Ecological & Economical Significance of Narmada Forest Division, India

Narmada Forest Division has habitat of total 668 angiospermic plant species which make forest significant plant diversity which support lot of micro to macro diversity in this area. Narmada Forest Division has potentiality of total 113854.8 Metric tons carbon per annum. Therefore, NFD Forests are one of the largest carbon reservoirs in Gujarat state which provides various ecosystem services or direct and indirect services in the area. Our study also showed that Narmada Forest Division (NFD) has feasible for ground water extraction. So, forests play a critical role in the well-being and proper function of the hydrological cycle. According to surveyed literature in present study, forest also play role in recharge groundwater supplies, maintain base flow stream levels, and lower peak flows during heavy rainfall or other natural calamities. Narmada forest soils are rich in nutrient status and advocate the vegetation growth and there is symbiotic relationship between forests and soils. Forests play symbiotic relationship with the soil and conserve the soil organic matter and diversity. Forests restrict the soil erosion by binding the soil particles tightly in the roots.