Importance of Forests

• Serve as habitat and environmental regulators.
• Provide resources for fuel, lumber, recreation, and commerce.
• Contribute to economic development.

Role of Forest Management

• Develop, protect, and manage forest resources sustainably.
• Improve public quality of life while conserving resources.

Global and Indian Forest Coverage

• Global:
  • Forests cover ~30% of the world; pastures ~26%.
  • Largest forested areas: Africa (33%), Latin America (25%).
  • Lowest forest cover: European countries (3%).
• India:
  • Forest cover accounts for 21.67% of the total geographical area (2019).

Major Forest Products

• Timber and Softwood:
  • Timber (e.g., teak, mahogany) for furniture and tools.
  • Softwood (e.g., pine, cedar) for construction and paper pulp.
  • Timber Producers: J&K, Punjab, MP.
  • Fuelwood Producers: Karnataka, WB, Maharashtra.

Minor Forest Products

• Grasses:
  • Sabai grass for paper, khus grass for cooling screens, and munj grass for furniture.
• Bamboo:
  • Known as “poor man’s timber” for roofing, flooring, basketry.
  • Major producers: AP, Telangana, Tripura, Mizoram, MP.
• Cane:
  • Used for furniture, ropes, mats, and umbrella handles.
  • Found in moist forests of Andaman, Karnataka, MP, Kerala.

Specialized Forest Products

• Tans and Dyes:
  • Derived from plants (e.g., mangrove, wattle, red sander).
  • Used in leather and textile industries.
• Oils:
  • Extracted from sandalwood, lemongrass, eucalyptus.
  • Applications: cosmetics, confectionery, pharmaceuticals.
• Gums and Resins:
  • Gum for textiles and cosmetics; resin for industrial uses like varnish, adhesives.

Additional Products

• Fibers and Flosses:
  • Used in rope-making and stuffing materials.
• Leaves:
  • Tendu leaves for bidi wrappers (major producers: MP, Bihar).
• Drugs and Spices:
  • Quinine for medicine, cinnamon and cardamom for spices.
• Animal Products:
  • Lac for dyeing silk and plastic production.
  • Other products: honey, silk, horns, and ivory.

Economic Contribution

• Employs ~3.5 million people.
• Contributes ~2% to government revenue.
• Generates significant foreign exchange.