The importance of forest in enviromental protection

School: Ho Chi Minh University of Foreign Languages and Information

Technology
Department: Foreign Language
Code: 14DH710439

The importance of forest in environmental protection

Authored by: Nguyen Le Minh Thuyet

Submitted to: Mr. Nguyen Thuong Tri, M.A
Hochiminh city University of Foreign Languages - Information
Technology

Submission date: Dec 20, 2016

The importance of forest in enviromental protection

Abstract
The purpose of this research is to identify the role of forest in
environmental protection.Forest issues are a big deal not just an area
covered with trees providing homes for several creatures that play a
big role in the conservation of biodiversity. Forest functions
maintain water supplies and absorb greenhouse gases to reduce
climate change. The research concludes by strongly calling an
attention to help prevent climate change by putting an end to
deforestation.

ii

The importance of forest in enviromental protection

Forests cover a third of the earths surface that occupy an important

place in the life of man. It is already common knowledge that we
depend on forests for our survival. In addition to its significant values
of biodiverity conservation, it also acts as vital factor in protecting
water resources against soil erosion and mitigating climate change.
Although we depend on forest directly or indirectly, the deforestation
rate remains so high in many countries.
Forest are vital to species biodiversity by providing habitats for both
plants and animals. For example, The Rainforest Action Network
indicates that about 50 percent of plants and animals species in the
world live in the tropical rainforests. Although rainforests cover only
about 6 percent of the Earths surface, they are home to many plant
and animal species. Loo Judy A. contends that the amount of
biodiversity reflected by numbers of species and genetic variation
within species (2009). The Amazon rainforest is a prime example of
how forest act as a crucial habitat for numerous species. Being the
largest forest in the world, the Amazon holds approximately 40 000
plant species, 427 mammals, 1 300 bird species, 378 reptile species,

more than 400 amphibians and around 3 000 freshwater fishes (Da
Silva et al, 2005, p. 689-694). Biodiverse forest ecosystems are
essential to species looking for new habitats duo to the changing
climate. It is important to know that forest are extremely crucial to
several creatures
The importance of forest in enviromental protection

and species. So, we should recognize the vast amount of life that is
depended on this type of ecosystem.
Besides, forest also plays a big role in protecting water resources. We
are not new to the fact that water is the most vital element of all
natural resources and is essential to life.
They serve as a watershed ( an area of land that gives water to a
stream or river). Almost all water comes from rivers and lakes and from
forest. The Amazon, which has been described as lungs of our planet,
is by far the largest watershed and largetest river system in the world
occupyinng over 6 million square kilometers. Over two-thirds of all the
fresh water found on Earth is in the Amazon Basins rivers, streams,
and tributaries.( Leslie Taylor, 1996). Forests and woodlands have a
close relationship with our water resources, and forest management
and water quality are closely linked.( Forestry Commission,2011)

Forests that sustainably managed also play an important role in

maintaining water quality by reducing soil erosion and thus reducing
water quality deterioration.
Erosion reduces forest productivity mainly by decreasing the soil
water availability. This is a result of changing the water-holding
capacity and thickness of the root zone (Swanson et al., 1989). Erosion
usually removes nutrients available to plants. We can partly offset
these losses by using fertilizer applications, but the costs will
The importance of forest in enviromental protection

greatly increase and are uncommon. Removal of the loose, organic

surface materials promotes surface sealing and crusting that decrease
infiltration capacity and may increase erosion (Childs et al., 1989).
According to Pedology expert Amaranthus, erosion also results in loss
of important soil biota, such as mycorrhizal fungi, which facilitate
nutrient uptake by plants (Amaranthus et al., 1989, 1996).
In his article Capturing the value of ecosystem services to protect
biodiversity, Reid (2001) concluded that people have settled
historically in areas rich with natural resources, and today most of the
worlds population lives downstream of forested watersheds. Day by
day, human societies have created strong cultural links with forests,

and we have to admit that forests are significant in maintaining a

supply of good-quality water. Conversely, we are still allowing them to
disappear.
Moreover, forests can be the part of the solution to mitigate climate
change. Forests and climate are intrinsically linked: the loss of forests
is both a cause and an effect of our changing climate. Franklin
D. Roosevelt states that A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself.
Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh
strength to our people. As most of us know plants absorb carbon
dioxide during photosynthesis and give us oxygen to breath in return.
Recent research done in 2014 at Wyoming University shows that the
terrestrial biosphere may absord more carbon
The importance of forest in enviromental protection

dioxide than previously thought- Professor Ying Sun, Wyoming

University. According to U.S Department of Agriculture, forests
... absorb some pollutants in the natural life processes common to all
plants. In an exdiange of gases, plants take in carbon dioxide, convert
it to food, and release oxygen. This exchange occurs through stomata
or pores on the leafs surface. During normal opening of these pores,
other elements may also enter. These include pollutants such as

chlorine, sulfur dioxide, and fluorides. The plant uses some of these
materials as food, and releases others into the air or soil. In this way,
plants receive nutrition and possibly help to purify the air as well
(1977, p. 5). Because carbon dioxide is a major greenhouse gas. Forest
can help reduce climate change.
So lastly, There is no doubt that forests do a good job of supporting
biodiversity by offering enbling habitats where different plants and
animals can easily thrive. Soil erosion is also be prevented by the
water resources protection of the forests. By absorbing cacbon dioxide,
forest could mitigate the effects of climate change on the ecosystems
that we rely on. However, the best place to fight pollution is still at its
source. What we need to do is putting an end to deforestation, finding
new and cleaner sources of energy, making better use of mass
transportation, because forests cannot prevent all pollution
problems.
The importance of forest in enviromental protection

References
Loo Judy A. (2009). Forest and forest plants vol. III The Role of Forest
in the Preservation of Biodiverity. Paris: EOLSS Publications

Da Silva, B.Rylands, & Da Fonseca. (2005, June 7). The Fate of the
Amazonian Areas of Endemism.Conservation Biology, 19 (3),
DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2005.00705.x
Leslie Taylor (1996) Rainforest facts. Retrieved December 18, 2016,
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Leslie Taylor (1996) Rainforest facts. Retrieved December 18, 2016,
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Maintaining the Long-Term Productivity of Pacific Northwest Forest
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The importance of forest in enviromental protection

Amaranthus, M.P., J.M. Trappe, and R.J. Molina. 1989. Long-term forest
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