Forests

Concept: Our Natural Resources

What are natural resources?

• The resources available in nature that can be harnessed and used directly or indirectly after being converted into other forms are called natural resources.
• The important natural resources are as follows—

• Natural resources are essential for the survival and continuity of life on Earth.
• They are harnessed, extracted, or converted into forms suitable for use.

Examples:

• Crude oil is purified for obtaining products like petroleum and kerosene.
• Wind energy is harnessed through windmills for conversion into electricity.

Classification of natural resources:

Natural resources can be classified based on their state and origin.

• Based on the state, natural resources can be classified as—

• Based on the origin, natural resources are classified as—

1. Renewable resources: The resources that are inexhaustible and can be used repeatedly are called renewable resources.

Examples: Wind energy, solar energy, tidal energy, etc.

2. Non-Renewable resources:The exhaustible resources that cannot be used again once consumed are called non-renewable resources.

Examples: Coal, petroleum, and natural gas.

Water as a natural resource:

• Water covers almost 70% of the Earth’s surface.
• Water is vital for the existence of every living form on Earth.
• Water is widely used in industries and agricultural activities besides supporting life.
• Water is a renewable source of energy. Nowadays, advanced methods and technologies are used to recycle water, which aims to conserve water.
• Freshwater is available in a minimal amount on Earth; hence, it is necessary to use water judiciously and prevent it from getting contaminated with pollutants.

Air as a natural resource:

• Air surrounds the Earth in the form of the atmosphere, which makes the existence of life possible on Earth.
• Air contains life-supporting gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide, which animals and plants use.
• Moving air is called wind.
• The energy of wind is harnessed to produce electrical energy.
• Wind energy is a renewable form of energy.

Soil as a natural resource:

• Soil supports the growth of plants which are said to be the ultimate producers.
• Being at the base of the food chain, plants, directly and indirectly, provide food to all types of consumers on Earth.
• Soil also serves as the habitat of many microorganisms.
• Apart from these, the soil is the reservoir for many minerals and rocks which are exploited for commercial use.

Forest as a natural resource:

• A large area of land covered with trees is considered a forest.
• Forest covers 30% of the land on Earth.
• Forests can be divided into the following categories based on their distance from the Equator.

1. Tropical forests:
• These are closest to the Equator and do not experience winters.
• The temperature and humidity in these forests are high because they receive direct sunlight.
• So the rate of decomposition in these forests is high, making the soil extremely fertile.
• They receive high rainfall and are home to many plant and animal species.
• The main plants found in these forests are palms, orchids, ferns, mosses, etc.
2. Temperate forests:
• Temperate forests are located between the tropical and boreal forests.
• They receive a considerable amount of rainfall and experience all four seasons.
• One can find oak, maple, and birch trees in temperate forests.
• Animals found in these forests are adapted to sustain cold winters.
3. Boreal forests:
• These forests are located farthest from the Equator.
• They experience short summers and long winters.
• The main trees in boreal forests are deodar, pine, and oak.

Resources we get from forests:

Apart from being a home to a large number of animals and plants, forests provide a large number of resources that are used directly or indirectly in our daily lives.

Honey:
• Honey is used both in cooking food and preparing medicines. Apiculture is practised in places adjacent to forests. The forests have many flower-bearing plants, providing ample space for the bees to gather nectar.

1. Fruits and mushrooms:
• Though fruits and mushrooms can be harvested via agricultural practices, they are also collected from the forests in a considerable amount.
• People residing in forests use them for food and sell them to earn money.

2. Timber and wood products:
• Forests are a major source of timber and other types of woods.
• Timber is used as a raw material in both small and large-scale industries.
• Wood collected from the forest is majorly used for building houses and furniture.

3. Wood pulp:
• The primary raw material used for the production of paper is wood pulp.
• Humans depend on forests to obtain wood pulp for making papers.


Medicines and dietary supplements:
• A wide variety of trees and herbs that grow in forests has a significant role in synthesising medicines.
• Barks, roots, stems, leaves, and flowers of various plants are used for medicinal purposes.

4. Firewood:
• People in rural areas depend on the forest for collecting firewood that they use for cooking.


Fodder:
• Small plants and grasses in the forests are collected to use as fodder for animals.
• Wide different varieties of grass are found in forests.

5. Bamboo:
• It is also called ‘poor man’s timber’.
• Bamboo is widely used for making stilt houses in flood-prone areas.
• Also, bamboo leaves and stems are used for making baskets, flooring materials, and mats.
• Tribal people depend on the products made from bamboo plants for their livelihood.

6. Dyes and tannins:
• Forests provide around 2 lakh tonnes of dyes and tannins every year.
• A wide variety of flowers found in the forests are used as raw materials for producing dyes.

New Words

Did You Know?

• Forests are also called the ‘lungs’ of our planet because they maintain oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.
• 80% of the plant and animal species on Earth are found in forests. Cutting down trees forces some animal species to migrate to other places, and eventually, disappear.