Deforestation and Its Causes

Deforestation involves removing or cutting trees from forests to create space for other purposes, as the world's rapidly growing population demands more land and water resources. With nearly 600 crore people worldwide, humans are using more land and water resources to meet their needs.

Causes of Deforestation:

1. Farmers are reducing forests to create more land for crop cultivation and animal rearing to meet the growing population.
2. As more people are born, more land is needed for housing. Forests are cleared to make space for new homes and towns.
3. Industries and factories need large open areas to build their buildings. Forests are cleared to create space for these businesses to grow.
4. Transportation infrastructure, such as roads and railways, requires the removal of trees to clear the path for this infrastructure.
5. Mining for minerals and resources like coal and gold requires cutting down trees to dig deep into the earth.
6. As cities grow, forests are cleared to make space for new buildings, shopping malls, factories, and offices.

Deforestation is the conversion of forested areas into non-forested areas for agricultural, industrial, urban or other human uses.

• India's forest cover reduced from 30% to 19.4% in the 20th century. National Forest Policy 1988 recommends 33% for plains, 67% for hills.
• Effects of deforestation — increased CO₂, loss of biodiversity, disturbed hydrological cycle, soil erosion and desertification.
• Jhum Cultivation (Slash and Burn) — trees cut and burnt, ash used as fertiliser, land farmed, then left to recover. Practised in North-East India.
• Chipko Movement — launched by Chandi Prasad Bhatt and Sundar Lal Bahuguna against tree felling by timber contractors in Uttarakhand.
• Amrita Devi Bishnoi Wildlife Protection Award — given to individuals/communities showing courage in protecting wildlife. Inspired by Amrita Devi, who sacrificed her life in 1731 to protect trees in Rajasthan.
• Joint Forest Management (JFM) — introduced in the 1980s; local communities protect forests and get forest products (fruits, gum, rubber, medicine) in return.