FOREST

FOREST...

A forest is a large area dominated by trees.

Forests are the dominant terrestrial ecosystem of Earth, and are distributed across the globe. Forests account for 75% of the gross primary productivity of the Earth's biosphere, and contain 80% of the Earth's plant biomass.

Forests at different latitudes and elevations form distinctly different ecozones: boreal forests near the poles, tropical forests near the equator and temperate forests at mid-latitudes. Higher elevation areas tend to support forests similar to those at higher latitudes, and amount of precipitation also affects forest composition.

Human society and forests influence each other in both positive and negative ways. Forests provide ecosystem services to humans and serve as tourist attractions. Forests can also affect people's health. Human activities, including harvesting forest resources, can negatively affect forest ecosystems.

FOREST

COMPONENTS:-

A forest consists of many components that can be broadly divided into two categories that are biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components. The living parts include trees, shrubs, vines, grasses and other herbaceous (non-woody) plants, mosses, algae, fungi, insects, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and microorganisms living on the plants and animals and in the soil.

DEPLETION OF FOREST-

(i)  Extensive use of forest products such as wood, barks, leaves, rubber, medicines, dyes, food, fuel, fodder, manure etc.
(ii) Agricultural expansion, development of railways, mining, commercial and social forestry.
(iii) Substantial forests in the tribal belts of north-eastern states have been degraded by shifting cultivation (Jhumming) or slash and         burn agriculture.
(iv) Large scale developmental projects like Narmada Sagar Project of Madhya Pradesh which would inundate 40,000 hectares of forests.
(v) Mining is another important factor, mainly the Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal is seriously threatened by dolomite mining. It has disturbed the natural habitat of many species and migration route of animals, especially the great Indian Elephant.

DEPLETION OF FOREST

JUST TO SAY SAVE ENVIRONMENT , WHERE WE CAN'T EVEN SAVE OUR BASIC NATURAL ENVIRONMENT i.e FOREST ETC.....WHERE DO WE LAG..????

CONSERVATION OF FOREST:-

To conserve forest areas, the government launched joint forest management and social forestry schemes, with some success. But other conservation measures have to be taken to save the forests from further depletion and degeneration. Governments and communities should take steps to plant trees on a large scale. The community should be consulted and trees that will meet their requirements should be planted. People in the living in the rural and forestry areas should be sensitized to the damage dine to their surroundings by the felling of trees. They should be encouraged to cut branches, twigs and leaves of the trees for their daily requirements. Horticulture as an alternative source of income should be encouraged. People who still follow jhum cultivation should be taught land use and be motivated to adopt terrace farming and other methods of cultivation. All this, collectively, would halt the depletion of forest cover.

The following steps should be taken for the conservation of forests:

1.    Regulated and Planned Cutting of Trees.
   
2.    Control over Forest Fire.
3.    Reforestation and Afforestation.
4.    Check over Forest Clearance for Agricultural and Habitation Purposes.
5.     Protection of Forest.
6.     Proper Utilisation of Forest Products and Forests.

SAVE FOREST,PLANT MORE TREES.