Forest Our Lifeline Class 7 Notes – Importance, Products, and Conservation Explained
“Take a deep breath… Did you know the air you just inhaled might be cleaned by a forest far away? Forests are like the planet’s green lungs—let’s explore why they’re our lifeline!”
🌳 Forest Our Lifeline – Simplified Notes
1️⃣ Introduction & Importance
- Forests are called green lungs because they release oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide, keeping the air clean and balanced.
- They act as nature’s water filters, store rainwater, prevent floods, and maintain the water table.
2️⃣ Visit to the Forest
- Characters: Boojho, Paheli, their friends, Prof. Ahmad (scientist), Tibu (village boy).
- Town wanted to cut forest for a factory → many opposed to protect environment.
- Children explored the forest with Prof. Ahmad and learned about:
- Silence in forest to avoid disturbing animals.
- Green cover—treetops hide the ground; cool, fresh air.
- Animals & Birds make warning calls when disturbed.
- Monkeys, boar, bison, jackals, porcupine, elephants live in deeper areas.
3️⃣ Forest as a Habitat
- Plants/Trees: sal, teak, semal, sheesham, neem, palash, fig, amla, bamboo, kachnar, shrubs, herbs, grasses, creepers.
- Animals: monkeys, deer, squirrels, insects, frogs, snakes, eagles, vultures, jackals.
- Forest provides food, shelter and protection for countless species.
4️⃣ Structure of a Forest
- Crown: Branchy part of a tree above the stem.
- Canopy: Roof-like cover formed by branches of tall trees.
- Understorey Layers:
- Top layer – giant tall trees.
- Middle layer – shrubs and tall grasses.
- Bottom layer – herbs and small plants.
5️⃣ Products from Forests
| Product | Plant/Tree Examples |
|---|---|
| Gum | Babool, Acacia |
| Timber (wood) | Sheesham, Teak, Sal, Pine |
| Medicinal | Neem, Tulsi, Amla, Ashwagandha |
| Oil | Sandalwood, Eucalyptus, Neem |
| Honey | From beehives in forest flowers |
| Sealing wax | Secretions of certain trees |
| Catechu (katha) | Khair tree |
| Spices | Cinnamon, Clove, Cardamom |
| Other items | Bamboo (paper, furniture), Fuel wood, Rubber, Fruits, Fodder |
6️⃣ Seed Dispersal & Regeneration
- Trees produce enough seeds naturally.
- Forest floor has ideal conditions for germination (moist, warm, rich in humus).
- Animals & birds help in seed dispersal through droppings and by carrying seeds on fur/feathers.
7️⃣ Decomposers & Humus
- Micro-organisms (fungi, bacteria) and small animals (ants, beetles, millipedes) break down dead plants and animals.
- Produce humus—dark, nutrient-rich material that enriches soil.
- Nothing goes waste: nutrients are recycled back to plants.
8️⃣ Food Chains & Interdependence
- Example: Grass → Insects → Frog → Snake → Eagle.
- All organisms—producers (plants), consumers (herbivores/carnivores), decomposers—are linked.
- Disturbing one link (like cutting trees) affects the entire forest ecosystem.
9️⃣ Role in Water Cycle & Rain
- Trees absorb water from roots and release water vapour by transpiration.
- Dense canopy slows raindrops; water seeps gradually into soil → prevents floods, recharges groundwater.
- Forest cover helps maintain local rainfall and cool climate.
🔟 Benefits to Humans
- Provide oxygen, timber, firewood, paper, rubber, medicines, fodder, fruits, honey, spices, oils, sealing wax.
- Forest people/tribal communities depend on forests for food, shelter, and medicine.
If Forests Disappear
- More Carbon dioxide → Global warming.
- Loss of biodiversity: animals lose food & shelter.
- Soil erosion & floods due to loss of tree roots.
- Disturbed water cycle → droughts, irregular rainfall.
- Endangers human life and environment.
Conservation Measures
- Avoid deforestation, overgrazing, indiscriminate felling of trees.
- Plant more trees (afforestation).
- Use forest resources wisely and promote sustainable development.
🟢 Summary
Forests are dynamic living entities:
- Provide oxygen, water, food, medicine, and raw materials.
- Protect soil, maintain climate, and house countless species.
- Recycle nutrients so nothing is wasted.
Protecting forests = Protecting Life on Earth.
✏️ Quick Questions & Answers Of Forest Our Lifeline
Q1. Why are forests called “green lungs”?
A: Because plants release oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, purifying the air.
Q2. What is humus?
A: Dark, nutrient-rich substance formed by decomposition of dead plants and animals.
Q3. Name three forest products used daily.
A: Paper (from wood), honey, medicinal plants like neem or tulsi.
Q4. Explain seed dispersal in forests.
A: Animals carry seeds on their fur or through droppings; wind and water also spread seeds.
Q5. How do forests help in controlling floods?
A: Canopy slows down rain, roots hold soil and let water seep slowly into the ground.
Q6. Write a forest food chain.
A: Grass → Deer → Tiger.
Q7. What will happen if forests vanish?
A: Increase in CO₂, rise in earth’s temperature, extinction of species, soil erosion, water cycle disturbance.
Forests maintain oxygen balance and keep the water cycle balanced.
For real-world conservation steps, see WWF’s forest initiatives.
Prefer a quick watch? 🎥 5-minute Forests: Our Lifeline video explains it all.
Summary – Forest Our Lifeline Class 7
Forests are called Earth’s green lungs because they release oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, and keep the water cycle balanced. They have three layers—canopy, understorey, and forest floor—each providing food and shelter for diverse plants and animals.
We obtain many products from forests: timber (teak, sal), medicinal plants (neem, tulsi), oils (sandalwood, eucalyptus), gum, honey, bamboo, and more.
Forests support food chains such as grass → deer → tiger, showing how plants, herbivores, carnivores, and decomposers are interdependent. Micro-organisms decompose dead matter into humus, enriching soil nutrients.
If forests vanish, carbon dioxide rises, wildlife loses habitat, soil erodes, floods increase, and rainfall patterns break down—endangering life.
Conservation steps: plant more trees (afforestation), avoid over-grazing, use forest resources wisely, and protect wildlife sanctuaries.
In short: Forests give us air, water, food, medicine, and climate control. Protecting forests means protecting all life. and more such posts visit Curious Cornor – Education