We depend on forests for our survival. According to researchers, it is said that the forest provides man with more than 50,000 products. Trees absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and release oxygen. They play a vital role in reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Forests act as the biggest storehouse of carbon. It absorbs harmful greenhouse gases that cause global climate change and absorb 40 per cent of the emissions of fossil fuels that humans produce.
The treetops of the canopy layer of the forest lessen the impact of rain on the soil, and the roots of the tree hold the soil in place, thus offering watershed protection and reducing soil erosion. The dead plants on the floor of the forest decompose to form organic matter and make the soil rich with nutrients. Large forests can influence regional weather and can promote regular rainfall. Thus forests are unquestionably one of the most precious ecosystems, yet we are oblivious of them.
It is high time to take steps to protect the lungs of the earth, forests and sustainable forestry can be the best possible practice to conserve them and maintain a balance in the ecosystem.
Why Sustainable Forestry?
As long as human beings are there on this planet, there will be demand for forest products and in order to satisfy their need, we have to sacrifice our forests. Each year we lose nearly 2 million acres of forest area, i.e. 60 acres are destroyed per minute. Sustainable forests aim to replace trees that are felled so that forests can grow and also provide materials for us. Thus, the trees that are cut down are replaced with seedlings which will eventually grow into mature trees. An ideal sustainable forest will be consisting of trees of all ages and often there will be trees of different species.
Here Are Some Sustainable Forestry Practices
Practices of sustainable forestry change depending on the forest, specific environment, and the sources that are to be extracted from the forest.
- Surveying the land that is going to be a part of the project- In this process, the focus should not be on just making an inventory of timber, but also about various wildlife species present and also have an idea of the various environmental issues such as proximity to urban areas and watersheds.
- Develops strategies for the growth of healthier plants by using an insecticide that is ecologically correct and keep the water clean.
- Growing timber on long rotation.
- The number of goods and services are taken from the forest should be at a level that the forest is capable of producing without degradation of soil or any other damage in the future.
- Encouraging forest regeneration and productivity is important.
- Monitoring the health of the forest by collaborating with the local communities and ensuring the preservation of the cultural heritage of the forest.
- Promotes selective cutting of trees or small groups of most tree species.
- Reforestation is a key aspect of sustainable forestry.
- Recycling papers to reduce the requirement,
Forest and its products are very important for human being’s existence. Man cannot forbid himself from using those products. So we need to discover mechanisms that can manage forests in a sustainable manner. And sustainable forestry is one such method through which we can fulfil our need without depleting natural resources for the next generation.
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About the author: Radhika R is a student of Christ University Bangalore. She is pursuing her Masters in English with Cultural Studies. She completed her UG in English Literature from Kerala. Her areas of interest are mythology and arts