Importance Of Forest For Human Being

Importance Of Forest For Human Being

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE:

• It supports a variety of Industries.
• It provide livelihood for many communities.

ECOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE:

• Improve the quality of environment.
• Modify local climate, controls soil erosion.
• Regulate stream flow, provide fertility to the soil.
• Provide environmental stability and maintain ecological balance.

Today, environmental stability and maintenance of ecological balance are more important than the direct economic benefit.

FLORA AND FAUNA IN INDIA:

India is one of the world's richest countries in terms of its vast array of biological diversity, and has nearly 8 per cent of the total number of species in the world (estimated to be 1. 6 million). This is possibly twice or thrice the number yet to be discovered. These diverse flora and fauna are under great stress mainly due to insensitivity to our environment. At least 10 percent of India's recorded wild flora and 20 per cent of its mammals are on the threatened list. Many of these would now be categorized as critical that is on the verge of extinction like the cheetah, pink-headed duck, mountain quail, forest spotted owlet, and plants like madhuca insignis (a wild variety of mahua) and hubbardia heptaneuron, (a specie of grass). Over 81, 000 species of fauna and 47, 000 species of flora are found in this country so far.

Vanishing Forests

The dimensions of deforestation in India are staggering. The forest cover in the country is estimated at 0pt7,293 sq km, which is 19.39 per cent of the total geographical area. (dense forest 11.48 per cent open forest 7.76 per cent and mangrove 0.15 per cent). According to the State of Forest Report (1999), the dense forest cover has increased by 10,098 sq km since 1997. However, this apparent increase in the forest cover is due to plantation by different agencies. The State of Forest Report does not differentiate between natural forests and plantations. Therefore, these reports fail to deliver.

List of Critically Endangered Species: Cheetah, pink-headed Duck, Mountain Quail, Forest Spotted Owl, madhucha insignis (wild mahua), hubbardia heptaneuron (a grass species)

CLASSIFICATION BASED ON THE INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES (IUCN):

Normal Species: Species whose population levels are considered to be normal for their survival, such as cattle, sal, pine, rodents, etc.                         

Endangered Species: These are species which are in danger of extinction. The survival of such species is difficult if the negative factors that have led to a decline in their population continue to operate. The examples of such species are black buck, crocodile, Indian wild ass, Indian rhino, lion tailed macaque, sangai (brow anter deer in Manipur), etc.

Vulnerable Species: These are species whose population has declined to levels from where it is likely to move into the endangered category in the near future if the negative factors continue to operate. The examples of such species are blue sheep, Asiatic elephant, Gangetic dolphin, etc.

Rare Species: Species with small population may move into the endangered or vulnerable category if the negative factors affecting them continue to operate. The examples of such species are the Himalayan brown bear, wild Asiatic buffalo, desert fox and hornbill, etc.

Endemic Species: These are species which are only found in some particular areas usually isolated by natural or geographical barriers. Examples of such species are the Andaman teal, Nicobar pigeon, Andaman wild pig, mithun in Arunchal Pradesh.

Extinct Species: These are species which are not found after searches of known or likely areas where they may occur. A species may be extinct from a local area, region, country, continent or the entire earth. Examples of such species are the Asiatic cheetah, pink head duck.

Number of Endangered Species: 79 species of mammals, 44 of birds, 15 of reptiles, and 3 of amphibians, 1,500 plant species are considered endangered.

Vanishing Forests:

Forest cover 0pt7,293 sq km, which is 19.39% of the total geographical area.

Dense forest: 11.48%

Open forest: 7.76%

Mangrove: 0.15%