Greening the world

RAHUL DEV

The poor old axe, a friendly tool that helped usher civilisation, is playing the villain today. According to forestry experts, the axe is

being used to convert trees into fuel, thereby wasting an estimated 20 million tonnes of fuelwood annually.

Official sources say that about three lakh hectares of forests are felled in India every year. The country has only 10 per cent area under healthy forests as against 33 per cent needed to sustain environment.

Planners and policy-makers should realise the important role students can play in greening the country and the world. They can be crusaders to save existing trees and also start planting new ones.

Students can inspire people to take care of nature and protect it. Every student can take a pledge to stop wanton cutting of trees.

During summer, students can launch a drive to plant trees not only in forest reserves but also on all community lands, along avenues, canals, river banks and along railway lines.

This drive can kick-start a nation-wide campaign. It should be made the fundamental duty of every student and citizen to plant and grow a tree as his humble contribution to the country. For, growing a tree is like bringing up a child. Both need abundant love and affection.

In India, we have a tradition of worshipping trees. Then why cut them? When people cut down trees we just watch helplessly, most often saying "It's none of our business." But, then, it really is our business. This massacre of trees must stop if the human race is to survive.

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