Explain the importance of protecting the forest ecosystem with reference to the following.

a)Climate change.
-Promote regular rainfall/ rains/ precipitation/ prevent desertification;
-Acts as wind breakers;
-Keep earth temperatures cool/ reduce global warming;
-Keeps biological/ biochemical cycles going on e.g. hydrological, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and Sulphur cycles;
b)Biodiversity.
-Conserves diverse flora and fauna;
-Conserves genetic variety;
-Prevents extinction of rare species/ allows continuation/ perpetuation of species;
-Source of research;
-Source of employment/ source of income;
-Aesthetic value/ attracting tourists for foreign exchange;
-Have impact on culture/ religion/ politics;
-Protection/ shelter for other organisms/ man;
-Source of oxygen;
c)Biotechnology.
-Manufacture of medicines/ directly used as medicine;
-Source of food/ food products/ some products are edible;
-Provide fuel when regulated;
-Provide timber/ wood when regulated;
-Provide paper and related by-products when regulated;
-Products are used in other industries (e.g. tannin, wax, rubber, oil, honey, resins, papain);
d)Water conservation.
-Increased ground water/high water tables;
-Adds water into rivers/ lakes/ permanency in existing water bodies/ reservours;
-Water towers/ water catchment areas;
e)Pollution.
-Minimize soil pollution/ ensuring cover against surface runoff/ wind erosion/land denudation/ soil erosion;
-Trees/ vegetation clean the soil surface by absorbing nutrients from decomposed matter e.g. sewage;
-Large scale cleanup of polluted air e.g. dust/ carbon (IV) oxide;
-Muffle/ reduce noise pollution;