.Discuss different advantages of forest.
or
per cent of area should be under forests.’ Justify the statement highlighting the advantages of forests.
Ans. Some advantages of forests are
(i) They reduce flooding by intercepting runoff and encouraging water infiltuition. Thus, they improve water quality by slowing the rate at which rainfall runoff flows into rivers.
(it) They provide fallen leaves to feed the soil and aquatic organisms.
(Hi) They improve groundwater quality by increasing the amount of rainfall runoff that percolates into the soil and replenishes our main source of drinking water by breaking down or capturing toxins.
(iv) They improve air quality, especially in summer, by lowering temperatures, filtering dust and absorbing ozone, carbon monoxide, sulphur
’ dioxide, nitrogen oxides, airborne ammonia and heavy metals and by releasing oxygen.
(v) They help counteract the greenhouse effect
and global climate change by taking carbon out of the atmosphere and storing it in the form of wood. .
(vt) They reduce soil erosion and help the soil
recuperate where trees are planted