Page 132 - Health, Population and Environment Education 10

Useful Parts: The whole body of the plant is useful. It gives energy when taken with milk
and honey. It is also used in preparing medicines to treat heart disease, mental disease
and to increase sexual power.

Activity: 2
Study the biodiversity found in the garden of your school and discuss.

Conservation of Rare Plants
Human beings have been using these plants and trees since the ancient time to fulfill their
needs through cultivation, trade, industry, etc. They are the major sources to fulfill our
needs. These days, the extension of human settlement, development activities, pollution,
natural disasters, etc. have adversely affected the quality and quantity of these plants and
trees. Different conservation measures can be adopted to preserve the plants and trees.
The following conservation measures can be adopted to conserve them.

i. Proper Collection of Forest Products
Forest are the sources of firewood, timber wood, medicinal herbs, etc. People should
collect or use these product carefully. They should not affect other plants and trees while
collecting necessary resources from the forest. The young plants should not be affected
while collecting the required materials.

ii. Control of Forest Fire
Forest fire kills lots of young plants,trees, birds, animals, medicinal herbs and many other
biodiversity. It even destroys the seeds and seedlings of common and rare plants which
reduces the quality and quantity of biodiversity. Therefore, forest fire must be controlled to
conserve rare plants.

iii. Reduction of Overgrazing
Overgrazing of cattle makes the forest or pasture land
naked. So, the species of vegetation and animals will
be reduced. On the other hand, people use the land
for cultivation purposes. As a result, the plants, trees
medicinal herbs etc. will be reduced. So, the rare plants
and trees should be conserved by adopting conservation
measures. Fig: 24

iv. Proper Harvesting of Raw Materials
Necessary raw materials like wood, paper, leaves, colour, etc. are collected from plants
and trees. So, these useful plants and trees should not be destroyed. While collecting the
raw materials, if only the useful parts of plants and trees are collected, the whole plant or
tree will not be destroyed. People should be made aware about the utility of rare plants
for medicinal value. This encourages them to conserve such plants and trees.

132 GREEN Health, Population and Environment Education Book-10