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G O B A R
G Y A N |
I
AM 'JUNGLED' |
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 Dear
friends,
Forests. Yes, yes, I know there is already an overload of
information on forests—in your text books, libraries and of course,
in a host of television channels. So is there anything more to
learn?
Well, a lot really. Because obviously we don’t know enough, yet. Or
else, why would our forests still be left unhealthy and uncared for?
In 1952, a, buoyant, freshly independent nation had taken an oath to
bring 33 per cent of its land under tree cover. 60 years later we
have only managed to reach about 19 per cent. Tracts of degraded
forests still keep growing larger.
But what is more scary is that the government, during the past three
decades, has been taking the job of ‘forest conservation’ rather
seriously. So much so, that the forest-dependant states are reeling
under the burden of protection. Because these enormously
resource-rich lands have been made off-limits.
The forests, however, continue to wither and shrink. Where on earth
are we going wrong?
It’s really important to find an answer. Because dwindling forests
not only sap the economy of a nation but also the health of its
people. History is full of examples of how whole civilizations faded
away with dying forests!
So as the first step I have tried to gauge how valuable the
woodlands really
are. And how important is it to save them?
– Pandit Gobar Ganesh
E-mail: panditji@cseindia.org |
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