CBSE Class 8 Answered

Forests have been very crucial to the development of all empires and settled developments in India.

• Metal ores such as iron and copper, gold and silver, coal and diamonds, invaluable timber, most medicinal herbs and animal products (e.g. wax, lac and honey) and animals themselves (elephants, the mainstay of imperial armies), all came from the forests.
• The continuation of life depended heavily on forests that helped recharge many of India’s rivers and the availability and quality of our air and water.