Forest : A forest is a biotic community having trees, shrubs and any other woody vegetations usually with a closed canopy.
Economic importance of Forests
1. Forests conserve fertility of the soil, 2. Cause rains, 3. Give wood, paper, medicines, rubber, resins, gums, shellac, natural dyes, lac, honey, wax, cork, 4. Provide fuel wood, 5. Provide shelter to variety of animals, 6. Give essential oils which are obtained from rosha grass, Khas & Sandal wood, 7. Prevent erosion of soil.
Deforestation : The unplanned cutting of the forests is called deforestation.
Main causes of Deforestation
1. Fast increase of human and livestock population, 2. Increased demands of timber, paper, and fuel, 3. Expansion of crop lands and enhanced grazing by livestock, 4. Construction of roads through forests, 5. Expansion of industries, 6. Extensive work of mining, quarrying, irrigation and agriculture.
Conservation of Forests
1. Economic utilization of timber; wastage should be avoided.
2.Alternative sources of fuels like bio-gas etc. should supplement the wood fuel.
3. Forest fires should be controlled.
4. Forests should be protected from the attack of pests and pathogens.
5. Grazing should be regulated.
6. Reforestation and afforestation should be promoted.
7. Vana mahotsava should be carried out.
Afforestation : To establish forest cover on a massive scale on more and more areas so as to have at least 33% of the land as forest.
Reforestation : To establish a forest on previously cleared land is called reforestation.
Biosphere Reserve : The concept of Biosphere reserve has been evolved by Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme of UNESCO. In the biosphere reserve, multiple land use is allowed by designating various zones such as core zone, buffer zone and manipulation zone. In a biosphere reserve, wild population, traditional life style of tribals and varied domesticated plant and animal genetic resources are protected. India has declared 13 areas to be declared as Biosphere reserves. The recent declared Biosphere reserves are Nilgiri Biosphere reserve, Nanda Devi Biosphere reserve, Uttarakhand Biosphere reserve and Nokrek Biosphere reserve.
Chipko Andolan : The popular movement to hug trees to prevent them from being cut, called the ‘Chipko Andolan’ is probably the world’s most well-known eco- development programme started by common man in March 1973, in remote hill town of Gopeswar in Chamoli District in U.P (now in Uttaranchal). The villagers of this town successfully stopped cutting of trees by contractors by hugging the earmarked trees. Another interesting feature is that women of the villages were on the forefront and not the men.
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