Page 79 - Science Class 08
P. 79
8 8 8
Conservation of Plants and Animals
• Importance of Forests • Deforesta on • Consequences of Deforesta on
• Conserva on of orests F • Wildlife • Conserva on of Wildlife
• Endemic Species • Threatened Species • Red Data Book
Forests are important renewable natural Maintaining Biodiversity
resource. They cover the earth like a green Forests also maintain biodiversity which is
blanket. It is es mated that about one third of important for the smooth func oning of
the world’s land area is covered with forests. In ecosystem. Biodiversity is referred to as the
India, the total area under forest cover is 65.75 variety and variability of all microorganisms,
million hectares, out of the total land area of plant and animal life. Many plants, animals and
328 million hectares. It is about 22.74 percent microorganisms together with bio c compo-
of the land area. But, it is a ma er of great nents make an ecosystem. A number of such
concern that there is a rapid decline in forest ecosystems are found in the forests. These
cover all across the world including India. You ecosystems of the forests are essen al for the
should remember that forests of a country flora and fauna found in the forests. Loss of any
make a natural asset of immense value and are of the components may disturb the ecosystem
useable in many ways. which may further affect the biodiversity.
IMPORTANCE OF FORESTS Maintaining Groundwater
Forest are very important for life on the earth.
Forests maintain the groundwater level
Let’s study their importance: because forest’s soils absorb rain water during
Habitat for Flora and Fauna rains and do not allow it to evaporate or run-off
Forests provide habitat to a wide variety of rapidly. The hilly slopes with forests cover
flora and fauna. Species of plants together are conserve water and allows it to percolate to
known as flora and the species of animals meet groundwater body through sub-soil
together are known as fauna. These flora and springs, etc.
fauna fulfil all their requirements from the
forests.
Science-8 79
