Forest and Water Resources

Topics covered are :
1. Meaning of resources
2. Forest resources
3. Uses of forest
4. Depletion of forest resources
5. Deforestation
6. Causes of deforestation
7. Control of deforestation
8. Conservation of forest
9. Afforestation
10. Water resources
11. Hydrologic Cycle
12. Water saving tips

1. Topic – “Forest and Water resources”

2. F0rest and water resources

3. FOREST RESOURCES

4. Resources Meaning of resources:- The term resources was taken to mean only natural factors or things like mountain, mineral deposit, forest, animal life, soil, water, air etc. ‘Resource’ was used to refer to only natural resources This term was taken to mean all natural phenomenon or factors, whether they are useful to man or not.

5. Today resources are taken to mean only those natural,human and cultural factors which satisfy human wants and contributes to human welfare. According to Prof. Zimmermann as “ A means of attaining given ends, the ends being satisfaction of human wants and attainment of social objectives ”

6. FOREST RESOURCES Meaning of forest:- The term “forest” is derived from the latin word “ foris ” meaning outside. Originally, it is uncultivated and uninhabitated village boundary consisting of natural plants, i.e., trees and grasses. It means an association of plants, natural or cultivated, predominantly trees. In the words of Allen and shorpe , “Forest is a community of trees and associated organism covering a considerable area, utilizing air, water and minerals to attain maturity and to reproduce and capable of furnishing mankind with indispensable products and services”

7. USES OF FOREST They provide timber for house-building, ship-building, bridges, railway carriages, furniture’s etc. They supply fire wood and charcoal for fuel in homes and in industries. They provide wood pulp for the paper and rayon industries. They provide honey for food and medicines. They provide sandal wood for carved boxes and small domestic articles. They provide edible fruits, fibers etc.

8. DEPLETION OF FOREST RESOURCES The history of the exploitation of forest is as old as man himself but during older times, the exploitation was balanced through natural growth of forest because at that time, exploitation was only for personal and community uses. But in recent years, depletion of forest has been on a large scale whether for industrial purpose or for personal uses.

9. THE MAIN REASONS FOR LARGE SCALE DEPLETION OF FOREST Expansion of agriculture,more forest have been cleared for agriculture. Large area of forest lands have been cleared for urbanization and human settlement. Commercial exploitation of forest. Forest fires. Mining activities in forest areas.

10. DEFORESTATION It means reckless or large-scale felling or cutting of trees by man for commercial and other purposes. The FAO(food and agriculture organization) of the UN defines “change of forest with depletion of tree crown cover more than 90%.”

11. CAUSES OF DEFORESTATION Desertification. Soil degradation and soil erosion. Loss of vegetation cover. Destruction of natural habitat and loss of wildlife. Changes in climatic condition. Environmental pollution. Damage to ecosystem Reduction in soil moisture.

12. CONTROL OF DEFORESTATION Prevention of human settlement in forest areas. Check on expansion of agriculture into forest lands. Prohibition of setting up of agriculture into forest lands. Check on reckless cutting of trees. Controlled mining in forest areas. Check on construction of large dams in forest areas. Control on over grazing in forest areas.

13. CONSERVATION OF FOREST Regulated and planned cutting of trees. Control over forest fires. Reforestation. Check on forest clearance for agriculture and human habitation and settlement. Development green belt around cities. Check on mining activities in forest areas. Protection of existing forest. Conservation of threatened species of trees.

14. Water resources

15. WATER RESOURCES Water resources are sources of water that are useful or potentially useful to humans. It is important as it is needed for life to exist. Many uses of water include agriculture, industrial, household, recreational and environmental activities. Only 2.5% of water on the earth is fresh water, and over two thirds of this is frozen in glaciers and polar ice caps. Water demand already exceeds supply in many parts of the world, and many more areas are expected to experience this imbalance in the near future.

16. MOST OF THE PORTION OF EARTH IS COVERED BY WATER

17. Economic growth exacerbates the demand for water, e.g ., With economic growth at 7-10% per year, poultry consumption is rising at the rate of 15% per year in India, Indonesia and china the water demands of this non-traditional industry are only likely to grow. We need about 250,000 gallons of water to produce a ton of corn, 375,000 gallons to produce a ton of rice and 7,500,000 gallons of water to produce a ton of beef.

18. THE HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE Ignoring such long-term effects as the changes in atmospheric storage conditions, run-off filling the ocean basins etc., hydrological cycle is merely the re-cycling of water between land and oceans

19. WATER SAVING TIPS Turn off the taps when you brush your teeth. Place a cistern displacement device in your toilet cistern. Take a shorter shower. Always use full loads in your washing machine and dishwasher. Fix a dripping tap. Install a water butt. Install a water meter. Invest in water-efficient goods.

20. THANKS TO ALL!!