Chapter 2 - 3
Chapter 2 - 3
Chapter 2 - 3
NATURAL RESOURCES
Conditionally
Inexhaustible
Non- inexhaustible
Renew-
Partly
able renewable
renewable
Sun
Wind Water
Plants Mineral Air
Geothermal
Animals deposits energy
Soil
Tidal energy
Peat
2
Forest Resources
• Forest are one of the most important natural resources of the earth.
• Protective Function
• Productive Function
• Regulative Function
• Accessory Function
Protective Functions
• Forest Provide protection against Soil erosion, Droughts, floods, noise, radiations
Forest Provide various products like, gum resins, medicines, Katha, honey, pulp,
bamboo, timber, and fruits
Regulative Functions
• The Forest regulates the level of Oxygen and carbon dioxide in atmosphere. The
forests also help in regulating temperature conditions
Accessory Function
Forest provides aesthetics, habitat to various flora and fauna besides that it also
has an recreational value.
Ecological Importance or uses of Forests
Forest play a crucial role in regulation of global climate and temperature as forest
cover absorb the solar radiations that would otherwise be reflected back into the
atmosphere by bare surface of the earth.
The main green house gas co2 is used by forests for photosynthesis process the
forest act as a sink for co2 there by reducing the green house effect due to co2
Production of Oxygen
• During Photosynthesis process forest releases oxygen a very important gas for
human survival thereby are called as lungs of earth.
Conservation of Soil
They prevent soil erosion by binding the soil particles tightly in their roots. They
also reduce the velocity of wind and rain which are chief agents causing erosion.
Improvement in fertility of Soil
The fertility of soil increases due to humans formed by the decay of forest litter
The forest act as a giant sponge they slow down runoff, absorbing and holding
Forest cover absorbs the noise and helps in preventing noise pollution
Source:-www.google.com
Absorption of air pollutants
Forest absorbs many toxic gasses and air pollutants and can help in keeping air
pure.
Economical Importance of Forest
• Fuel Wood: The wood is used as fuel for cooking and other
purposes by poor people.
c
d
a
• Dry Tropical forests:
c
Mountain Sub tropical Forests
a
Coniferous Forests
c
Mountain Temperate Forests
These 3 types of tropical deciduous forests accounts for more than 76.5 % of forest
area in India. Nearly 96 % of forests are owned by government and, 2.6 % by
corporate bodies and rest are in private ownership.
Deforestation
Forest are exploited since early times for humans to meet human demand
The permanent destruction of forest is called deforestation
Causes of Deforestation
At the beginning of 20th century about 30 % of land in India was covered with
forests but by the end of 20th century the forest cover was reduced to 19.4%
As a result of exploitation, the tropical forest cover in India, is now only reduced to
coastal western Ghats and northern India
We have a huge population size and a very low precipitate forest area 0.075 Ha per
capita as compared to 0.64 ha/ capita of world forest area
The National forest policy has recommended 33 % forest area for plains and 67 %
for hills
The deforestation rate per unit population in India is lowest among the major
tropical countries