Forests and World Forestry Day

A forest is an area of land dominated by trees and worldwide hundreds of definitions of forest are used. The Food and Agriculture Organization defines a forest as land spanning more than 0.5 hectares with trees higher than 5 meters and a canopy cover of more than 10 percent, or trees able to reach these thresholds in situ. It does not include land that is predominantly under agricultural or urban land use. Using this definition FRA 2020 found that forests covered 4.06 billion hectares or approximately 31 percent of the global land area in 2020 but are not equally distributed around the globe. Forests are distributed around the world, the dominant terrestrial ecosystem of Earth and than half of the world’s forests are found in only five countries (Brazil, Canada, China, Russian Federation and United States of America). The largest part of the forest (45 percent) is found in the tropical domain, followed by the boreal, temperate and subtropical domains. It is reported that forests account for 75% of the gross primary production of the Earth’s biosphere, and contain 80% of the Earth’s plant biomass. Net primary production is estimated at 21.9 gigatonnes carbon per year for tropical forests, 8.1 for temperate forests, and 2.6 for boreal forests. Human society and forests influence each other in both positive and negative ways. Forests provide ecosystem services to humans and serve as tourist attractions. Forests can also affect people’s health. Human activities, including unsustainable use of forest resources, can negatively affect forest ecosystems. Forestry is the art and science of managing forests, tree plantations, and related natural resources. Silviculture, a related science, involves the growing and tending of trees and forests. Modern forestry generally concerns itself with: Assisting forests to provide timber as raw material for wood products; wildlife habitat; natural water quality management; recreation; landscape and community protection; employment; aesthetically appealing landscapes; biodiversity man agement; watershed management; erosion control; and a ‘sink’ for atmospheric carbon dioxide. A practitioner of forestry is known as a forester. Note that the word “forestry” can also refer to a forest itself. Forest ecosystems have come to be seen as one of the most important components of the biosphere, and forestry has emerged as a vital field of science, applied art, and technology. The benefits provided by forest ecosystems include: goods such as timber, food, fuel and bioproducts ecological functions such as carbon storage, nutrient cycling, water and air purification, and maintenance of wildlife habitat social and cultural benefits such as recreation, traditional resource uses and spirituality. All people depend upon forests and their biodiversity, some more than others. Forestry is an important economic segment in various industrial countries, as forests provide more than 86 million green jobs and support the livelihoods of many more people. Forests act as a source of food, medicine and fuel for more than a billion people. In addition to helping to respond to climate change and protect soils and water, forests hold more than three-quarters of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity, provide many products and services that contribute to socio-economic development and are particularly important for hundreds of millions of people in rural areas, including many of the world’s poorest. The significance is discussed as (a) They Bring Rainfall; Forests are responsible for rains on the land. Due to forests, the clouds get cooled and convert to rainwater. So one can notice heavy rainfall in the areas of forests and around. Forests slower the monsoon currents (winds) and let the clouds move slower over land. They help cool the temperature to convert water vapor in the clouds to water droplets and cause rain. Hence there are no rains in the deserts. (b) Reduce the effect of natural calamities: In the case of natural disasters like tsunami, floods, hurricanes, cyclonic winds. The presence of abundant forests helps us minimize the effects of these disasters. Hence when there are tsunamis, the areas with more trees at the shore have less damage. Further, healthy forests are necessary to combat global warming. (c) Prevent Soil erosion: Soil erosion is a process where fertile top layers of soil are carried away by winds and water. The top layers of soil are essential for the growth of crops and trees. Soil erosion is a natural activity happening due to winds, rainstorms and floods. The presence of forests helps to minimize this soil erosion. The presence of forests can slow down these winds and minimize the effect. (d) Minimize air pollution: Forests are called the lungs of the planet. The presence of forests nearby can reduce air, sound, and even thermal pollution. Forest has many plants and trees which minimize air pollution due to gases like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, etc. The wind on the earth moves from one place to another and reduces the concentration of harmful gases. Similarly, gas and air pollution diffuses all over the air and get less severe. The nearby forest helps to absorb these pollutants like carbon dioxide from the air by the trees. Hence, forests have environmental benefits too. (e) Mitigate global warming and climate change: The presence of forests is one of the reasons for low temperatures. When there is extensive deforestation, it leads to global warming and climate change drastically. The only way we can counter global warming and climate change is to go for extensive forestation. That is why forests are to be grown extensively be countries as per the Paris climate accord. (f) Availability of food: Forests are the evergreen source of food materials. Even today, many tribes who live in forests away from the modern world survive in forests by eating food available there. Many fruits grow naturally in the forest, like custard apples, blueberries, raspberries, etc. People also relish the non-veg food processed from animals in the forests. Honey is a sugary liquid produced by honey bees after consuming nectar from flowers. It is widely used in medicine, ice-creams, sweets, and other confectionery. It is mostly obtained by cultivation using honey bees in controlled boxes. But honey from the wild forest has its taste and strength than the farmer made one. (g) Source of Medicine: Forests provide even essential drugs, like cinchona, cinnamon, eucalyptus, etc. The smaller medicinal plants are grown by farming. But drugs like cinchona available from large trees are available from forests alone. The medicines procured by this method are mostly alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, etc. Besides, one can also get essential oils. (h) Wood for Furniture: Forests are the sole reserve for the best wood needed for wood products. There are many kinds of woods for different purposes like insect repellent ones (neem), red sandal, teak, etc. (i) Vacation and pleasure trips:
Nowadays, many forests are exploited as picnic spots. Though this may be disturbing to the native animals and people, the governments still encourage tourism revenue. There are various picnic and holiday packages offered to spend time amid forests. (j) Forest provide shelter to animals (Ecosystem): Forests provide shelter to animals as they are some of the safest and comfortable habitats for animals and birds. Many animals, birds can dwell peacefully without the threat of extinction in woods as it is a natural home for them. They even find sufficient food for the day and live together with their herds or groups. Forests are heaven for animals and nowadays unfortunately they do not find them and roam into areas of human dwellings. (k) Scientific research: Forests also give access to scientific studies and research. Many scientists spend time in forests to study the effect of circadian rhythm, animal behaviors, the effect of seasons, etc. Thus the benefits of forests reach millions of people all over the world. (l) Economic benefits: Forest provides many resources that have significant economic benefits. Few countries economy depends mostly on forest products. For example, the red sandalwood from the jungles is of immense value. Based on this, the governments are planning to capitalize on the sale of the wood. Similarly, in other countries, the presence of rain forests attract a lot of tourists. (m) Aesthetics: Plants are the jewellery of earth. These add to the scenic beauty of land. In presence of shady and flowery plants, the area becomes attractive. In addition to aesthetics the forest spots produce favourable smells and musical effects.Why are Forests Important? Forests are our land’s trees and plants that cover a third of the earth’s surface symbolized by the color green in the common definition of environmentalism. There are many reasons why forests are an important feature for the environment and in our daily lives. They are fundamental life forms and provide for the continuity of the world’s biodiversity which is necessary for economic development, diversity of life forms, human livelihood, and environmental adaptive responses. Forests are mainly important because they stabilize climate, regulate the water cycle, and provides habitat to thousands of life forms. Below are the leading reasons signifying the importance of forest. The main reasons why forests are important and why should we protect forests from getting axed are Supports Ecosystems and Habitats, Protects Watershed Areas, Supports Biodiversity, Purifies the Air, Stabilize Climate, Enrich the Soil, Regulates the Water Cycle, Medicinal Value, economic Significance.
“The forest is a peculiar organism of unlimited kindness and benevolence that makes no demands for its sustenance and extends generously the products of its life activity; it affords protection to all beings, offering shade even to the axe-man who destroys it.”
World Forestry Day is celebrated around the world to ring a bell among the society about the significance of forests and the scores of benefits which are gained from them. The concept of celebrating a day every year as World Forestry Day originated at the 23rd General Assembly of the European Confederation of Agriculture in 1971. The event also venerates the contribution of the forests. Every year, 21 March is distinguished as World Forestry Day. The 2021 Theme for the International Day of Forests is “Forest restoration: a path to recovery and well-being”. “Forest restoration: a path to recovery and well-being”. Opening the high-level ceremony to mark the International Day of Forests, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, described forest restoration as a path to global recovery and well-being. “Healthy forests mean healthy people. Director-General said, Forests provide us with fresh air, nutritious foods, clean water and space for recreation, and also for civilization to continue,”. More than 1 billion people depend on forest foods and 2.4 billion people use fuelwood or charcoal to cook their daily meals, noted the Director General. “Forests are also green pharmacies. In developing countries, up to 80 percent of all medicinal drugs are plant-based.” Yet, despite their importance, the area of forests continues to shrink. FAO’s most recent Global Forest Resources Assessment states that each year, the world loses more than 10 million hectares of forest.” We can change this. We have the knowledge and the tools,” said the Director-General.” Restoring forests – and managing them more sustainably – is a cost-effective option to provide multiple benefits for both people and the planet. Investments in forest restoration” Qu continued, “will contribute to economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic by creating green jobs, generating livelihoods, greening cities, and increasing food security.” The FAO Director-General said that “Forest restoration offers us a solution to build back better and achieve the future we want. Let us all become part of the ‘Generation Restoration’ and restore the planet for better production, better nutrition, better environment and a better life. And finally, we can have a better world, a better civilization to continue.” A forest just doesn’t mean trees but it’s an entire complex, a living community. Many interdependent species of plants and animals dwell beneath the forest canopy; the forest soil is a home to large variety of invertebrates, bacteria and fungi which play an essential role in cycling nutrients in the soil and the forest. The reckless felling of trees is creating many problems in the surroundings so the need of the hour says that everybody should ponder seriously over this issue and stop activities that are against the welfare of forests. Everybody should actively involve themselves in prevention and creation of new forests. And situations of deforestation and over-gazing should be avoided. According to rules of Forest Department, 10 trees should be planted in exchange of cutting down one tree. Though, in last two decades only 1% trees have been planted. The survival of the rich generation of flora and fauna in the country is in danger due to exploitation of forests. Chopping down forests in hilly areas results in loosening of soil, thus the upper layer of fertile earth is eroding which is leading to uncontrolled rain and flood. And India is a country which is highly dependable on its agriculture, hence. it becomes even more important for us to protect our forests and prevent them from any ill practices. Finally, we suggest that every individual of the world should play his/her role in conservation of forests. Human beings have been familiar with the plants existing in the natural environment since the pre-civilization era as they have been utilizing the services of trees as a source of food, shade, sports gear and weaponry. The inextricable relationship between the man and trees has since grown manifold. Their respective perpetuation is mutually interdependent. Yet the man has exhibited cruelty to the silent trees by embarking on damaging practices for meeting the selfish ends of the so called development. Islam is the moderate divine religion which believes in the golden principle of live and let live. Man is the best creation of Almighty Allah. Human beings have been empowered to make use of the natural resources for fulfilling their needs of course, not at cost of extinction of the biodiversity. Man is required to maintain congenial environment for survival of wide range of biodiversity. The Creator has appointed man as His vicegerent on the Earth for looking after the plants and animals. Man has been advised to preserve the trees even during adverse environment of war. Islam encourages planting of trees and considers it Sadaqa Jaria, which benefits even after death. Stopping the destruction of forests and such harmful deeds is the collective duty of all human beings. Local people, religious leaders, social workers, teachers throughout the globe should be involved in awareness program.
(The authors write regularly on social and environmental issues for “Kashmir Horizon” exclusively. Views are their own)

[email protected]