per cent. Growing population needs timber and other forest products. Poverty of the tribals inspire them to cut down the trees and sell.

Afforestation/Conservation of Forests

There is an important point in planning future

forestry in the country Today the two major goals for the forestry are:

(i) supply of forest products to people and industry by a well thought out plan of production

(ii) long term security of the forests through conservation of forest cover and its restoration

To meet these goals it is necessary to plant new trees (afforestation) on a large scale. While Chipko Movement prevents the thoughtless cutting of trees, large number of trees are planted in Vanamahotsava in the beginning of rainy season. Social Forestry encourages every citizen to plant trees in villages, towns, along the roads, railway lines, canals, etc. For every child a tree is another programme in which every child plants a tree and looks after it.