Plant A Tree (PAT)

A recent study has suggested that the process of reforestation around the world would be the most effective method to combat climate change.

Around 0.9 billion hectares of land worldwide would be suitable for reforestation, which could ultimately capture two-thirds of human-made carbon emissions.

The scale of problems that India faces due to lack of adequate forest cover is astounding. Till such time India’s forest cover does not increase, we will continue to face the worst effects of deforestation. These include: poor air quality over the Indian subcontinent; soil erosion; deficient rainfall, flooding, droughts and degradation of our water resources; loss of biodiversity and climate change. In addition to the environmental effects, nearly 27.5 crore Indians depend on forests for their sustenance and daily livelihood and the loss of forest cover adversely affects them.

Forests are the most important national assets for any country because of their immense resource potential and stabilising effect on the ecosystem. While the state and central governments attempt to reverse the trend of deforestation by balancing it with the need for economic growth and prosperity, it is time for us to play our role in increasing forest cover in India.

Human beings are increasingly replacing natural forests with concrete jungles. Every tree cut is as much a cause for concern as a tiger slain. “Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky, we fell them down and turn them into paper, that we may record our emptiness,” wrote Kahlil Gibran. Trees do so much for us; it is time we returned the favour. Plant or adopt a tree today.