FOREST AND WILDLIFE

Forests cover a whopping 31% of the planet’s land area. It is estimated that 23% of India’s land area is covered by forest. An important part of the forest ecosystem is the presence of trees and plants. Clean air and shelter are essential for life on the planet. Forests also aid in the preservation of biodiversity. Food, medicine, textiles, and raw materials are just some of the benefits of forests. In addition to regulating global temperatures, forests protect soil from erosion and provide a haven for more than 80% of the world’s animal species and biodiversity on land. They also contribute to a country’s socio-economic development. The term “wildlife” refers to the non-domesticated species of animals. This means that any living creature that lives in the forest is linked to wildlife. One of the most widely distributed species, it can be found in a wide range of environments. Wild animals play an important role in the stability of our environment, either directly or indirectly, through their role in natural processes. It doesn’t matter if an organism is a producer, a consumer or a decomposer; they all play a role in the food chain and depend on each other for survival.

Conservation of Forest

To ensure forest sustainability for future generations, it is necessary to increase tree planting and maintain existing forested areas. There are numerous ways in which forests are beneficial to humankind. However, as deforestation continues to rise, it has become imperative to protect forests around the world. To make more land available for farming, ranching, and other forms of livestock production, deforestation must be done permanently. Shifting cultivation is a term used to describe the practice of clearing forest land to make room for new agricultural land.

The following are a few of the most important steps to forest preservation:

1. Since the dawn of modern industrialization, an alarming number of trees have been felled for their valuable raw materials and other byproducts. It is possible to limit this tree-felling through selective, clear-cutting, and shelterwood cutting.
2. One of the most common causes of forest loss is forest fires. Forest fires are sometimes used to open up new land for development. There can be no vegetation once the area has been ploughed. Destruction of vast forests has also been caused by natural forest fires. To protect the forest, modern firefighting methods should be utilised. Aside from being an important part of nature, forest fires replenish nutrients in the soil by destroying and decomposing dead and decaying vegetation.
3. To increase forest cover, more trees should be planted. Trees should be chosen for their suitability to a specific region’s climate and care should be taken while they are growing.
4. Forest conservation necessitates limiting the use of forest products and preventing their overexploitation.
5. Spraying pesticides, antibiotics, or cultivating pest-resistant trees should be used to protect existing forests from disease.

Wildlife Conservation

Our ecosystem would be incomplete without the diversity and abundance that wildlife provides. The following are a few of the reasons why wildlife conservation is important:

• For their medicinal properties, wild plants account for more than a third of our pharmaceutical needs. In addition to the requirements for large-scale production of antibiotics and other medicines for therapeutic purposes, forests offer significant potential for medical science and technology breakthroughs.
• Contributes to the health of our environment by preventing sea levels from rising sharply by maintaining global temperatures and thus combating the greenhouse effect.
• The interdependence of plants and animals is critical to preserving ecological harmony.
• Economic value: The use of fossil fuels from forests contributes to the country’s economic growth, which in turn improves the quality of life for its citizens.
• Thousands of species find refuge in these massive forests, which aids in the preservation of biodiversity.
• Nitrogen fixation is facilitated by microorganisms in wildlife, increasing soil fertility.

The Importance of Forests and Wildlife

For the following reasons, we must preserve our forests’ flora and fauna:

• It all comes down to inhaling and exhaling: No living organism can exist without oxygen. Plants are essential because oxygen is found in approximately 20.9 percent of the Earth’s gases.
• Carbon dioxide is absorbed during photosynthesis, which has a significant impact on the carbon cycle.
• A variety of species call it home. Deforestation has been a result of modernization. As a result, many animals have ended up on the streets, where they are often found dead due to unfavourable conditions.
• Millions of people around the world rely on forests for their livelihood. These forests yield raw materials that can later be sold.
• In addition to animals and plants, millions of people still live within a few miles of forests. They rely on the abundance of forest resources to sustain themselves.
• Resilience in the face of natural disasters: Forest vegetation absorbs excess water during flooding, preventing damage to critical infrastructure.
• Forests play a critical role in maintaining a stable climate by regulating atmospheric temperature.
• Visit a forest if you want to get a better sense of the diversity of life on Earth. Thousands of species live in forests, as we all know.
• For those interested in science, forests offer a wealth of opportunities for investigation.
• Forest areas have been transformed into adventure spots to allow visitors to get a first-hand look at wildlife.

Important Forest and Wildlife Conservation Points

• Hopefully, deforestation, which is also known as forest degradation or loss, can be curtailed or stopped.
• There should be no wasteful use of fuelwood and timber.
• Monitor the forest fire and implement damage control measures at the right time. A forest fire can decimate thousands of trees each year. In 2018, one of California’s deadliest wildfires in state history ravaged the state, destroying homes and taking lives.
• Efforts and attention should be devoted to replanting trees and increasing forest cover. Tree reforestation and tree planting should be encouraged around the world.
• Proper forest management organisations are needed to keep track of wildlife activity and keep everyone up to date on the most recent developments.
• Extinct species need to be cared for and housed, and efforts must be made to prevent their extinction.

CONCLUSION

From the following article, we can conclude that there are over 800 different ways to define a forest. This does not necessitate the presence of trees to be classified as forest. It’s also possible to legally designate a forest, regardless of the local vegetation, in some cases. . In addition to regulating global temperatures, forests protect soil from erosion and provide a haven for more than 80% of the world’s animal species and biodiversity on land. They also contribute to a country’s socio-economic development. The term “wildlife” refers to the non-domesticated species of animals. This means that any living creature that lives in the forest is linked to wildlife.