Van Mahotsav, literally stands for ‘Forest’ (van) and ‘Festival’ (Mahotsav). It is a Hindi Word which means ‘Tree Festival’. It is celebrated every year in the country in a bid to raise awareness about the importance of trees. Usually held from July 1 to 7, the festival finds mass participation of people, including government agencies, civic bodies and educational institutions across the country. As a part of Van Mahotsav celebrations, afforestation drives are launched in a bid to retain the vanishing forest covers of the country.
In the name of urbanization and globalization of cities, trees are considered as the major stumbling block. The easiest solution is to get rid of them altogether for the construction of roads, flyovers, pavements etc. The decline in the forest cover has raised concerns across the entire globe. Henceforth, there is a dire necessity of festivals like these, to restore the forest cover in the country. “It takes drop by drop to fill a pitcher and it takes tree by tree to form a forest”. Every single tree is important.
The initiative started in July 1947 after a flourishing tree planting drive was undertaken in Delhi. It had the participation of National leaders like Dr Rajendra Prasad and Jawaharlal Nehru. It was then started in 1950 by K.M. Munshi, the then Union Minster for Agriculture and Food. The aim was to instil enthusiasm among masses for forest conservation and planting trees.
Some of the objectives of Van Mahotsav as visualized by Dr Munshi were:
- To increase production of fruits, which could be added to the potential food resources of the country
- Help create shelter-belts around agricultural fields to increase their productivity
- Provide fodder leaves for cattle to relieve intensity of grazing over reserved forests
- Boost soil conservation and prevent further deterioration of soil fertility
Why are forests decreasing?
- Urbanization: Humans with their greedy needs have cut down a large part of the forest cover.The promise of jobs and prosperity, among other factors, pulls people to cities. Half of the global population already lives in cities, and by 2050 two-thirds of the world’s people are expected to live in urban areas.
- The rapid growth of urban population, both natural and through migration, has put heavy pressure on public utilities such as housing, sanitation, transport, water, electricity, health, education and so on. Urban land is increasingly scarce, whether for housing, industrial development, recreation or open space. due to which trees are cut in large numbers.
- For industries let’s take the example of Haryana; where in last 30 years, forests nearly two third the size of Haryana have been lost in 23,716 industrial projects and encroachments. It is the example of only one state, we can imagine how many trees must have been cut to build industries all over India.
- Commercial Use: Trees are cut for timber and pulp. Timber being used for furniture and other goods and pulp being used for papers. For example: it takes 12 trees to make 1 ton of 100% non- recycled news print. India is home for 82,237 Newspapers and henceforth we can imagine how many trees are cut daily.
- Agricultural effects: Trees are being cut to increase the area of cultivation from years. Shifting cultivation is another cause where, after the deforestation lands are used till they loose fertility and left like that only. Slash and burn method is another thing where forests are affected in large scale, they are burnt for cultivation..
- Natural disasters like fire also consumes more or little amount of forests
In fact, according to a report by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the total remaining tree cover of India that included forests and non-forest areas was 24.16% in 2015.
Effects
- Increase in carbon foot- print
- Loss of home to wildlife
- Air pollution
- Greenhouse effect
- Global warming
- Decreased amount of rain
- Soil erosion
Why are Forests Important?
- Protects Watershed Areas: Forests act as watershed regions. Approximately all the water comes from forest-derived water tables and from within the rivers, lakes, and streams in forest areas. Streams and rivers running through forests are protected from sun’s radiation and drying by the forest cover.
- Supports Biodiversity: Forests serve as reserves for the genes of biodiversity. This is because forests carry about 90% of all the earth’s species, both plants and animals. Forests also support biodiversity where different plants and animals can easily thrive. Forests also support the life of some of the world’s endangered species.
- Regulates the Water Cycle: Forests also regulate the natural cycle of water evaporation and subsequent condensation and precipitation as rain. Forests make this possible by absorbing and redistributing rainwater pretty equally across the entire geographical coverage.
- This is mostly termed as water economy. Forests also absorb considerable amounts of water from runoff and pass it down into the aquifers, replenishing groundwater supplies.
- Stabilize Climate: Forests serve as climate stabilizers. Trees and plants regulate atmospheric temperatures through evapotranspiration. In urban settings, for instance, the presence of trees can reduce the dependence of air conditioners.
- Large forests regulate regional temperatures by absorbing the sun’s radiant heat and promote rainfall as well as cool climate as an effect of evapotranspiration.
- Purifies the Air and Enriches the Soil.
- To further highlight the importance of trees, we can take the example of dense mangrove forests growing along the coastal areas of our country. They helped in reducing the devastating effects of the Tsunami in 2004. They absorbed the oncoming waves and protected a large number of human habitations.
WHAT CAN BE DONE?
- In agriculture, we can do agroforestry and mixed cultivation.
- Industries should sign an agreement for reforestation.
- Alternatives for production of paper.
- Explore possibilities of recycling of the used products so that it can be used to offer similar or other benefits with less wastage.
- Plant trees and incorporate the care of city green spaces as a key element in urban planning.
- GREEN MARKETING: Many companies have started realizing that they must behave in an environment-friendly fashion. They believe both in achieving environmental objectives as well as profit related objectives. Examples include Coca-Cola, which has invested in various recycling activities.
- The Indian government too has developed a framework of legislations to reduce the production of harmful goods and by products. We as responsible citizens of the country must appreciate and encourage such efforts as environment is what sustains us and the quality of our life essentially depends on our surroundings.
Let’s pledge to “Save our Mother Earth” in whatever ways possible for us.
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