Question

Explain how forests prevent floods.

Answer 1

Hint: The primary reason to conserve forests and wildlife is to maintain the ecological stability of a particular area. Forests are the most important and essential natural resources for our survival as it provides shelter to a wide range of animals as well as it supplies oxygen to breathe for every human being.

Complete answer:
-Forest acts as a natural absorber of rain water as well as a barrier to floods. It allows rain water to be drained gently in the ground and thereby enriching the natural vegetation as well as protecting and managing the ecosystem.
-Forests help to prevent the rainfall from flowing away and mitigate the effects of droughts as well. It is because Forests can soak up excess amounts of rainwater into its soil and it prevents the extreme damage that will be caused due to flooding.
-When rainwater falls on the leaves of plants and trees, it drips slowly on the ground. The roots of the plants and trees absorb large amounts of groundwater and provide benefits to natural resources in forests. It helps to maintain the level of water in the soil to bind along with roots and reduce the intensity of floods without causing the soil to erode.
-Thus, forests provide watershed protection, habitats for animals, prevent soil erosion, and offer livelihoods for humans.

Note: In order to preserve the wetlands ecosystem and their natural resources, an international treaty called The Ramsar Convention was made. It is also known as the Convention on Wetland of International Importance and is an intergovernmental agreement that promotes the conservation of wetlands in order to focus on a single ecosystem.