(i) Forest resources

(ii) Water resources

(iii) Mineral resources
(iv) Food resources
(v) Energy resources
(vi) Land resources.
A. NATURAL RESOURCES
Unit-II
Natural Resources 23
2.1 FOREST RESOURCES
Forests are one of the most important natural resources
on earth. Providing the earth with a green cover, the forests
also offer several environmental services which are essential
for sustenance of life.
About 33% of the worlds land area is under forest cover.
Former USSR (now CIS) accounts for about 20% of the
worlds forests, Brazil for about 15% and Canada and USA,
6-7%. But over the years the forest cover has been reduced
due to reckless deforestation by man almost all over the world,
particularly in tropical Asia.
Forest Resources/Wealth
Plants have been dominating the earth for about 3.0
billion years. They have the unique art of manufacturing
their own food by photosynthesis from nature and the
rest of the living world depends on them for their food
and sustenance. Plants constitute 99 per cent of earths
living species and the rest 1 per cent include animals and
man who depend on the plant world for their food. If this
ratio (99:1) is disturbed by elimination of plants (i.e.,
deforestation), then the natural balance will be lost and
the entire living world will suffer most. This dynamic
balance is among plants (producers), bacteria and microorganisms
(decomposers who decompose mineral salts in
soil into elements which are cycled back into plants) and
animals plus man (consumers). Once this dynamic balance
is upset, there would be ecological crisis and the entire
biosphere would be in danger.
Forests are renewable resources and have a key role in
improving the quality of environment by exerting beneficial
effect on the life support system. Moreover, forests also
contribute much to the economic development of the country
by providing goods and services to people and industry. They
are the treasure house of valuable plant and animal genes
24 Environment and Ecology
and medicinal plants, most of which are yet to be discovered.
Hence tropical forests, in particular, are regarded as
bioreserves. Our ancient civilisation flourished in forests,
where Indian philosophy was built up by our rishis (seers).
It is well-known that forests play a vital role in the life
and economy of all forest-dwelling tribes. They supply food
(tuber, roots, leaves, fruits and meat from animals and birds),
medicinal herbs and other forest products for commercial
use which provides for forest-based subsistence.
Around 3000 BC, India had about 80 per cent forest cover.
During the Maurya period of history emperor Chandra Gupta
Maurya and later his grandson Ashoka adopted the policy of
tree-plantation. Emperor Ashoka also ordered the