The document discusses the importance of forests, their protective, productive, regulative, and accessory functions, while highlighting the issue of deforestation caused by factors such as human population growth and demand for timber. It outlines the necessity for forest conservation through acts and movements, mentioning the Chipko movement as a case study. The impact of mining, dam projects, and the close relationship of tribal communities with forests is also addressed.

1. By Shalu Thariwal

2.  Latin word, foris= outside
 Include all uncultivated and uninhabited land.
 Jungle=collection of trees, shrubs etc.
 It is natural ecosystem having multi species and
multi aged trees as dominant community.
 1/3rd of the earth total area is covered by forest.
 In India, forest coverage is 22.74% but it should
be 33% prescribed under national forest
policy(1988).

3. IMPORTANCE OF FOREST
 Protective functions: protective role against soil
erosion, drought, floods,etc.
 Productive functions: forests are source of wood
and products like gums, fibers, medicines, honey,
paper etc.
 Regulative functions: like storage, absorption,
release of gases, water, minerals,regulate floods,
drought, and many gaseous cycles. Improve
atmospheric conditions.
 Accessory functions: recreation, aesthetics etc.

4. DEFORESTATION
 Three important factors
 1 .deforestation
 2. forest grazing
 3 .forest fires.
 Deforestation: Cutting of forest trees of commercial
use without planting new tree in return is called
deforestation
 Cut for timber
 For making paper
 Fuelwood.

5. DEFORESTATION RESULTS IN
 Soil erosion
 Extinction of animals and plants
 Loss of biodiversity
 Change in the local and global climates(global warming)
 Decrease in rainfall
 Destructed of wild life
 Absence or scarcity of soil moisture create drought
 Increase in soil surface evaporation
 Crop productivity is affected
 Over-grazing reduced the regenerative capacity
of forest
 ecosystem gets totally disturbed

6. CAUSES OF DEFORESTATION
 Explosion of human population = scarcity of land for
living purpose
 Increased requirement of timber and fuel wood.
 Expansion of crops land for increased production of
food grains
 Overgrazing(cattle graze in the forest and destroy
forest floor vegetation)
 Large scale demand of forest produce(rubbers
,gums , honey, dyes etc)

7. FOREST CONSERVATION
 Forest conservation act(1980)
 Production from fires:
 Use of fire breaker, use of back firing, aeoro spraying of
fire, use of high capacity strong air blowers to change
direction of winds etc.
 Maintenance of forest trees:
 Cutting of unwanted trees, removal of abnormally grown
branches, removal of weeds, promote growth of useful
trees.
 Protection from grazing
 Protection from insects and pests(spray chemical and
fungicides)
 Protection of wild life(from hunters and fisher mans)

8. CASE STUDY
 ‘Chipko movement’
 started in Tehri-Garhwal to protest against tree
felling. Women hugged the tree and demanded to
be cut to pieces along with the trees being
cut.(under the leadership of Sunder Lal bahuguna)
 Demanding ban on forest denudation
 Slogan of planting five “fs”-food, fodder, fuel, fiber
and fertilizer.
 Legislation came to this effect- well stocked forests
are declared national parks and sanctuaries(limited
human activity)

10. TIMBER EXTRACTION-EFFECTS ON FOREST
 Timber and wood used for industries and in railway.
 It may take a few years for the plant to bloom into a
tree.
 It is necessary to see that the trees left behind after
the harvest, have the same opportunity to grow as
before to get future returns.

11. DAM AND MINING EFFECTS
 Protection and conservation of forests in the watershed
and mine spoil areas ,maintain water balance and soil
erosion.
 13 river valley projects (mahanadi, chambal, Sutlej,
ramganga, damodar valley),not more than one fifth of
the watershed areas are covered with forests.
 The land that are destroyed by mining are called mining
spoils.
 These lands can be reclaimed by extensive plantation
only.
 Mining waste disposal back fill is the solution
 Afforestation
 Degraded forest land should be brought back to proper
condition.

12. TRIBALS
 Life and economy of tribals are intimately
concerned with forests.
 Tribals of MP, Orissa, and North Eastern states
 Practice shifting cultivation
 Direct employment
 Depend on MFP(minor forest produce) like flowers,
sal seeds, tender leaves, fruits, resins, etc.