By: Sahil Manzoor
Deforestation refers to the cutting of different tree species on a large scale. Deforestation leads to soil erosion, flash floods, risk of high-intensity natural calamities, a decrease in the concentration of oxygen (O2 ) level in the atmosphere, and increase in the Co2, which causes an increase in temperature during summers. In fact forests play a necessary role in balancing natural phenomena. It includes C02+02 this very phenomenon is necessary for the survival of life on this earth and utterly has no alternative for it.
I agree that in our system every subject is important and has an eminent influence in our society like economics, education, political science, mathematics, history, and all the remaining ones. But one thing is true and has been experienced by the experts that ‘’ when there comes environment related issues, to resolve them/sort out them, we need scientific experts because, in this universe, the science field has a colossal influence by several means. In our society there is selfish kind folk, they are damaging, destroying, and smuggling the forest assets for their personal means. Actually, the fact is that forests are not the trees upright there, forests are the golden assets of the nation. There are intellectual classes in our society as well but they are bound to certain limits.
Forests are the gold-like assets for the country and in the state and play an immense role in the environmental balance. Government administration or the concerned forest department should come out from their nests and should initiate counseling programs for the general folk, advertisement hoardings should be displayed at a centrally focused place for awareness and feedback. For the last couple of years, I have visited several forest areas in different districts like Budgam, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam, it is very heart-wrenching and painful that in the past deforestation has taken place at very large quantum and forests looks like deserted and explain the ruthless act done by the selfish people for merely the sake of few countable currency notes.
As we know and are utterly aware that there are documentary movies, poets circulate in their poems, the film industry mentioned in the songs, singers sang in their songs every bit in the forest beautifying nature. The ravishing green tipped leaves, the cylindrical upright trunk of the pine trees, and mesmerizing, whispering, roaring buzzing sound of the dragonfly. In fact, forests beautify our motherland, caters us to exciting movements, and bestow us with exceptional recreational scenes.
In India 7, 12,249 Sq. Km of the total geographical area is under the forests and in Jammu & Kashmir 20,230 sq. km total geographical area under forests. Pir Panjal forest range in Jammu and Kashmir is rich in different kind’s forest trees and plays a pivotal role in terms of the economy of Jammu and Kashmir and provides shelter to several animal species there. Pir Panjal is a group of mountains in the lesser Himalayas region, running from east-southeast to northwest across the Indian territories of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir and then Pakistan’s Azad Kashmir. The average elevation varies from 1400 m to 4100 m. The Himalayas show a gradual elevation towards the Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal ranges. Pir Panjal is the largest range of the lesser Himalayas, near the banks of the Sutlej River it dissociates itself from the Himalayas and forms a divide between the Beas and Ravi rivers on one side and the Chenab on the other. The renowned Galyat Mountains are also located in this range. The region is connected to the valley of Kashmir via the Mughal road and used to be the historical connection of Kashmir with other states of India.
Forests used for recreational activities: since centuries forests have been used for recreational activities like summer camps during the scorching heat of July-August. Forests are used for trekking purposes, mountaineering purposes, hunting, etc. Forests are being used for research means by researchers as well since long, the students of the higher levels who are pursuing their doctorate degrees from the universities are fond of the forests, as they get, what they don’t get anywhere else that’s too on large quantity (herbs, shrubs, grass, trees, plants and several other varieties they want). Uses of forests: As already mentioned in this article, the importance of the forests beside it forests helps balance in the food chains, and food webs, provides shelter to wild animals, and birds, act as the hub of medicinal plants, and proving grazing space to the Tribal nomads and in some places where people who are living nearby the forests also get several benefits without harming them.
What causes deforestation: deforestation takes place when there is an external involvement that disturbs the forest-curbed areas for the means of smuggling, construction purposes, urbanization, timber demand for bridges, buildings, etc. Suggestion; afforestation is the best alternative for the areas where trees have been cut down. But it takes too long to get into its original shape. So we should be aware of the people who try to harm the forest
through local bodies and government administration should pay attention to this section frequently and should hold public awareness programs regularly and deploy sufficient man force during night hours until our society gets vigilant and educated regarding the importance of the forests and its uses.
The author is Pursuing M.Sc. in Environmental Science. He can be mailed at sahilmanzoor0104@gmail.com
