Reprint of the original, first published in 1870.

The forest contributes major natural resource for maintenance of ecological balance. In India and in many other countries natural forests are shrinking at a faster rate than expected. The density of forest cover is also diminishing. The natural forest ecosystems are the results of growth, development, interaction and stabilization of different species, both of plants and animals over centuries. The ecological balance has been upset due to rapid growth of human population and subsequent increase in the demands for utilization of natural resources. As per FAO, 42 million acres (16.8 million ha) of forest area disappear every year globally, which in the tropics frequently leads to soil erosion and contributes to the loss of 15 million acres (6 million ha) of arable land.