Conservation of Forests

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Mutual relation exists between forests (trees), rainfall concentration, the amount of water in rivers and conservation of wild animals.

Deforestation

Felling of forest trees or deforestation decreases the rainfall in that area. Due to less rainfall, new trees will not germinate and grow, production of humus or fertile soil (topsoil) reduces drastically. Soil becomes loose and gets eroded.

As the forest area decreases, the animals decrease in number.This is because they move out of their natural habitat. They do not reproduce in the absence of their natural habitat. They die due to absence (scarcity) of their favourite food plants and by thirst. They die due to heat stroke

Every year, India loses about 1.5 metric hectares of forest area.

Counter measures

Afforestation is necessary to get sufficient rainfall for the conservation of soil, plants and animals of the area. In recent days, protection of wild life and management of forests is a difficult task.

The conservation of forests includes the following methods:

• Afforestation - social and environmental forestry

• Agro forestry programmes

• Plantation of trees of aesthetic / ornamental values

Afforestation

It is the process of converting barren land or uncultivated area into the forest.

Conservation Of Resource Forests

In areas where water is available and forests are maintained (Western and Eastern ghats are some examples) no commercial exploitation is allowed. They are protected from poachers, encroachers and fodder-starved cattle.

Commercial Forestry or exploitative forestry

The main aim of this type of forestry is to supply goods and services to meet the local demand for firewood, fodder, food, fertilizers, fibre, timber, medicines etc. It is classified into two types:

Social Forestry and Environmental Forestry: Trees which are useful to the tribal people are planted on community land, individual properties and other public land.

The main objectives of social forestry are:

Efficient use of public and private land to produce firewood, fodder and timber in a decentralised manner for the local people

Soil and water conservation

Aiding conservation of forests

Agro Forestry or Captive Plantation

This is a purely commercial forestry, which is developed to fulfill the needs of the various forest-based industries requiring large quantities of raw materials. This type of plantation is done on land, which is not being used for any agricultural practices.

Plantation of Trees of Aesthetic / Ornamental Values

Trees for aesthetic value and ornamental trees are grown in botanical gardens.