Deforestation And Its Causes

A significant variety of plants and animals inhabit the Earth, playing crucial roles in maintaining ecological balance and supporting human survival. Currently, a major threat to the existence of many organisms is deforestation.

Deforestation refers to the clearing or cutting down of forests on a large scale. The land cleared from forests is then used for other purposes. Common reasons for deforestation include:

• Acquiring land for agricultural cultivation to meet increasing food demands.
• Building houses and factories for growing populations and industrial development.
• Obtaining wood for making furniture or using it as fuel.

While many causes are man-made, deforestation can also occur due to natural factors such as forest fires and severe droughts.

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Consequences Of Deforestation

Deforestation has far-reaching and harmful consequences for the environment and living organisms:

• Impact on Climate and Pollution: It increases the overall temperature and pollution level on Earth.
• Increased Carbon Dioxide Levels: Trees absorb carbon dioxide ($\text{CO}_2$) from the atmosphere for photosynthesis. Fewer trees mean less $\text{CO}_2$ is absorbed, leading to its increased concentration in the atmosphere.
• Global Warming: Increased atmospheric $\text{CO}_2$ traps heat radiated by the Earth, causing a rise in global temperatures, known as global warming.
• Disturbance of Water Cycle: Global warming and reduced vegetation disturb the water cycle, potentially leading to decreased rainfall.
• Droughts and Floods: Reduced rainfall can cause droughts. Paradoxically, deforestation also reduces the soil's water-holding capacity and infiltration rate (water soaking into the ground), leading to increased surface runoff and potentially causing floods.
• Lowering of Groundwater Level: Reduced infiltration means less water recharges the underground water table, causing the groundwater level to fall.
• Impact on Soil Properties: Deforestation significantly affects soil properties. Trees prevent soil erosion; their removal leads to increased erosion of the topsoil, which is rich in humus and nutrients. Exposure of the lower, hard, and rocky layers results in less fertile soil.
• Desertification: Continued soil erosion and loss of fertility can eventually convert fertile land into deserts, a process called desertification.
• Shortage of Forest Products: Forests provide many valuable products (wood, medicines, etc.). Deforestation leads to a shortage of these essential resources.
• Impact on Wildlife: Deforestation destroys the natural habitats of wild animals, threatening their survival and leading to loss of animal life.

Overall, deforestation severely disturbs the balance in nature, leading to increased chances of natural calamities.

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Conservation Of Forest And Wildlife

Recognising the severe impacts of deforestation, efforts are made to conserve forests and wildlife. Biosphere refers to the part of the Earth that supports life. Biological diversity or biodiversity encompasses the variety of organisms living on Earth, their interactions with each other, and their relationship with the environment.

To protect the rich flora (plants) and fauna (animals) and their natural living places (habitats), specific areas are designated as protected areas. These include:

• Wildlife Sanctuaries: Areas where animals are protected from any disturbance to themselves or their habitat. Activities like hunting, poaching, capturing animals, felling trees, cultivation, and grazing are strictly prohibited.
• National Parks: Larger areas reserved for wildlife where animals can freely use their habitats and natural resources. These areas aim to protect the entire ecosystem, including flora, fauna, landscape, and historical objects. Hunting, poaching, grazing, cultivation, and collection of forest products are not allowed.
• Biosphere Reserves: Very large protected areas intended for the conservation of biodiversity (wildlife, plant and animal resources) and also the traditional way of life of tribal communities living in the area. They may contain one or more National Parks or Wildlife Sanctuaries within them.

Government agencies, alongside individual and societal efforts, work to manage and protect these areas by establishing rules, methods, and policies.

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Biosphere Reserve

Biosphere reserves are established to conserve biodiversity and the cultural heritage of the area. Biodiversity is the variety of plants, animals, and microorganisms found in a specific region. Biosphere reserves help maintain this variety and the traditional life of tribal inhabitants.

A biosphere reserve is often a large area that can include other protected areas within its boundaries. For example, the Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve includes the Satpura National Park and two wildlife sanctuaries, Bori and Pachmarhi Sanctuaries.

Protecting areas of high biological importance, such as biosphere reserves, is considered vital for preserving our national heritage.

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Flora And Fauna

The plants found in a particular area are collectively referred to as the flora of that area, while the animals found there constitute its fauna.

Within a biosphere reserve or natural forest, it is important not to disturb the animals, as they are comfortable and thriving in their natural habitat.

Examples of flora in the Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve include Sal, Teak, Mango, Jamun, Silver Ferns, and Arjun trees. Examples of fauna in the same reserve include Chinkara, Bluebull, Barking Deer, Cheetal, Leopard, Wild Dog, and Wolf.

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Endemic Species

Endemic species are plants or animals that are found exclusively in a specific geographical area and nowhere else naturally. They can be endemic to a zone, a state, or even a country.

In the Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve, examples of endemic flora include Sal and Wild Mango. Endemic fauna includes the Indian Giant Squirrel, Bison, and Flying Squirrel.

The existence of endemic species can be endangered by factors such as the destruction of their natural habitat, increasing human population, and the introduction of new (non-native) species into their environment, which can outcompete or prey on them.

A species is a group of populations whose members can interbreed and produce fertile offspring only with members of their own species. Members of a species share common characteristics.

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Wildlife Sanctuary

Wildlife sanctuaries are protected areas where animals are safeguarded from being killed (poached) or captured. The law strictly prohibits these activities in sanctuaries and other protected areas.

Wildlife sanctuaries aim to provide protection and suitable living conditions for wild animals in their natural environment. While strict rules apply, in some wildlife sanctuaries, people living nearby may be permitted to carry out certain limited activities like grazing their livestock, collecting medicinal plants, or gathering firewood, without causing disturbance to the animals.

Many threatened wild animals in India are protected and preserved in wildlife sanctuaries, including the black buck, white-eyed buck, elephant, golden cat, pink-headed duck, gharial, marsh crocodile, python, and rhinoceros. Indian sanctuaries boast unique landscapes, such as broad level forests, mountain forests, and bushlands in river deltas.

Zoos also provide protection to animals, but they are different from wildlife sanctuaries. Animals in zoos are kept in artificial enclosures for public display or conservation, whereas in sanctuaries, animals live freely in their extensive natural habitat.

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National Park

National Parks are large and diverse protected areas designed to preserve entire ecosystems. This includes conserving the flora, fauna, landscape, and historical objects present in the area. Human activities such as grazing, poaching, hunting, capturing animals, and collecting firewood or medicinal plants are strictly prohibited in National Parks to ensure maximum protection.

Satpura National Park is recognised as the first Reserve Forest of India and is known for having some of the finest Indian teak trees. India has over a hundred National Parks.

Despite legal protection, even areas like National Parks can face threats from nearby human settlements that encroach upon and damage the forest. Many tribal communities traditionally live within or near forest areas and depend on the jungle for their basic needs, such as food, shelter, and materials.

Within Satpura National Park, historical evidence of prehistoric human life exists in the form of rock shelters and rock paintings, depicting scenes of animals, hunting, dancing, and music. Over 55 such rock shelters have been found in the Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve.

Projects like Project Tiger, launched by the government, aim specifically at protecting endangered species like the tiger and ensuring their survival and population growth in the country. Satpura Tiger Reserve has shown a significant increase in tiger population.

Animals whose numbers are declining to a point where they face the risk of extinction are called endangered animals. Dinosaurs are a well-known example of species that became extinct a long time ago. Many large animals like lions, elephants, wild buffaloes, and barasingha were once common in places like Satpura National Park but are now endangered due to habitat loss and other factors.

It is important to note that not only large animals but also smaller animals like snakes, frogs, lizards, bats, and owls are facing a greater risk of extinction. Killing these animals thoughtlessly is harmful because they play vital roles in the ecosystem, forming parts of essential food chains and food webs.

An ecosystem consists of all the living organisms (plants, animals, microorganisms) in an area, interacting with each other and with the non-living components of the environment (like climate, soil, rivers, deltas).

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Red Data Book

The Red Data Book is a comprehensive sourcebook that maintains a record of all endangered species of animals and plants. This book helps in identifying species that are at risk and serves as a tool for conservation efforts. The Red Data Book is maintained internationally by a global organisation, and individual countries, including India, also maintain their own Red Data Books listing endangered species found within their territories.

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Migration

Migration is a phenomenon observed in certain animal species, particularly birds, where they move from their usual habitat to other distant areas during specific periods each year. This movement is often triggered by climatic changes. For instance, migratory birds fly to warmer regions to escape harsh cold conditions in their natural habitat and for breeding purposes, as the severe weather makes laying eggs and raising young difficult.

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Recycling Of Paper

Paper production contributes significantly to deforestation. Manufacturing one tonne of paper requires cutting down approximately 17 fully grown trees. Therefore, saving paper is directly linked to conserving forests. Paper can be recycled and reused multiple times (five to seven times). By saving, reusing, and recycling paper, we not only save trees but also conserve energy and water used in the paper manufacturing process. Additionally, recycling reduces the amount of harmful chemicals released during paper production.

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Reforestation

The primary solution to counter the effects of deforestation is reforestation. Reforestation means replanting trees in areas that were previously forested but have been cleared. It is best to plant trees of the same species that were originally found in that forest. The goal should be to plant at least as many trees as were cut down. Reforestation can also occur naturally if a deforested area is left undisturbed, allowing the forest to regenerate on its own without human intervention.

Given the significant damage already caused to forests, planting more trees is crucial to preserve our green wealth for future generations.

In India, the Forest (Conservation) Act is a key legislation aimed at protecting and conserving natural forests and ensuring that the basic needs of people living in or near forests are also considered.

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