Lecture-2 Forest Resources
Lecture-2 Forest Resources
Lecture-2 Forest Resources
Forest Resources
Natural Resources
‘A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air
and giving fresh strength to our people’- Franklin D. Roosevelt
2.1 Introduction
Any material exist in the earth which can be transformed in a way that it becomes more valuable
and useful can be termed as resource. Resource, therefore, are the means to attain given ends.
Life on this planet depends upon a large number of things and services provided by the nature,
which are known as Natural Resources. Thus water, air, soil, minerals, coal, forests, crops and
wild life are some of examples of natural resources.
2.1.1 Classification of natural resources
Depending upon availability of natural resources can be divided into two categories:
(i) Renewable and
(ii) Nonrenewable resources.
(i) Renewable resources
They have the ability to replenish themselves by means such as recycling, reproduction and
replacement. Examples: sunlight, animals and plants, soil, water, etc.
(ii) Non-Renewable Resources
Nonrenewable resources are the resources that cannot be replenished once used or perished.
Examples: minerals, fossil fuels, etc.
Resources can also be classified as biotic or abiotic.
a) Biotic resources
These are living resources (e.g. forest, agriculture, fish and wild life) that are able to reproduce or
replace them and to increase.
b) Abiotic resources
These are non-living resources (e.g. petrol, land, minerals etc.) that are not able to replace
themselves.
2.1.2 Problems associated with natural resources
(i) The unequal consumption of natural resources
A major part of natural resources today are consumed in the technologically advanced or
‘developed’ world, usually termed ‘the west’. The ‘developing nations’ of ‘the east’, including
India and China, also over use many resources because of their greater human population.
However, the consumption of resources per capita (per individual) of the developed countries is
up to 50 times greater than in most developing countries. Advanced countries produce over 75%
of global industrial waste and greenhouse gases.
(ii) Planning land use
Land is a major resource, needed for not only for food production and animal husbandry, but also
for industry and growing human settlements. These forms of intensive land use are frequently
extended at the cost of ‘wild lands’, our remaining forests, grasslands, wetlands and deserts.
(iii) The need for sustainable lifestyles
Increasing standard of living, usually leads to degradation of environment.
2.2 Forest Resources
Forest is important renewable resources. Forest vary in composition and diversity and can
contribute substantially to the economic development of any country. Plants along with trees
cover large areas, produce variety of products and provide food for living organisms, and also
important to save the environment.
It is estimated that about 30% of world area is covered by forest whereas 26% by pastures.
Among all continents, Africa has largest forested area (33%) followed by Latin America (25%),
whereas in North America forest cover is only 11%. Asia and former USSR has 14% area under
forest. European countries have only 3% area under forest cover. India’s Forest Cover accounts
for 21.67% of the total geographical area of the country as of 2019
2.2.1 Significance of forests
Forest can provide prosperity to the nations. Important uses of forest can be classified:
• Commercial values
• Ecological significance
• Aesthetic values
• Life and economy of tribal
2.2.1.1 Commercial values
• Forests are main source of many commercial products such as wood, timber, pulpwood etc.
About 1.5 billion people depend upon fuel wood as an energy source. Timber obtained from the
forest can used to make plywood, board, doors and windows, furniture, and agriculture
implements and sports goods. Timber is also a raw material for preparation of paper and rayon.
• Forest can provide food, fibre, edible oils and drugs.
• Forest lands are also used for agriculture and grazing.
• Forest is important source of development of dams, recreation and mining.
2.2.1.2 Life and economy of tribal
Forest provides food, medicine and other products needed for tribal people and plays a vital role
in the life and economy of tribes living in the forest.
2.2.1.3 Ecological uses
Forests are habitat to all wild animals, plants and support millions of species. They help in
reducing global warming caused by greenhouse gases and produces oxygen upon photosynthesis.
Forest can act as pollution purifier by absorbing toxic gases. Forest not only helps in soil
conservation but also helps to regulate the hydrological cycle.
2.2.1.4 Aesthetic values
All over the world people appreciate the beauty and scenic value of the forest because forests
have a greatest aesthetic value. Forest provides opportunity for recreation.
2.2.2 Over exploitation of forests
Forests contribute substantially to the national economy. With increasing population increased
demand of fuel wood, expansion of area under urban development and industries has leads to
over exploitation of forest. At present international level we are losing forest at the rate of 1.7
crore hectares annually. Overexploitation also occurs due to overgrazing and conversion of forest
to pastures for domestic use.
2.2.3 Deforestation
2.2.3.1 Causes of deforestation
Main causes of deforestation are as follows:
a) Shifting cultivation or Jhum cultivation
It is estimated that principle cause of deforestation in tropics in Africa, Asia and tropical
America is estimated to be 70, 50, and 35% respectively. Under shifting cultivation, more than 5
lakh hectares of land cleared annually. In India, shifting cultivation is prevalent in northeast and
to some extent in M.P, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh and is contributing significantly to
deforestation.
b) Timber extraction
There has been unlimited exploitation of timber for commercial use. Due to increased industrial
demand; timber extraction has significant effect on forest and tribal people.
c) Need for fuel wood
Increased population has leads to increasing demand for fuel wood which is also acting as an
important deforestation cause, particularly in dry forest.
d) Expansion for agribusiness
With the addition of cash crops such as oil palm, rubber, fruits and ornamental plants, there is
stress to expand the area for agribusiness products which results in deforestation.
e) Development projects and growing need for food
The growing demand for electricity, irrigation, construction, mining, etc. has leads to destruction
of forest. Increased population needs more food which has compelled for increasing area under
agriculture crops compelling for deforestation.
f) Raw materials for industrial use
Forest provides raw material for industry and it has exerted tremendous pressure on forest.
Increasing demand for plywood for packing has exerted pressure on cutting of other species such
as fir to be used as packing material for apple in J&K and tea in northeast states.
g) Mining
Major effects of mining operations on forest and tribal people are:
It is estimated that about eighty thousands hectare land is under stress of mining activities in
India Large scale deforestation has been reported in Mussorie and Dehradun valley due to
indiscriminating mining. Indiscriminate mining in forests of Goa since 1961 has destroyed more
than 50000 ha of forest land. Coal mining in Jharia, Raniganj and Singrauli areas has caused
extensive deforestation in Jharkhand. Mining of magnetite and soapstone has destroyed 14 ha of
forest in hilly slopes of Khirakot, Kosi valley and Almora. Mining of radioactive minerals in
Kerala, Tamilnadu and Karnataka are posing similar threats of deforestation. The rich forests of
Western Ghats are also facing the same threat due to mining projects for excavation of copper,
chromites, bauxite and magnetite.
2.2.3.2 Major effects of deforestation
Deforestation adversely and directly affects and damages the environment and living beings.
Major effects of deforestation are as follows:
• Soil erosion and loss of soil fertility
• Decrease of rain fall due to effects of hydrological cycle
• Expansion of deserts
• Climate change and depletion of water table
• Loss of biodiversity, flora and fauna
• Environmental changes and disturbance in forest ecosystems
2.2.3 Forest conservation and management
Forest is one of the most valuable resources and thus needs to be conserved. To conserve forest,
following steps should be taken.
1. Conservation of forest is a national problem, thus it should be tackled with perfect
coordination between concerned government departments.
2. People should be made aware of importance of forest and involved in forest conservation
activities.
3. The cutting of trees in the forests for timber should be strictly stopped.
4. Afforestation programmes should be launched
5. Grasslands should be regenerated.
6. Forest conservation Act should be strictly implemented to check deforestation.
7. Awards should be instituted for the deserving people.
2.2.4 Chipko movement- A Case study
The Chipko movement or Chipko Andolan is a social-ecological movement that practiced the
Gandhian methods of Satyagraha and non-violent resistance, through the act of hugging trees to
protect them from being felled. The modern Chipko movement started in the early 1970s in the
Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand,with growing awareness towards rapid deforestation. The
landmark event in this struggle took place on March 26, 1974, when a group of peasant women
in Reni village, Hemwalghati, in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, India, acted to prevent the
cutting of trees and reclaim their traditional forest rights that were threatened by the contractor
system of the state Forest Department. Their actions inspired hundreds of such actions at the
grassroots level throughout the region. By the 1980s the movement had spread throughout India
and led to formulation of people-sensitive forest policies, which put a stop to the open felling of
trees in regions as far reaching as Vindhyas and the Western Ghats.