Why are Forests Important?

• Forests combat climate change by absorbing greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide) and acting as a carbon storehouse.
• They are a source of oxygen, food, clean water, and medicine.
• They play a vital role in the water cycle – they work to add water to the atmosphere via the process of transpiration.
• Forests help mitigate the disastrous effects of floods by acting as a floodwater sink. Therefore, deforestation also increases the vulnerability of the landmass to certain natural calamities.
• The large mass of trees in forest areas combats soil erosion by providing mechanical support to the soil.
• Forests are home to over 50% of all known species on the planet. They account for over 80% of the land-based biodiversity. Globally, forests are home to approximately 30,00,00,000 human beings.
• They are also a source of raw material for many commercially important products such as paper, wood, and fabric.
• Approximately 1.6 billion jobs are forest-dependent. Forests also account for approximately 1% of the world’s GDP (gross domestic product).