Afforestation – The need of the hour

The word ‘Forest’ sends chill down the spine of children with the
imagination of tigers, elephants, cheetahs, colourful birds etc. The
imagination changes for each age groups and it is the scenery of water
flowing down the streams surrounded with thick vegetation for some and
steep cliffs & invisible ways for some others. Forests are the Mother
Nature’s gift to living creatures including human beings. It is the place
where the life originated and prospered.

In earlier times, forests were everywhere and human settlements were

supported with the products of forest. However, with the growth of
civilisation as well as explosion in population, settlements have grown
unbounded, eating into the forest cover. The ever increasing demand for
forest products and the present concept of development have put severe
pressure on forest, resulting in its disappearance from large parts of earth.

With the disappearance of the Mother Nature’s green cover, earth is

getting heated-up. With the absence of air purifying tree cover, the
pollution level is increasing, resulting in green-house effect. Along with the
forest, population of other inhabitants of the forest like wild animals are
also shrinking and getting extinct. If this continues, there will be a day
where forests and wild animals can be seen only in postcards and
eventually will threaten the existence of humans also.

The act of de-forestation is changing the fine balance existing in the

nature. There are changes in monsoon pattern, floods, increase in number
of severe cyclones, raise in sea level etc. Before the things go out of control,
it is our duty to initiate corrective actions against the harm done to nature.
Afforestation, which means converting new land mass to forest is the way
through which we can mitigate the harmful effects of vanishing forests.
Afforestation is highly important to maintain biodiversity and ecological
balances. It is also important to prevent global warming, soil erosion and
pollution. Afforestration purifies the environment and helps in reducing the
carbon dioxide level. Afforestation also helps in generating Employment for
the needy.

Preventing deforestation and starting afforestation cannot be the sole

responsibility of elected government. We should know that the Chipko
Movement was started by Shri Sunderlal Bahuguna to stop indiscriminate
felling of trees in the Himalayas. It is the duty of all and we must work
together to make it a success. As a common citizen, we should take the
initiative of planting the saplings in our surroundings and taking their care
through watering.

Thank you