Disasters of Deforestation

                            Forests are the precious gifts of nature. They have a great role in sustaining the life on earth. From air to petroleum are the gifts of trees. Even if man was ignorant in his early stages he later came to know about the significance and importance of the nature. They worshipped trees and nature as their deities. This is effectively seen in epics too. in 1651 Charles 2nd hid behind oak trees for the fear of his enemies, in Kerala it was inside the teak that Marthanda Varma took refuge to save himself from the Ettuveettil Pillai.

                              Sandalwood is one of the most exploited trees these days. Due to its herbal and medicinal value, steps are taken to protect them. But these woods in Marayoor are indiscriminately invaded and stolen. We all know about Neem. Its leaves are one the effective herbal treatment in ayurveda. Neem oil cake is very good manure too. Eucalyptus is another herbal tree.
Trees like banyan tree do a great deal by regulating the climate and purifying the air. We know about rain forests. They have an important role in regulating the climate and maintaining ecological balance. They supply us with oxygen- 1/5 of atmospheric oxygen is produced by trees. Once the earth was rich with 14% of forest. But now it is just 6%. Per year about 338 lakh square kilometers of forest is destroyed. But in this 6% of forest area more than 50% of earth’s living beings is sheltered. Diversified and varied species of animals and plants are found in the rainforests. Along with the forest, these organisms and forest tribes of rare and strange culture are also diminishing. From times immorable trees kepps the soil fertile and yielding and they provide refreshing shades too.

Lets see what all things have to be suffered from the feeling of trees. The greatest problem is global warming. This happens when carbon dioxide increases. Recently it was found that in 1955 the amount of carbon dioxide in atmoshphere was only 310 PPM. But in 1958 it was 350 PPM. Now it has hiked up to 385 PPM. But before the industrial revolution it was only 280PPM. And it will be 500 PPM by the end of this century itself. Because of the severe heat the ice and glaciers are emlting rapidly which rises the sea level and treat of floods. When the earth becomes hot and oceans also gets heated and evaporation rate is increased. This results in cyclones. We had seen many cyclones in this century itself like Katrina, Dennis and Evan (America), Nargis in Myanmar and Ila in Bengal.

The acidity of oceanic water, the high and low rates of rain etc are other consequences. Let me ask all those who are favoring felling of trees something. For the sake of profit and welfare is it fair to dig your graves?

Remember “your planet needs you, Unite to combat the climate change.”