Forest, about nature

1. Forest

2. INTRODUCTION
• Forest is a complex ecosystem consisting mainly of trees that buffer the earth and
support a myriad of life forms.
• The FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) has defined forest as land area of more
than 0.5 hectare, with tree canopy cover of more than 10%, which is not primarily
under agricultural or other specific non-forest land use.

3. Six major group of forest in India: -
• Moist tropical
• Dry tropical
• Montane sub tropical
• Montane temperate
• Sub alpine
• Alpine

4. forest cover of india
• According to the ‘India State of Forest Report’ (ISFR), 2019, released on 30th Dec
2019, by Forest Survey of India (FSI):-
Total forest and tree cover = 807,276 sq. km.
(24.56 % of the geographical area of the country)
Total forest cover of the country is 712,249 sq. km.
(21.67 % of India’s total geographical area)
Tree cover: - 95,027 sq. km. (2.89 % of the total area)
In terms of increase in forest cover, top 5 states are:
Karnataka (1,025 sq. km.)
Andhra Pradesh (990 sq. km.)
Kerala (823 sq. km.)
Jammu & Kashmir (371 sq. km.)
Himachal Pradesh (334 sq. km)

6. ISFR report 2019

7. • In terms of area: Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover in the country followed
by Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Maharashtra.
• In terms of forest cover as a percentage of their total geographical area, the top five
states are:-
Mizoram (85.41 %)
Arunachal Pradesh (79.63 %)
Meghalaya (76.33 %)
Manipur (75.46 %)
Nagaland (75.31 %).
• According ISFR 2019, the mangrove cover is increased by 54 sq. km. as compared to
ISFR 2017 report.
Increase in the states are as follows:
 Gujarat- 37 sq. km.
 Maharashtra- 16 sq. km.
 Odisha- 8 sq. km.
The mangrove cover decreased in the following areas:
 Tamil Nadu- 4 sq. km.
 West Bengal- 2 sq. km.
 Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 1 sq. km.

8. Forest cover in the northeast region
• Forest cover decreased by 765 sq. km. in these regions.
• Total forest cover – 170,541 sq. km.
(65.05 percent of its geographical area)

9. Forest cover in the hill and tribal districts
• Forest cover increased by 544 sq. km. in 140 hill districts of India.
• Total forest cover in hill districts – 284,006 sq. km.
(40.30 percent of the geographical area of these hill districts)
• Total forest cover in tribal districts – 422,351 sq. km.
(37.54% of the total geographical area of these districts)

10. Significance of forest
Forest
Water management
Environmental
services
Recreation &
aesthetics
Prevent soil
erosion and enrich
soil
Habitat for flora
and fauna
Generates income
and employment

11. Major forest products
• Timber
• Paper pulp
• Cellulose
• Fuel wood, fine wood and charcoal
TIMBER
CHARCOAL
PAPER PULP

12. Minor forest products
• Resin
• Lac
• Gums
• Tanning materials and
dyes
• Bamboo
• Cane
• Oils
• Fibres and flosses
• Leaves
• Drugs and poisons
• Spices
• Edible products
• Animal products

13. depletion
Depletion
of forest
Lumbering Development projects
Jhum cultivation and
fuel wood collection
Fragmentation
Climatic
change
Pollution
Nutrient loss of
soil
Conversion into
arable land
Human
settlement
Forest fire
Draught

14. MANAGEMENT
• Forest management aims at efficient management of forest in such a way that the
needs of present generation be met without affecting the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs.
• Need of forest management: -
Forest management is required to avoid the followings:
Extinction of thousands of species
Heavy soil erosion
Greenhouse effect
Flooding
Landslides
Degraded watershed

15. • Measures taken for management: -
Economic use of timber and fuel wood by minimizing wastage.
Development of alternative sources of energy (biogas, solar energy)
Prohibition of overgrazing and deforestation
Adaptation of modern techniques to control pest and fire.
Methods of management: -
Afforestation: -
The state and central government have undertake many afforestation programmes, such as:
• Agro Forestry
• Social Forestry
• Urban Forestry

16. Reforestation
Sustainable forest management
Joint forest management programme
Avoiding wildfire