Forests: Our Lifeline

When the crowns (tops) of all the large trees in a forest come together, they form an upper roof — this is called the canopy. It is so dense that very little light reaches below it — that is why the plants underneath are shade-loving. Different layers within and below the canopy have their own residents.

Bacteria and fungi are decomposers. Their job is to break down dead organisms (trees, animals, leaves) and return the nutrients back into the soil — which trees then absorb again. Without them, the waste in the forest would never be cleared and nutrients would run out — that is why they are called the cleaning crew of the forest.

The roots of trees hold the forest soil firmly in place, the canopy absorbs the impact of rainfall, and the soil is spongy due to decomposed matter. On farmland, when forests are cut down, the roots are gone — the soil is left bare — and during rain it washes away into rivers and lakes (as silt). That is why floods increase without forests.

(1) Oxygen (by absorbing CO2); (2) Timber and wood (for homes and furniture); (3) Products — gum, lac, honey, tendu leaves, herbs (medicines); (4) Fodder — animal feed; (5) Water cycle and soil protection. We use many things from the forest every day — often without even realising it.

(1) Pollination — insects and bees carry pollen from flower to flower; (2) Seed dispersal — animals eat fruits and drop seeds far away (sometimes with roots too); (3) Population balance — predators and prey keep numbers in check; (4) Loosening the soil — earthworms and jungle fowl turn the ground (helping seeds); (5) Nutrient cycle — droppings and fallen leaves return nutrients. Without animals, a forest is incomplete.

(1) Floods and droughts — soil washes away, the water cycle is disturbed; (2) Rising temperature — fewer trees to absorb CO2; (3) Animals lose their homes — species become extinct. Other effects include: soil erosion, and tribal communities losing their homes. That is why it is important to plant as many trees as we cut.