Forests and Wildlife

Like soil and water, forests and wildlife are also natural resources. 

Forests - All trees, shrubs, herbs, creepers and grasses which grow on their own are known as natural vegetation. There is a large area of forest which is dense with trees. Forests help us in many ways: 

• The green plants in the forests give us oxygen. 
• Forests check pollution and help in keeping the atmosphere clean and balanced. Forests provide shelter and food to wildlife. 
• Forests help in good rainfall. 
• Forests prevent floods and soil erosion. 
• Forests check strong winds and dust storms which can damage life and property. 
• We get many things like wood, rubber, gum, herbs, pulp, medicines, etc from the forests. 

Forests in India - Due to variations in climatic and physical features, there are various types of forests found in our country. Indian forests can be divided into five main groups:

1. Evergreen Forests - These forests are found in the areas where temperature is high, rainfall is heavy and dry season is short. These forests are mostly found in the rainy slopes of the Western Ghats, Assam, Meghalaya, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and parts of West Bengal and Orissa. These forests remain green throughout the year. The trees growing in these forests never shed all their leaves at one time. Evergreen trees grow very tall and the forests are very dense Rosewood, ebony and mahogany are evergreen trees.
2. Deciduous Forests - These forests are found in the areas where moderate rainfall occurs. They are also called Monsoon forests. These trees are commonly found at the foothills of Himalaya and in a large part of Indian Peninsula. Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Bihar have deciduous forests. Trees in these forests are large as they grow well. Though deciduous forests shed their leaves for six to eight weeks, the forest is never bare as different species of trees shed their leaves at different times. Teak, sal, sheesham, bamboo and sandalwood are found in these forests. 
3. Coniferous Forests - These forests are found in the Himalayan region. While deciduous trees are found in the lower altitude of the mountains, the coniferous evergreen trees are found in the higher altitudes. They are also called mountain forests or alpine forests. The coniferous trees that bear cones are found in these forests. They are tall and pointed and have needle-shaped leaves. Their wood is soft. Pine, cedar, silver fir and deodars grow in coniferous forests.
4. Thorny Forests - These forests are found in the dry regions which have quite low rainfall. Thorny forests are mostly found in Rajasthan, parts of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and drier parts of the Deccan. The trees and shrubs here have deep roots, thick skin and long thorns. The deep roots help them to obtain water from deep within the earth. These plants can live without water for a long time. Babool, kikar, khair and date palms are found in these forests. 
5. Tidal Forests - These forests are found in the deltas of the rivers such as Ganga, Mahanadi, Godavari, and Krishna. These forests are also called mangrove forests. 

Conservation of Forests - To maintain proper ecological balance, it is very important to conserve the forests. Since the population of India has been increasing rapidly, trees have been cut down to meet the demands of growing population. As a result, very little area of forest cover is left in India. It is, therefore necessary to plant a large number of trees. The government has taken some steps to grow more trees and conserve our forests.

• Under the Social Forestry Movement, people are encouraged to plant trees alongside roads, canals, and on vacant public lands, etc. 
• Van Mahotsava is celebrated every year at the beginning of the rainy season. A large number of trees are planted all over the country as a part of this programme. 
• Tree for Every Child is another programme started by the government in which every child is encouraged to plant a tree and take care of it. 
• Chipko Movement, which was started by the people of Mandal villages in Chamoli (now in Uttarakhand) is also a forest conservation movement. It gained momentum under the leadership of Sunderlal Bahuguna, Chandi Prasad Bhatt and Goura Devi. It aimed at preserving Terai forests.

Wildlife - Forests provide shelter to wild animals. Our country is rich in wildlife. Wildlife comprises of animals and birds which live freely in their natural environment. The forests provide home to a large variety of wildlife. Unfortunately, wildlife in India has suffered a lot due to poaching, cutting of trees and clearance of forests. A large number of birds and animals have become extinct and some have become endangered.

The Indian government has taken certain measures to preserve wildlife. These include: 

• Hunting of wild animals has been banned in India. 
• There is a complete ban on the export of tusks and animal skin. 
• Periodical record of wild animals is kept to know their exact numbers. 
• Poachers are punished severely. 
• Zoological parks are being set up. 
• Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks have been set up in order to provide a natural home to the wild animals.

Forests and Wildlife

End of Articles.... Thanks....