According to the National Forest Policy of India, at least 33% of the geographical area must be covered by the forest. However, as of 2021, it is only 21.71% of the total area of the country.
Rapid growth in population is the main reason for deforestation. It has become one of the most severe global environmental issues. It has given rise to many serious issues like forest fires, global warming, sea-level rise, etc.
In this blog, we will understand deforestation, its effects, and remedies.
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What is deforestation?
Removal of forest cover by cutting standing trees is called deforestation. There is increasing demand for wood and other forest products. These activities include urban development, infrastructure, and agriculture purposes. All these processes result in deforestation and ultimately lead to the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem.
Causes of Deforestation
Agriculture
It is said that all the agricultural land that we cultivate today was forested once. Since human civilizations, forests have been cleared to make space for agriculture.
Slash-and-burn agriculture is a method that involves cutting and burning of trees to create a farm-land. The ash produced by the burning of trees enriches the land with nutrients. However, once the productivity of the land decreases, people move to another piece of land to repeat the activity.
Logging
There is an ever-increasing demand for wood products such as timber, paper, etc. So, the forests are being slaughtered legally and illegally. This results in the significant loss of forests.
Urbanization
Expanding cities and infrastructure development requires land for housing, roads, commercial and industrial zones. It leads to the clearing of forests on a large scale.
Mining
Extracting minerals like gold, iron, and coal from beneath the forested areas leads to the destruction of the forest. Also, large-scale mining requires the development of infrastructure which again leads to the degradation of the environment.
Forest Fire
Natural and human-induced fires can destroy the vast landscape of forests in no time. Frequent incidents of forest fires have been reported every year across the globe.
Effects of Deforestation
Loss of Biodiversity
Forests are home to innumerable plants and animal species. Deforestation leads to the destruction of their habitat. Due to this, these species are either endangered or have become extinct.
Soil Erosion
Roots of trees and vegetation hold soil particles tightly helping them to anchor in a place. When forests are cleared, the exposed soil becomes vulnerable to soil erosion. It leads to the loss of soil which ultimately reduces its fertility.
Desertification
Desertification is a severe deforestation that turns productive land arid and infertile. This land becomes unsuitable for agriculture and habitation.
Increased Flooding
Forests slow down the flow of rainfall. Tightly held soil absorbs this flowing water, reducing the risk of floods. However, without this natural barrier, water does not seep into the ground and flows rapidly toward downstream areas. This causes flood-like situations.
Climate Change
Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. But, due to deforestation, carbon dioxide absorption by trees has been reduced to a large extent, causing a rise in the temperature. This phenomenon has contributed to global warming and climate change.
Ocean Acidification
The increased carbon dioxide levels from deforestation contribute to higher carbon dioxide absorption by the oceans, leading to ocean acidification, which harms marine life, particularly coral reefs and shellfish.
Impact on Indigenous Communities
Many Indigenous tribal groups rely on forests for their livelihood. Forests are an integral part of their life. Deforestation encroaches on their home, land rights, food security, and cultural heritage.
Economic Losses
While deforestation may provide short-term economic gains, it can lead to long-term economic losses due to the depletion of natural resources, loss of tourism potential, and increased costs associated with environmental degradation and disaster recovery.
What Can We Do to Combat Deforestation?
Promote Sustainable Forestry
Encourage and implement sustainable forestry practices that meet human needs and maintain forest health for future generations. Allow selective harvesting of trees while ensuring forest regeneration.
Reforestation and Afforestation
Plant more and more trees in deforested areas. Afforestation means planting trees in places that have never been forested. These practices will not only revive the forest but also increase its biodiversity.
Support Indigenous Land Rights
Protect the land rights of indigenous peoples, who are often the best volunteers for forest conservation campaigns. Their traditional knowledge of forestry can prove more valuable to preserve forests.
Reduce Consumption of Forest Products
Do not use products that drive deforestation such as timber, firewood, paper, etc. Choose sustainable alternatives and reduce the consumption of such products.
Implement and Enforce Stronger Laws
Implement and enforce laws to protect forests from illegal logging, land clearing, and other activities that contribute to deforestation. Strict action must be taken against such activities.
Support Conservation Initiatives
Support organizations that work to protect forests. Also, participate in forest conservation activities such as afforestation and reforestation.
Encourage Sustainable Agriculture
Promote agricultural practices that can go hand in hand with forestry. Practices like agroforestry, beekeeping, and animal husbandry must be exercised together to conserve the environment.
Adopt and Promote Eco-friendly Policies
Advocate policies that give importance to environmental sustainability such as incentives for renewable energy, and subsidies for sustainable land use practices.
Educate and Raise Awareness
Educate the public about the importance of the forest and make them aware of the impacts of deforestation. Increase awareness about sustainable practices and the benefits of forest conservation.
Support Fair Trade Products
Buy products that are produced using environment-friendly practices. Avoid buying such products that involve cutting off trees. Several eco-friendly products in the market have been created using 3Rs’ (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle). Use them to reduce the deforestation.
Restore Degraded Lands
Encourage restoring degraded and barren lands. The lands that are not in use for either agriculture or for any other purpose can be forested by using local species.
Encourage Responsible Corporate Practices
Hold companies accountable if their activities impact the environment. Also, encourage by giving subsidies and concessions to those who promote green technology.
Use Technology for Monitoring and Protection
Utilize satellite imagery, drones, and other technologies to monitor forests. It helps to detect illegal activities like smuggling wood and poaching rare animals.
Participate in Global Initiatives
Engage in global programs to reduce deforestation. Participate in initiatives like REDD+ by the United Nations that work on reducing emissions from deforestation. Under REDD+, the UN gives financial aid to developing countries to reduce deforestation.
We must understand our duty to keep this earth green. Everyone can participate directly by stopping the cutting of forests and indirectly by saying no to the products that cause deforestation. Killing these forests is similar to ending our existence on Earth.
So, let’s save forests and forests will save us.
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