Forests are important to us in a number of ways:
1. Forests provide us with plenty of useful products, out of which, wood is the most important. Trees provide hardwood for making doors, windows, furniture and other various products like plywood, packing boxes and matchsticks. It is a major raw material to make paper and newsprint.
2. The forests also yield a host of other products such as lac, resins, gums, fruits, medicinal herbs, dyes, honey, cellulose, grasses and leaves.
3. They prevent soil erosion by binding the soil with tree roots. Hence, floods are also controlled.
4. They provide natural habitat for wildlife.
5. They play an important role in maintaining the ecological balance, by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.
6. Forests increase the moisture content in the air. Therefore, we need to conserve our forests.
