Page 71 - Geography for Secondary Schools Student’s Book Form One
P. 71
Geography for Secondary Schools
Student’s Book Form One
Importance of vegetation to human life 5. Source of medicine: Many plant species
Vegetation plays a crucial role in supporting have medicinal properties. Traditional
human life in a variety of ways. Its medicine heavily relies on plant-
importance spans environmental, economic, based medicine. Pharmaceuticals and
social, and health aspects. Here are some medical research also use plants to
develop new drugs for treatment of
4. FOR ONLINE READING ONLY
key points highlighting the significance of various diseases.
vegetation to human life:
1. Production of oxygen: Through the 6. Source of income: Agriculture and
process of photosynthesis, plants give forestry which, heavily rely on
out oxygen, which is essential for the vegetation, are major contributors to
respiration of living things including the national and global economy. The
human beings. A large amount of cultivation of crops, timber production,
earth’s oxygen is generated by plants, and the harvesting of various plant-
making them vital for our survival. based products provide employment
2. Helps in carbon dioxide absorption: and income for millions of people.
during the process of photosynthesis, 7. Habitat and biodiversity: Vegetation
plants use carbon dioxide to provides a habitat for numerous
manufacture their own food. Therefore, animal species, hence, supporting
vegetation helps to regulate the earth’s biodiversity. Conserving plant life is
climate by absorbing carbon dioxide, essential in maintaining a balanced
which is a greenhouse gas. This gas and healthy ecosystem that sustains all
absorbs outgoing radiation and re- living organisms, including humans.
emits it, thus causing global warming. 8. Climate regulation: Forests, in
Basically, plants act as carbon sinks, particular, play a significant role in
reducing the impacts of climate regulating local and global climates.
change. They influence rainfall patterns,
3. Source of food: Plants are the primary regulate temperature and act as a wind
source of food for humans and other break, as well as a carbon sink.
animals. A diverse range of fruits,
vegetables, grains, and other plant- 9. Aesthetic and recreational value:
based products provide essential Green spaces and lush landscapes
nutrients for human health and growth. contribute to the aesthetic appeal
in urban and rural areas, providing
Help to control soil erosion: Vegetation recreational spaces for leisure
holds the soil together and prevents activities, which can positively impact
erosion by water and wind. Roots of mental health and overall well-being.
vegetation hold soil particles together.
This helps to reduce soil erosion 10. Purifying air: Vegetation filters and
and conserve soil. Vegetation cover purifies the air by removing pollutants
reduces the speed of surface runoff and particulate matter, contributing to
which can cause soil erosion. cleaner air for human beings to breath.
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