Afforestation- The need of the hour

Imtisenla walling & Ph Romen Sharma

ICAR-ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Nagaland Centre, Medziphema

 

According to a study, climate change is already contributing to the death of nearly 400,000 people a year and costing the world more than US$ 1.2 trillion, thus wiping 1.6% annually from the global GDP. Climate change is the result of the acceleration in the increase in temperature and CO2 concentration over the last 100 years. Human activities, driven by demographic, economic, technological and social changes, are increasingly having a major effect on the interactive global systems driven by climate, land, water and vegetation. Change in land use pattern and urbanization is one of the most visible effects of global population growth. Manmade land degradation affects the suitability of land for agricultural use. For example, 19-23 ha of suitable land are lost per minute due to soil erosion and desertification (UNCCD, 2014).

 

Increases in emissions of anthropogenic CO2 and other radioactively active gases are causing changes in the composition of the atmosphere. In the recent past, it has become a burning issue in every part of the globe to access the climate change behavior using past records and to predict the future expected global change. Global atmospheric concentration of CO2 has increased from a pre industrial value of about 280 ppm in 1750 to 400 ppm in 2013. Climatic variability is also projected to increase, leading to uncertain onset of rainfall and more frequent extreme weather events

 

According to the annual administrative report of the department of environment, forests and climate change 2017-2018, Nagaland has only 52.04 % (approximately 8629 sq. km) forest cover left of its total geographical area. Out of the 52.04 percent area, Government owned forests comprise of only 2.20 percent, and government controlled (private owned) forests consist of 5.98 percent, while the village owned forests constitute 45 percent. Forest cover in our State has decreased by 450 sq km since 2015, according to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2017

 

In a state like ours, with largely rural population, substantial people rely on agriculture and significant forest resources. Recently the climate has become highly variable especially the rainfall patterns which provide a great risk to our farmer. There was an increase in the frequency and the intensity of heavy rainfall events, mean annual rainfall showed a lot of variations and an increase in cloud cover. Air surface temperature is on a rise, maximum temperature showed an increase trend while minimum temperature showed a decrease trend. Extreme weather events are on rise.

 

Over the years, increase population, urbanization, shifting cultivation, logging operation has led to the shrinking forest area of our state too. Deforestation have a negative impact on the environment. Soil erosion and landslides have become a normal phenomenon which seriously threaten the safety of the people and damage their properties. Plants and animals are on the verge of extinction. Each year there have been incidents where the wild animals have destroyed properties of villages located near the forest. Trees absorb water in large quantities during heavy rains. But due to large scale deforestation there are very less trees to retain water. This again leads to heavy floods causing heavy loss of life and property.

 

Study confirms that afforestation offers a high potential for carbon sequestration at moderate cost, and could therefore become an alternative to or could complement other mitigation options. Before afforestation can be considered as a serious means to mitigate climate change, deforestation has to come to an end through conservation policies and stricter law enforcement on the ground. China has initiated a large afforestation programme, with plans to increase afforested area by 40 Mha by 2020, a measure which was found not only to sequester carbon but also to decrease local land-surface temperatures (Peng et al 2014). And in December 2015, ten African countries launched AFR100, and initiative to restore 100 Mha of degraded and deforested land by 2030 – partly as a climate change mitigation measure (WRI 2015). These developments are just few of many that indicate that global afforestation efforts now have better prospects for success

 

It is therefore true that afforestation is the need of the hour and should be taken up by one and all to combat the issues of global warming, soil erosion, pollution, and the maintenance of biodiversity and ecological balances. By planting trees and creating forests, many of the commercial needs of human beings are fulfilled, while not destroying what is left of the planet. It is an important measure to mitigate global warming. This practice promotes biodiversity and wildlife habitats; energy conservation; and, in some cases, poverty reduction. Improves the quality of soil, water and air; promotes water conservation; supports biodiversity, wildlife habitats, and conservation of other biomes. According to Emily E. Old field etal 2013, there was an observed changes in soil physical, chemical and biological properties on the site where trees were planted, management improves traits of urban soils that are critical for infiltration, decomposition, mineralization and nutrient retention.

 

Conclusion

In order to mitigate climate change, land-based carbon dioxide removal will likely have to play an important role. Afforestation has been identified as a comparatively low-cost option to sequester carbon. Afforestation set in the right context and done at the right location it can well be a complement to other mitigation options. More awareness should be carried out about the result of deforestation, community based programes should be organized and run to encourage the people for afforestation. Forest is source of wealth. It is the duty of all and all must work together to make it a success.

 

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