AFFORESTATION

INTRODUCTION

Afforestation is the creation of a forest or tree stand in a region where no earlier vegetation cover existed. Forests provide us with oxygen and are an essential condition for survival. Our country’s population increase has contributed to a decrease in the forest area. The forests that purify the air were cut down, and new towns and factories were built in their place.

Not only has this impacted the world, but it has also affected us the most because we have disrupted the balance of nature that was important to our survival. Hence, recognising the value of afforestation is the need of the hour. March 21st is the UN International Day of Forests, which promotes forest and trees’ importance in our lives. Also, Van Mahotsav is an annual one week tree planting festival in India, celebrated in the 1st week of July.

SIGNIFICANCE OF AFFORESTATION

“Afforestation” is important in India, as rapid deforestation occurs in many areas where new industries and urbanisation are emerging. The Western Ghats in India are renowned for their lush green mountains, beautiful rice fields, waterfalls and blooming environment. Due to the factories and heavy construction work, these mountain valleys are continually eroding. Widespread deforestation has led to devastating flooding and landslides. It is also possible to quote the value of “afforestation” for forest protection to safeguard the wildlife. The wild animals face a dearth of inhabitable forest regions and the land is being cleared for agricultural and industrial purposes.

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF AFFORESTATION

Forests are a source of renewable energy and contribute significantly to economic growth. They play a significant role in improving environmental sustainability. As per the 2007 assessment, the country’s forest cover is 690,899 km2 which is 21.02 percent of its geographical area. Very dense forest forms 83,510 km2 (2.54 percent), moderately dense forest for 319,012 km2 (9.71 percent) and open forest forms 288,377 km2 (8.77 percent) of the geographical area protected by the scrub for 41,525 km2 (1.26 per cent).

BENEFITS OF AFFORESTATION

Forests are providing raw materials for pulp, panel goods, matching wood and other wood industry. Forests are also a source of various minor but essential items such as bamboo, canes, grasses, essential oils, medicinal plants, lacquer, resins, fatty oils, fats, gum, tanning content, painting, animal products, etc. Any of these goods are precious foreign currency earners. Forests play a crucial role in our country’s economy. They produce a range of forest products, major and small. Timber and firewood are big items.

These are used for industrial purposes and charging. Forests offer natural protection against storms of dust, hot winds and erosion. According to an estimate, we consume four times as much wood as is regenerated each year in the forests and other tree lands. If this plundering of forests is avoided, the resources of forests in India will soon become extinct.

NATIONAL AFFORESTATION PROGRAM

The overall objective of the National Afforestation Programme (NAP) scheme is the ecological restoration of degraded forests and to develop the forest resources with peoples’ participation, with a focus on improvement in livelihoods of the forest-fringe communities, especially the poor. 

NAP aims to support and accelerate the on-going process of devolving forest conservation, protection, management, and development functions to the Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) at the village level, which are registered societies. 

COMPONENTS OF THE SCHEME

The major components of the scheme include; 

Afforestation under Seven plantation models

Maintenance of previous years plantations and Ancillary Activities like soil and moisture conservation activities (SMC)

Fencing, overheads, monitoring, and evaluation (M&E)

Micro-planning,Awareness-raising and Entry Point Activities (EPA) etc.

CONCLUSION

Afforestation is the most important program every people in the world should follow to save the future. For that awareness programs should be conducted among the general public for the benefit of the forest. People should be encouraged to create their own forests. So the public forest should be quiet among the local people. Forests can conserve soil. Some seasonal rains are also important. Rivers, hilly areas, and uncultivated fields must be put to good use by planting trees.

Afforestation can help conserve wildlife, herbal remedies, and a number of other things that are important for mankind. Forest conservation is equally important. Strict laws should be enacted to protect forests. Since people do not know much about forests, they cut down trees for various purposes. People should be educated about the negative effects of deforestation and the beauty of the forest, which means that afforestation helps to balance the earth’s water cycle that develops humanity in the world for many generations.