Forest is a large area covered thickly with tres and other plants such as shrubs and grasses. Any forest is a renewable natural resource. Forests influence the air, water and soil resources in following ways:
1. Forest shape natural environment by influencing such factors as temperature, humidity and precipatation.
2. Forests shape the soil environment by affecting its composition, structure, the chemical properties, water contents etc.
3. Forests play important role in running the biogeochemical cycle of water, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and other elements.
4. Forest plants maintain the `CO_(2)` and `O_(2)` balance in the atmosphere.
5. Roots of forest plants bind the soil and do not allow erosionof soil by fast winds or fast moving water. In this way they help in maintaining the fertility of soil. Many bacteria present in root nodules (e.g., Rhizobium bacteria in root nodules of leguminous plants) replensh to the soil.
6.Forests check flooding, landslides and shifting of sand and silting of rivers.
