Importance of Forest Cover in India
Essential to India’s environmental well-being are its forests. The following lists their significance:
- Climate change mitigation: Forests absorb carbon dioxide, one of the major greenhouse gases. This helps control the environment and prevent global warming.
- Water Security: Forests are an important part of the water cycle. They collect rain, control its flow, and prevent flooding. Groundwater sources are also restored.
- Soil conservation: Tree roots bind soil particles together, limiting wind and rainfall. This is especially important given that much of India’s territory is vulnerable to desertification.
- Biodiversity: A variety of plants and animals, including many endangered species, find a home in the forest. They are necessary to preserve ecological unity.
- Livelihood: Millions of people in India depend on forest income, especially those living in tribal communities. Non-timber forest products (fruits, berries, medicinal plants), fuelwood and timber are provided.
- Tourism: Forests are popular tourist attractions that generate income and employment in the tourism industry.
- Clean Air: As biogas filters, forests purify pollutants and release oxygen. Maintaining clean air is important, especially in cities.
Forest Cover of India
India is one of the rare countries that keeps track of its forests regularly using a scientific method. This helps a lot with making plans, policies, and evidence-based decisions. India’s forests are as diverse as its culture, from the tall evergreen trees in the Western Ghats to the thick jungles in the Northeast.
In this article, we’ll look into the forests of India, learning about why they’re important, what’s being done to protect them, and the problems they’re up against.
Contact Us