Nature Encapsulated - World Forestry Day

Since childhood, we have been told the role of forests in our lives. How forest covers are responsible for purifying the oxygen, keeping the soil layers intact, and maintaining the groundwater levels. How forests provide us with basic needs like medicines and materials for food and shelter. How forests protect the animals and birds which are important to maintain the ecosystem on earth. As we grow up, capitalism takes over and we forget our forests. Our aim is to earn money, and for that, we need to join an office or meet this important college deadline or take that extra course for our resume. We completely ignore the more important things, the things which sustain us. 

With increasing global warming and dying forests, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21st March as World Forestry Day, one day dedicated to highlighting the importance of forests and remind people of this irreplaceable resource. The theme of 2021 is "Forests and Biodiversity" which aims to spread awareness on the diverse flora and fauna of the world and the urgent need to preserve them. 

The health of the forests is often ignored amidst all the money-making business through the exploitation of forest resources. The recent EIA draft received a lot of criticism as it endangered forests even more. When we hear about the publicised Amazon rainforest bushfire in Australia or about the uncovered Similipal Biosphere fire in Orissa, we can gauge how the system is working towards the preservation of forests and how we are treating our forests. 

Thus, on World Forestry Day, environmental organisations are encouraged to take up awareness activities that will help in the conservation of forests and their components. As individuals, one can take an oath to plant a sapling or donate to causes that are tirelessly working for the same. One can passively adopt urban wildlife or join as a volunteer. But what we need to realise is that preserving forests is not a one-day job. We need to constantly spread awareness and change our lifestyle to accommodate the health of our forests. As an Urban Wildlife rescue organisation, we constantly come across injured and orphaned animals who fall prey to the effects of rapid urbanisation. Animals and birds who would otherwise not have faced such severe injuries had there been enough forest covers, lie in front of us, helpless and in excruciating pain. 

We urge every citizen to spread the word on this World Forestry Day - to do small things every day so that our flora and fauna can thrive. 

 

 

Authored by Praanjali Shukla, Volunteer, PfA Wildlife Rescue & Conservation Centre Bangalore.