Friday, December 11, 2015

Clean Shave for Western Ghats

Interesting to see this news while world is making, or atleast acting as making, all efforts to stop climate change in Paris, France.

Wondering what is the news? As per 'Forest Survey of India' through satellite imagery we are losing forest cover very fast.  One district in Karnataka - Shivamogga - alone lost 263 sq.km of forest in last four years to plantations, constructions and God knows what (203 sq.km or 50, 000 acres lost in last two years alone). Dakshina Kannada and Kodagu districts are not far behind. In 'Bangalore Urban', green cover was reduced by 20%. Only bright line in this entire saga for Karnataka is Tumkur district saw an increase in forest cover.

The problem is, whatever we are losing is the lush green forests of Western Ghats and the gain might have been due to Plantations. In satellite imagery plantations may look green, but loss of natural forests can't be replaced by plantations or aquasia trees.

The faster we understand this fact the better it will be.

Sajeev.

Reference


1.The Hindu, print edition - 10th Dec 2015.

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