1. CHAPTER - 17
Forests : Our lifeline

2. 1) Forest :-
Forest is a natural habitat for many different kinds of plants
and animals. Forests provide food and shelter for animals.
Some common animals found in a forest are :- lion, tiger,
elephant, monkey, deer, zebra, jackal, bison, boar, snake,
porcupine, crocodile etc.

3. Some common types of plants found in forests are :trees like
teak, bamboo, fig, saal, sesham, semal, neem, palash, khair, amla,
kachnar etc.
Forests also have several kinds of shrubs, herbs and grasses,
climbers, creepers etc.
TEAK BAMBOO FIG SHEESHAM
SAL NEEM AMLA KACNAR

4. 2) Products we get from forests :-
We get several useful products from forests like wood, spices, gum,
oils, honey, sealing wax, catechu, fodder for animals, medicinal plants
etc.

5. 3) Characteristics of trees in forests :-
The branchy part of a tree above the stem is called the crown of the tree.
The crown of trees have different shapes.
Some crown shapes of trees
The branches of tall trees look like a roof over the other plants in the forest.
This is called a canopy.
Trees have different heights, crowns, shapes of leaves, flowers and fruits.

6. 4) Interdependence of components of forest :-
Forest has different types of plants and animals. They are autotrophs,
heterotrophs, saprotrophs and decomposers.
Autotrophs:- are green plants which prepare food by photosynthesis.
Heterotrophs:- are animals which get their food directly or indirectly
from plants.
Saprotrophs:- are animals which feed on dead animals.
Decomposers:- are micro organisms which decompose dead plants and
animals into humus.
Food chain:- Organisms which feed on plants are eaten by other
organisms and so on to form food chains.
eaten by eaten by eaten by eaten by
Eg : Grass Insects Frog Snake Eagle
There are many food chains in the forest. All food chains are linked
together. If any food chain is disturbed, it affects other food chains.
Every component of forest depends on one another. If we remove one
component like trees, all the other components are affected.

7. 5) Balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere :-
During respiration plants and animals take in oxygen and
release carbon dioxde. During photosynthesis plantstake in
carbon dioxide and release oxygen. So plants help to maintain
the oxygen and carbon dioxide balance in the atmosphere.
This is why forests are called green lungs.
Oxygen
Plants Animals
Carbon dioxide

8. 6) Importance of forests :-
i. Forest is a natural habitat for a large number of plants
and animals.
ii. Forest help in maintaining the oxygen and carbon
dioxide balance in the atmosphere.
iii. Forests help in bringing good rainfall.
iv. Forest help to protect soil from erosion.
v. Forest absorb rainwater and helps to maintain water
table.
vi. We get medicinal plants, timber and many other useful
products from forests.
vii. Many people live in forests and forest provide them with
food, water, shelter and medicines.