Back to Lesson

• Forest – Forests are the large areas covered with trees
• Structure of forests
  • The forest floor is generally covered with; decaying plant parts like leaves, branches, bark, and stem; animal excreta; plants such as creepers, climbers, moss, and growing plants
  • Microorganisms present in this part which helps to decompose the waste material so as to form nutrient rich dark colored material called humus.
  • Forest have variety of plants based on size, shape, fruits and flowers
  • Topmost part of tall large tree is called as crown. Crown of trees in the topmost layer is called canopy, which forms the roof of forest.
  • Each layer provide habitat for different kinds of organisms. E.g. monkeys and birds live on canopy while the animals such as elephant, lion, tiger, deer, bear, live on the floor in the deeper forests.
• Forest or trees prepare their food from process of photosynthesis. These trees and plants are eaten by herbivores as food. Carnivores like lion tiger, etc eat herbivores as their food. This creates a food chain.
• The plant parts, animal excreta and the dead animals are complex substances. These are decomposed by decomposers into simple nutrients. In this way soil becomes rich with nutrients. These nutrients are again used by plants to prepare food.
• Plants takes in carbon dioxide while preparing its food and releases oxygen which is used by living organisms for respiration
• Plants also holds soil at a place. This prevents, flow of fertile layer of soil along with water which we call soil erosion. Soil in turn offers nutrient and support to the plant. Roots of the plant absorb water from the soil. Through transpiration this water get converted into vapours. Vapours travel up in the sky, forms cloud and bring water back on earth in the form of rain.
• Watch complete video about knowing the forests here
• Importance of forest
  • Forests gives large amount of oxygen and are also known as lungs of the earth
  • Forest absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and helps in maintaining the temperature of the earth
  • They bring rainfall
  • Forest prevent soil erosion
  • It prevents flood
  • Reduces pollution
  • Provides raw materials