Environmental Studies(ES)

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Lesson 2: Environmental resources

Functions of forests

• Atmospheric regulation:
  
  • Absorption of solar heat during evapo-transpiration
    
  • Maintaining carbon dioxide levels for plant growth
    
  • Maintaining the local climatic conditions

Water shed production:

• Reducing the rate of surface run-off of water
  
• Preventing flash floods and soil erosion
  
• Producing prolonged gradual run off and thus safeguarding against drought.

Erosion control: Holding soil by preventing rain from directly washing soil away.

Land bank: Maintaining soil nutrients and structure

Local use (consumptive use):

• Food: gathering plants, fishing, hunting from the forest
  
• Fodder for cattle
  
• Fuel wood and charcoal for cooking and heating
  
• Poles for building homes especially in rural and wilderness areas
  
• Timber for household articles and construction
  
• Fiber for weaving baskets, ropes, nets, string etc.
  
• Sericulture for silk
  
• Apiculture or rearing bees for honey
  
• Medicinal plants for traditional medicines
  

Market use (Productive use)

• Most of the above forest products are sold as a source of income for supporting the livelihoods of forest-dwelling people
  
• Minor forest produce like fuel wood, fruit, gum, fiber etc., which are collected and sold in local markets as a source of income for forest dwellers
  
• Major timber extraction for construction, industrial uses, paper pulp etc.