The document describes various functions and benefits that forests provide, including ecological, economic, and social benefits. Ecologically, forests help maintain water quantity and quality by intercepting rain and reducing runoff, replenish oxygen levels through photosynthesis, maintain soil nutrients, and provide habitat. Economically, forests are a source of useful materials for industry, fuel, food and medicine. They also enable recreation and ecotourism. Socially, forests provide habitat for indigenous people and allow for research and education.

1. Function Type of benefit Description
 Evapotranspiration gives off water vapour
 Condenses to form clouds and soon rain
 Rain falls, replenishing water bodies
AND
Maintaining quantity of water Ecological  Rain is intercepted by leaves and branches
 Do not fall directly to the ground.
 Reduces surface runoff
 Increases infiltration
 Greater volume of groundwater
 Continuous water flow to water bodies
 Soil layers help filter impurities
(trapping them between pore spaces)
 Rainwater seeps further to form groundwater
Maintaining quality of water Ecological AND
 Rain is intercepted by veg cover
 Reduces speed and flow of water
 Less soil particles picked up into rivers
 CO2: taken in by plants during photosynthesis
Replenishing O2,
Ecological  O2: given out by plants during photosynthesis
Removing CO2
 Regulates global temperatures
 Decomposing fallen trees and leaf litter releases
nutrients back into soil increasing nutrient content
AND
Maintaining nutrients in the soil Ecological
 Roots of trees hold soil particles
 Prevent nutrient loss during soil erosion by wind
or water, quality of soil maintained
 Roots of trees hold soil particles
 Reduces soil erosion on river bed
Preventing floods Ecological/Social
 Deposition of sediment makes river shallow
 Reduces ability of river to contain water
 MGR forests absorb energy of waves
Protecting coasts Ecological/Social
 Reduces soil erosion as roots hold soil particles

2.  Roots of MGR trap waste materials
 Filter the water before it flows into sea
Natural treatment of waste water Ecological
 Bacteria in soil of MGR break down
biodegradable wastes, convert them to nutrients.
 Forests are homes to more than half of all species
of flora and fauna in the world.
Habitat for flora and fauna Ecological
 TRF: tigers and rare species of orchids of MAS
 CFR: grizzly bears of N America
 Timber: paper and furniture
 Rattan: furniture and baskets
 Fuelwood, charcoal: heating and cooking
 Sago, midin, forest animals: consumption
 Quinine in Cinchona: drug against malaria
 Bark of Eastern White Pine tree: cough syrup
Source of useful materials Economic  Tannin in Rhizophora: treatment of leather
 Sap of east African mangroves: black dyes
 Resin: wood varnishes and ointments
 Forests are a renewable resource (+)
 Takes 40 years before maturity (-)
 Forests are cleared faster than they regrow
 60 mil people live in TRFs of Southeast Asia,
Habitat for people Social South America & Africa.
 Example: Korubu tribe in Amazon TRF.
 Ecotourism can gain revenue for a country while
it does not damage or harm the natural environment.
Recreation/Ecotourism Economic
 Example: Taman Negara as a national park
 Activities (eg. rafting and hiking) are carried out.
 Development of new medicines and new
varieties of crops thru studying of forest plants
 New sources of food and medicines may be
Research and Education Social found.
 Scientists study animal-plant interactions,
weather-animal-plant relationships to understand
human-ecosystem relationships