CBSE Class 7 Science Chapter 12 Forests: Our Lifeline Important Questions - Free PDF Download
FAQs on Important Questions for CBSE Class 7 Science Chapter 12 - Forests: Our Lifeline
1. Why are forests our lifeline? What will happen if forests disappear from our lives?
Forests give us food and oxygen. They prevent soil erosion and provide an area of living for numerous animals. Forests help to maintain the cycle of rainfall in the neighbouring areas. They provide us with numerous plants that have medicinal properties. Forests help to maintain temperature on earth through natural processes like photosynthesis and transpiration. If forests disappear then we will have to face several natural disasters like floods, landslides, etc. Moreover, there will be a loss of biodiversity that will disbalance the ecosystem.
2. How does a forest sustain a large variety of animals?
Forests are the home of different types of living organisms including herbivores, scavengers, carnivores and decomposers. Forests provide suitable surroundings to the organisms for living. The living creatures get their food and nutrition from the forest itself. All organisms are a part of the food chain to maintain a balance in the ecosystem. Herbivores eat plants, carnivores feed on herbivores to sustain. Scavengers like eagles feed on the dead bodies of living organisms. Decomposers depend on the dead and decaying matter in the soil. Thus, forests support all types of organisms.
3. What helps forests to grow and regenerate?
The soil helps forests to grow and regenerate. The plants and trees in the forests grow and reproduce independently. The process of regeneration is as follows -
The dead parts of plants, trees, and animals along with their waste products get collected on the forest surface.
The decomposers feed on these dead remains and change them into humus.
This humus makes the soil fertile and provides nutrients to plants and trees, thus, helping them grow and develop.
4. How do animals help forests to grow?
Animals help forests to generate and grow in two ways:
Animal wastes like animal droppings or dung get converted into humus by the action of decomposers. Humus can also be made through the dead bodies of animals. It provides nutrients to the soil and makes it fertile. Hence, helping plants to grow.
Animals act as pollinators and disperse seeds of flowers, trees and plants in the entire forest, thus, giving rise to newer vegetation.
5. What are the causes of deforestation?
There are several causes of deforestation. These are -
Forests are demolished to obtain wood for generating paper.
Trees are cut down to get timber for building different types of furniture and houses.
Trees are demolished to get firewood that is used as fuel.
People cut forests so that they can clear the land and grow other exclusive crops.
Many builders clear the forests to construct industries, buildings, roads, dams, houses, etc.