DEFORESTATION

INTRODUCTION: India has a great diversity of its natural ecosystems. Indian forests range from evergreen tropical rain forests to semi-evergreen forests, sub-tropical forest and alpines in the lower mountain zones. LOCATION OF FORESTS: The main areas of tropical forests are found in the Andaman and Nicobar islands, the Western Ghats which fringe the Arabian Sea coastline of peninsular India and the greater Assam region of Northeast. Small remnants of rain forests are found in Orissa state. LOSS OF WOODS: Evergreen forests have degraded into semi-evergreen forests due to human intervention Teak, Sal and Indian rosewood trees are found here in plenty. Felling of woods for firewood and timber goes on despite restrictive laws. RECORD BREAKER-RED WOOD: Growing in California, U.S.A, the worlds tallest tree is a coast redwood, rising to the dizzying height of 112m (368 ft)-taller than the statue of Liberty. GREAT WEALTH OF INDIA: India has a great wealth of biological diversity in its forests, its wetlands and marine areas. 350 species of mammals, 1224 varieties of birds, 408 types of reptiles, 197 kinds of amphibians, 2546 types of

fishes and 15,000 kinds of flowering plants are available in India. India has 172 species of animals considered globally threatened. AREAS OF OUTSTANDING UNIVERSAL VALUE: World Heritage convention in 1977 has declared 5 sites as area of outstanding Universal value.These are-(1)Kazirange National Park (2)Keoladeo (3)Manas National Park (4) Sundarbans National Park(5)Nanda Devi National Park. LOSS OF TREES: Poor people in India depend heavily on firewood for their cooking needs. They fell trees but fail to replace the felled trees with new saplings resulting in deforestation. Reduction in forest cover has resulted in land slides in hilly areas. In the past 5 years, rainfall have successively failed. The rice bowl of South India literally went dry. Paddy cultivation came to a halt. People migrated in large scale to neighbouring states seeking employment. FINANCIAL SUPPORT: Tribals can be encouraged to involve in sustainable lumbering. Soft loans can be extended to tribals to grow trees and wait for fringe benefits of the forests. Sandalwood and timber smugglers should be subjected to severe punishments. CONTROLLING DEFORESTATION: Awareness campaigns must be organized throughout the state against exploitation of forests wealth in our country. Greening should be extended to school campus, villages and all the waste lands

throughout the country importance should be given to Vanamahotsava Day. Evils of deforestation must be highlighted through street dramas and mass-media. Afforestation can reclaim the lost forest coverage. Government and Social Organisations encourage planting of saplings and spend lots of money on this programme. They should also see to the well being of the trees. Barren lands can be brought under cultivation. This will reduce deforestation. CONCLUSION: We must promote afforestation efforts by involving local bodies, NGOS and school children. If we do not protect forests, life on the earth will be wiped out due to lack of water and oxygen.