Afforestation

Afforestation

As we all know due to deforestation the climate is changing alarmingly in these days and there is no seasonal rainfall. Because of this many cities are facing water scarcity and many of the lands are becoming barren. Water is needed for life to exist on the earth. So, we need to grow forests. Afforestation is the process of planting trees, or sowing seeds, in a barren land to create a forest. Afforestation helps us to create the forests differently from natural forests.

The term social forestry was first used in 1976 by the then National Commission on Agriculture, Government of India. It means the management and protection of forests and afforestation on barren land with the purpose of helping the environment, social and rural development. It is to raise the plantations thereby reducing the pressure on the traditional forest area.

Importance of Afforestation

The world is experiencing a great change in the climate in the recent years than ever before. These changes in the climate have given an alarming signal to everyone. To protect our planet earth, afforestation would be a better solution. Importance of afforesatation is given below.

* Afforestation helps the wild animals and even humans to have shelter and to find their food source.

* Through afforestation we can increase the supply of oxygen. Trees planted can increase the water vapour in the atmosphere to get the rainfall.

* By planting trees the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can be reduced and thus the effects of air pollution, green house gases and global warming can be controlled.

* Afforestation enables us to avoid desertification of land.

Wangari Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement in Kenya in the year 1977.GBM has planted over 51 million trees in Kenya. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2004.

* Barren lands experience strong winds and it causes soil erosion. Top soil is washed away during rainfall. Afforestation helps to grow more trees so that they can hold the top soil along with the nutrients.

* Creating forests provides us fodder, fruits, firewood and many other resources.

* Industries need specific type of trees. Afforestation helps us to grow a particular type of trees.

Activity 2

Discuss about afforestation in the class and write a brief report on your discussion.