Fors.
3201 Introduction to Forestry (1+0)
II/2024-25 – 2021 Admission: Unit III – E and F batches
Lecture 14. Productive and Protective functions
Production and protection (which is the cornerstone of sustainability) are, two
fundamental attributes of all agroforestry systems.
Agroforestry systems have a productive function which is yielding food, fodder,
fuelwood, timber, fibre, honey, animal products, fish etc, as well as a Protective function.
Protective functions of agroforestry systems are windbreak, shelterbelt, soil conservation,
water conservation, soil improvement, biodiversity preservation, shade. The emphasis
given for productive function should not diminish the importance given for protective
function. Although production is a very important function in agroforestry, it is the protective
function that makes it different from other approaches to land use.
All agroforestry systems have both productive and protective roles, though in varying
degrees. Depending on the relative dominance of the particular role, the system can be termed
productive or protective.
FUNCTIONS OF FORESTS
Forests are world's air-conditioners and earth's blankets. Without forests, this world
would be an inhospitable place to live in. Forests are the most valuable natural renewable
resources of the earth. Forests help life on earth by performing various functions. Some of
these functions are:
(A) Productive function
(B) Protective and ameliorative function
(C) Recreation and educational function
(D) Developmental function
A. Productive functions of forests
Forests are valuable natural resources. The goods provided by the forests are of immense
importance to animals and mankind. Wood is a major forest produce and it is extensively
used for various purposes. In India, most of wood produced is used for construction of house,
agricultural implements, bridges, sleepers, etc. In India about 12.5 million cubic metres of
timber is produced from the forest. Many species e.g. teak, sal, deodar, sissoo, babul, chir,
haldu, axlewood, rosewood, dipterocarps, etc yield valuable timber.
1. Wood is a universal fuel. Approximately 175 million cubic meters of wood is used as
fuel in the country, most of which is obtained from the forests.
2. Forest provides raw material to a large number of industries e.g. paper and pulp,
plywood and other board, saw mills, furniture making, packing cases, match boxes and
toys.
3. A large number of non-wood products are also available from forests. These are
commonly called Minor Forest Products (M.E.P.) not because these are of minor
significance but since they are harvested in smaller quantities. Some of the important
minor forest products are as under:
(i) Fibres and Flosses: Fibres are obtained from best tissues of certain woody plants
which are used for making ropes. Flosses are obtained from semal (Dombax ceiba)
and kapuk (Ceiba pentandra).
(ii) Grasses and Bamboos: A large variety of grasses are found in the forests. About
20 per cent of 419 million livestock graze in the forests. Among valuable grasses,
sabai grass (Eulaliopsis binate) is harvested annually to the tune of about 80,000
tonnes. About 5.5 million tonnes of bamboo is harvested from our forests every year.
(iii) Essential Oils: India produces about 1500 tonnes of essential oils from forests
every year. It utilizes in making soaps, perfumes, detergents and chemicals. Many
species e.g. Eucalyptus spp., Bursera spp., Cymbopogon spp, Santalum album, etc.
produce these oils.
(iv) Oil Seeds: Many tree species, e.g. Madhuca indica, Pongamia pinnata, Shorea
robusta, Azadirachta indica, Schleichera oleosa, Vateria indica,etc. produce oil
bearing seeds which are commercially important. Some of these oils can be made fit
for human consumption. Presently these seeds are used in soap industry. Tribals use
these oils for various purposes. There is a potential of production of about 1 million
tonnes of oil every year from forest tree seeds.
(v) Tans and Dyes: A variety of vegetable tanning materials are produced in the
forests. Important vegetable tanning materials are the myrobalan nuts and bark of
wattles (Acacia mearnsiii, A. decurrens. A. nilotica and Cassia auriculata,
etc. Katha and cutch are obtained from Acacia catechu trees.
(vi) Gums and Resins: Gums and resins are executed by trees as a result of wound or
injury to the bark of wood. Gums are collected from several tree. Species,
viz. Sterculia urens, Anogeissus latifolia, Lannea coromandelica, Acacia nilotica,
Cochlospermum religiosum, Pterocarpus marsupium, Butea monosperma etc. Resin
is obtained from Pinus roxburghii. (Chirpine)
(viii) Tendu Leaves and Other Leaves: Tendu leaves are used to produce bidi and
therefore, these are also called bidi leaves. Annual collection of tendu (Diospyros
melanoxylon) leaves is about 90,000 tonnes in the country. Madhya Pradesh alone
contributes about 45 per cent of this quantity. Leaves of trees such as, Bauhinia
spp, Butea spp, etc. are used for making plates, drona, etc.
(ix) Edible Products: Fruits, flowers, seeds, tubers, etc. of several forest species are
eaten. Anacardlum occidentale, Tamarindus indica. Syzygium cumini, Emblica
officinalis, Buchanania lanzan, flowers of Madhuca indica, green pods of Moringa
oleifera, new shoots of bamboo, etc. are in great demand.
(x) Lac and Other Products: Lac is a resinous secretion of the lac insects which feed
on forest trees, particularly of Butea monosperme. Similarly, silk is another
important product from forests. It is obtained from the cocoons of silk worm. Silk
worm is raised on Terminalia alata and Morus alba plantations for obtaining
silk. Honey is another product which is obtained from forests.
(xi) Fodder and Grazing: Forests provide fodder leaves and grazing facility to the
rural animals. About 20 per cent livestock population depends upon forest grazing
and leaf fodder supply. Leaf fodder of several tree species is almost as nutritious as
that of agricultural fodder crops. Good fodder yielding tree species include;
Ailanthus excelsa, Moringa leifera, Sesbania spp,Morus alba, Albizia excelsa,
Moringa leifera, Sesbania spp., Morus alba, Albizia lebbeck, Leucaena
leucocephala, Pongamia pinnata Hardwickia binata, etc.
B. Protective and Ameliorative Functions
1) Forests play a significant role is maintaining the CO2 balance in the
atmosphere. Without sufficient forest cover, the CO2 which is released in the
atmosphere will not be utilized completely resulting higher per cent of the CO2 in the
atmosphere. The CO2 per cent in the atmosphere has already reached 0.042 per cent
against the normal of 0.030 per cent. If this increases continuous higher temperature
and other disturbances on the earth may bring about un-imaginable miseries to the
mankind.
2) Forests increase local precipitation by about 5 to 10 per cent due to their Geographic
and micro-climatic effects. These create condition favorable for the condensation of the
clouds.
3) Forests reduce temperature and increase humidity. Temperature in the forests is 3°C to
8°C less than the adjoining open area.
4) Forests maintain the productivity of the soil by adding a large quantity of organic matter
and recycling of nutrients. The leaves of trees are used as manure. Supply of firewood
from forests releases dung for the use as manure.
5) Tree crowns reduce the violence of rain and check splash (sound) erosion. Forests,
increase infiltration and water holding capacity of the soil resulting in much lower
surface run-off. This in turn results in checking of soil erosion.
6) Forests check floods. They intercept 15 to 30 per cent of the total rainfall. They increase
infiltration rate and water holding capacity of the soil. This results in reduced surface
run-off and checks erosion. Mostly floods are caused due to siltation of river channels,
caused due to erosion and higher peak discharges caused due to greater surface run-off.
7) Forests conserve soil and water both.
8) Forests and trees reduce wind velocity considerably. Reduction of wind velocity causes
considerable reduction in wind erosion, checks shifting of sand dunes, and halts the
process of desertification.
9) Forests, by reducing erosion check the siltation of irrigation and hydral reservoirs.
10) Forests are the store-house of genetic diversity. Several unknown plants may have
potential for medicines and food.
11) Forests protect from physical, chemical and noise pollution. Duct and other particulate
and gaseous pollutant cause serious problems, forests protect us from such pollutants.
12) Forests and trees provide shelterbelt and windbreak effect which is beneficial to
agricultural crops, particularly in arid and semi-arid areas. Shelterbelt and windbreak
increase agricultural production.
C. Recreation and Educational Functions
1) Forests provide recreational facilities to the people. A large variety of trees and shrubs,
animals and birds attract a large number of people towards them. National parks and
sanctuaries, which are rich in flora and fauna, are visited by a large number of people.
2) Environment to Birds/Birds songs.
3) Aesthetic value
4) Forests provide experimental field and laboratory for learning to college and university
students.
5) Forests provide a natural healing effect for a number of diseases. We have a number of
sanatoriums established in well wooded areas.
D. Developmental Functions
1) Forests provide employment to a large number of people.
2) Forests and various forest activities help tribal to improve their socio-economic
condition through collection, processing and marketing of various forest products and
by providing gainful employment.
3) Forests help to earn a good sum of revenue to the government which is used for various
developmental works. During every year forests gives revenue worth of about more
than Rs. 20,000 million.
4) Development of ponds / conservatories for fisheries.
