Question

What is the importance of the forest as a resource?
(a) It improves the water holding capacity of the soil.
(b) It provides habitat, food, protection to wildlife.
(c) It helps in balancing the CO$_2$ and O$_2$ of the atmosphere.
(d) All of the above.

Answer 1

Hint: Forests account for a total of 75% of the gross primary productivity of the Earth’s biosphere. It contains 80% of the Earth’s plant biomass.

Complete answer: Trees hold the soil by their roots and thus increase the water holding capacity of the soil. They prevent soil from getting eroded. Forests serve as habitat for a variety of wildlife and also provide them with food and protection. It helps in balancing carbon dioxide and oxygen of the atmosphere by taking in carbon dioxide and releasing fresh oxygen Into the atmosphere.
Forest serves as home to many living organisms. It is a precious resource provided by nature itself. There are a variety of plants available in forests like herbs, shrubs, and trees depending upon the climate of that region. Plants make their food by the process of photosynthesis and animals depend on these plants and other animals for their food. Plants too depend on animals for processes like pollination and seed dispersal.
Forests are of great importance to mankind and nature. Some points illustrating the importance of forests are-
1. Forests help in maintaining the water cycle of earth and bring rain.
2. Forests help in maintaining the temperature and oxygen level of the atmosphere. Plants release oxygen in the atmosphere and consume carbon dioxide.
3. Forests help in the prevention of global warming.
4. Forests help in preventing soil erosion.
5. Forests act as a source of rubber, lac, organic colors, gum, resins, etc.
So, the correct answer is ‘All of the above'.

Note:
1. Plants are the ultimate source of food.
2. Forest can be classified mainly into- tropical, evergreen, partly evergreen, deciduous, and dry forests. These are based on the climatic conditions and types of trees present in them.
3. Forests also have non-living components in them such as lakes, ponds, soil, rocks, etc.