Question

Describe the benefits of natural vegetation to the country.

Answer 1

Importance of Forests :

Forests are a valuable resource; like a river system, it is a multiple resource. Forests provide mankind with a number of products. Forests have greatly influenced human activities. Modern civilisation depends more and more on forests.

Following are the direct and indirect advantages of forests :

1. Forests provide many things to meet our food requirements like wild fruits, nuts, berries, etc. Many tribes are dependent on gathering of these products in forests.
2. Forests are a source of timber for house building, furniture making, ship building, etc.
3. Forests supply about 40% of fuel of the world. Wood has been the major source of fuel in houses, smelting industries and running locomotives.
4. Soft woods supply raw materials for wood pulp, paper, rayon industries.
5. Many products like rubber, pitch, gum, tanning materials, cork, camphor, fir, herbs, etc. are gathered from forests.
6. Forests provide plywood and fibre wood for packing purposes.
7. Forests help in rainfall by capturing moisture in the air. These affect the climate of an area.
8. Forests prevent soil erosion and floods.
9. Forests increase the fertility of soil, help agriculture and maintain ecological balance.
10. Forests provide shelter to wild animals and help recreation, wild life and hunting.
11. They check the advance of deserts.