Question

Short note on importance of natural vegetation for the human beings

Answer 1

Answer:

Vegetation is a general term for the

plant life of a region; it refers to the

ground cover provided by plants, and

is, by far, the most abundant biotic

element of the biosphere.

Vegetation serves several critical

functions in the biosphere, at all

possible spatial scales.

First, vegetation regulates the flow of

numerous biogeochemical cycles, most

critically those of water, carbon, and

nitrogen; it is also of great importance

in local and global energy balances.

Such cycles are important not only for

global patterns of vegetation but also

for those of climate.

Second, vegetation strongly affects soil

characteristics, including soil volume,

chemistry and texture, which feedback

to affect various vegetational

characteristics, including productivity

and structure.

Third, vegetation serves as wildlife

habitat and the energy source for the

vast array of animal species on the

planet (and, ultimately, to those that

feed on these).

Vegetation is also critically important to

the world economy, particularly in the

use of fossil fuels as an energy source,

but also in the global production of

food, wood, fuel and other materials.

Perhaps most importantly, global

vegetation (including algal

communities) has been the primary

source of oxygen in the atmosphere,

enabling the aerobic metabolism

systems to evolve and persist.

Lastly, vegetation is psychologically

important to humans, who evolved in

direct contact with, and dependence

on, vegetation, for food, shelter,.