18CH2001 – Environmental Studies

TOPIC NO. 3

Module 1: ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL

RESOURCES

Topic: Forest resources: Use and over-

exploitation, deforestation, case studies.
Timber extraction, mining, dams and
their effects on forests and tribal people
 Forest Resource
• These are one of the most precious gift of nature.
• Forests restore oxygen in our atmosphere through
photosynthesis.
• Forests provide us solvents, medicines, fuels etc.
• Forests play vital role in controlling climate.
Forest
A dense growth of trees, plants, and underbrush
covering a large area. Something that resembles a
large, dense growth of trees, as in density, quantity.
Types of forest:
Functions of Forest: 1. Evergreen forest
2. Deciduous Forest
1. Protective Functions
3. Coniferous Forest
 Soil erosion
 Drought
 Flood
 Intense radiation

2. Productive function
 Produces food materials
Forests in India
 Uses of Forest Resources
Direct Uses
Timber : The timber provided by forests can be utilized for
the manufacture of plywood, doors, windows, sports goods
etc.

Raw materials : Forests provide substances consisting of

both timber and other commodity products along with non –
wood forest products that serve as raw materials in various
small scale as well as large scale industries.

Edible products : Forests provide a large number of products

which find an important place in the diet of human beings.

Natural habitat : Forest provide a natural habitat to tribal

people who depend on the plants and trees present in their
vicinity.
Manure and fuel wood : Forest helps to meet fuel wood
requirement of tribal population. Shedding of leaves , trees and
plants helps in manure formation.

Contribution to national income : Forests contributes in raising

income by activities such as recreation, hunting, and fishing.

Medicinal Plants : The leaves, bark and wood of trees contains

hundreds of compounds that are valuable to the field of
medicine.

Tourism : Forests increase beauty of landscape and it opens

new avenue for tourism called ecotourism.

Employment opportunities: Forests are helpful in generating

employment opportunities.
Indirect Use :
Forests help in minimizing natural hazards :
Natural hazards such as floods, droughts,
landslide storms etc. occurs largely due to
depletion of forest cover.
Help in reducing soil erosion and siltation of
downstream bodies :
Trees bind soil particles in their roots and hold
them.
Help in reducing desertification and land
degradation : Forests add humus to the soil and
and aid in enriching fertility.
Provide habitat to wild animals and help in maintaining
biodiversity :
Forests contain the greatest number of species
compared to any other terrestrial ecosystem.

Help in regulating hydrological cycle : Forests assist in

cloud formation and contribute to rainfall by
maintaining transpiration and evaporation process.

Help in regulating gases in atmosphere. Forests absorb

CO2 and produce O2. Absorption of CO2 by the forests
also contributes towards decreasing greenhouse effect
in the atmosphere.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQPxIahfzwQ
Over exploitation of
forest
Causes of over exploitation:
1.Increasing agricultural production – Food
growing civilization – increasing demands
2.Increasing industrial activities
for raw materials like timber, fuel, minerals etc.
3.Increase in demand of wood resources
use of fuel wood and charcoal, pulp etc.
4.Humans depend on medicines
the development of Nutraceuticals
Deforestation
 Deforestation
Causes of Deforestation
• Encroachment of forest land for agriculture use.
• Expansion of cities.
• Construction of Dams , Canals and Highways
• Establishment of Industrial areas.
• Demand for fire woods.
• Mining. They cause soil erosion and loss of
biodiversity
• Shifting of cultivation
• Forest fires.
• Submergence of forests in river valley projects.
Deforestation Due to Fire
Forest cleared for Palm Oil Cultivation
Draught due to Deforestation
Causes of deforestation

1. Commercial logging

2. Agriculture

3. Roads & railways

4. Forest fires

5. Mining and drilling

6. Fuel-wood collection

7. Residential living space

8. Dams
Effects of deforestation
1. Vanishing rainforests
2. Topsoil accumulates slowly
3. Erosion
4. Unusable land
5. Disastrous flooding
6. Clearance - limited food and
shelter
7. Desertification
8. Disappearance of ways of 10.Global warming
life
11. Green house effect
9. Negative impact on the
climate 12.Build up of CO2
13.Habitat fragmentation
Topsoil is the upper, outermost layer of soil, usually the top 5–10
inches (13–25 cm).

It has the highest concentration of organic matter and

microorganisms and is where most of the Earth's biological soil
activity occurs.

Topsoil is composed of mineral particles, organic matter, water, and

air. Organic matter varies in quantity on different soils.

The strength of soil structure decreases with the presence of

organic matter, creating weak bearing capacities.

Organic matter condenses and settles in different ways under

certain conditions, such as roadbeds and foundations.

The structure becomes affected once the soil is dehydrated.

Dehydrated topsoil volume substantially decreases and may suffer
wind erosion.
Preventive measures for deforestation
● Steps should be taken by the government to
discourage the migration of people into the
islands from mainland.

● To counter the depletion of forest areas, tree

plantation
programs have been started.

● Education and awareness programme must be

conducted.

● Strict implementation of law of forest

conservation.
 Case Study
• World’s wettest area Cherrapunji
• Between 1860 August and 1861
July received 1042 in. of rain
• Now rain fall is reduced to one
third of it.
Dams and their effect on forests
Dam is a solid barrier constructed at a suitable
location across a river valley to store flowing
water.
● Storage of water is utilized for:
 Hydropower
 Irrigation
 Water for domestic consumption
 Drought and flood control
 For navigational facilities
 Develop fisheries
Dams and their effect on forests
● Ecological problems & socio-economic problems
related to the tribal or native people associated with
them – affects their origin
● Tropical rain forest area of the Western Ghats is under
threat
● Building dams – large scale devastation of forests
takes place
● Floods, droughts, land slides become more prevalent
● Many lively organisms including plants become
endangered species
 ● Bhakra dam is the highest concrete gravity dam in Asia and
Dams – Bhakra second highest in the world.
● Across river Sutlej in Himachal Pradesh.
dam ● The construction was started in the year 1948 and was completed
in
1963.
● Height - 226 m, Length - 518.25 m, Width - 9.1 m.
● Its reservoir known as "Gobind Sagar" stores up to 9.34 billion
cubic metres of water.
● The 90 km long reservoir created is spread over an area of 168.35
km2.
● In terms of quantity of water, it is the third largest reservoir in India.
● Usage:
 Irrigation: The primary use of the dam is irrigation, storing
rainwater. The dam provides irrigation water to Haryana,
Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Himachal Pradesh.
 Electricity: Provides electricity for states of Haryana,
Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Himachal Pradesh.
● Nangal Dam is another dam in Punjab downstream of Bhakra
Dam. Sometimes both the dams together are called Bhakra-
Nangal Dam though they are two separate dams.
Dams – Idukki ● The Idukki dam, located in Kerala is one of the highest arch
dams in Asia and third tallest arch dam.
dam ● Idukki Dam is 168.91 m tall, constructed between the two
mountains. Length of the dam on its top is 365.85 m. It has
a width of 7.62 m in the top and 19.81 m in the bottom.
● This dam was constructed along with two other dams. Together,
the three dams have created an artificial lake that is 60 km² in
area.
● It was constructed and is owned by the Kerala State
Electricity Board. The project was aided by the Government
of Canada.
● The construction commenced on 30 April 1969. Storage of
water in Idukki reservoir commenced in February,1973.
Commercial operation of the Power Station was Commissioned
on 12 February 1976.
● Usage:
 Power generation: it supports a 780 MW hydroelectric
power station.
 Irrigation
 Effects of Timber extraction, Mining and Dams on Forests and
Tribal People
• Felling of timber trees for house hold
furniture and other domestic purposes affects
the lives of the tribes dwelling in forests.
• This lead to migration of tribes that causes
changes in their culture.
• The unplanned and unscientific mining
affects forests and tribal people.
 Effects of Timber extraction, Mining and Dams on Forests and
Tribal People
• Mining also results in air pollution and degrades
grassland, plains and hilly areas drastically.
• Dams also adversely affects forests and tribal
peoples.
• Egs . Sardar Sarovar Dam spread over three states
of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh
aimed at providing irrigation water, drinking water
and electricity to the three states. 573 villages and
40000 ha of forest is expected to be submerged.