Trees And Forests Are Most Efficient Ways To Provide Oxygen: Aravind Limbavali
Why environment is more important post pandemic?
The pandemic has devastated many lives and livelihoods. The emergence of the pandemic itself is a clear manifestation of the disturbance caused to the natural ecosystem. The pandemic also demonstrated the extent of the damage and pollution created by man-made activities and how naturally ecosystems can recover quickly if humans stop polluting them.
The pandemic also brought to fore the basic tenets of the our survival- good clean air and sustainable living habits which are essential for the survival of humans that only our clean and sustainable environment can provide.
The increase in the quality of the air in many Indian cities, the improvement in the quality of our rivers and the visibility of the Himalayas from the plain of the Punjab during the lockdown of the pandemic have clearly demonstrated the self-healing powers of the environment .
Forest cover important for producing oxygen?
The pandemic has an very important lesson for all of us. The pandemic has shown that the services provided by our natural ecosystems like clean air and water are never appreciated. It is also clearly proved that pandemics break out when natural ecosystems are disturbed. Visuals of people struggling for oxygen has reiterated the valuable service of trees and forest cover. Trees and forest cover are the most efficient and cost effective means and ways to provide oxygen for all. This pandemic has also shown that the costs humans have to pay for destroying forest cover and trees. The trees are nature’s way of maintaining the balance in nature. Sad, that a pandemic had to make us aware of trees worth.
What can a citizen do to preserve environment?
An aware citizen is a basis on which the environment can not only be protected, conserved and also made to provide the most important protective layer for the survival of human beings.
A citizen can involve himself in tree planting programmes in his neighborhood. He can also create awareness among children and youth and undertake various plantation programmes in schools and common areas like playing grounds, parks etc.,
With urban areas having limited scope for tree planting programme he can also support farmers who grow trees on their land. Forest Department has a popular programme of support tree growing in Farmers land called Krishi Aranya Prothsaha Yojane (KAPY) where farmer is incentivised monetarily to grow trees in his lands. Citizens and corporate organisations can also adopt such tree growing farmers and provide incentives to the farmer encouraging him to grow more trees.
