Deforestation – A Global Concern
The major population explosion experienced in the past few decades has had a tremendous impact on the earth. Along with the rapid progress and economic development, there has been massive destruction of the forests all over the globe. The land thus obtained has been mostly used for income generation, creation of food crops and housing development. The need of the day is to bring about focused measures to protect whatever rain forest is still in existence today, but also to promote its recreation.
One of the most important reasons for deforestation is the generation of food. The sudden increase in the global population has demanded that enough food be generated, so forests were depleted to create land for agriculture. The communities in Asian and African countries practice shifting land cultivation, where land for agriculture is created with the help of forest fires, after which a new patch of forest is destroyed for the same purpose. African and American cattle ranching have both become another major reason for the destruction of forests. In some cases, massive tree planting schemes are undertaken; however, these are not able to recreate the same ecosystem that once existed, therefore the effort is rather redundant.
The other major reason for deforestation is housing. People all over the world are looking forward to owning a piece of land, which they can call home. The rapid population increase, plus the popularity of the nuclear family has pushed the demand for real estate through the roof. This is another burning reason why trees are felled and forests are destroyed. Though most countries have rules and regulations regarding depletion of forests, authorities often choose to ignore the practices of local contractors.
The massive deforestation that is taking place all over the world is obviously due to the demands of the growing populace on the planet. Until a decade or so ago, progress meant comfort, pleasure and safety. Today, it is synonymous with destruction and mismanagement of natural resources. Strong action is called for today, as only stringent measures will help the environment to regain its strength and beauty. Promote forest conservation and regeneration of our rain forests. The need for action is urgent and imperative.
By Environmental Editor
