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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