Forest fires, over exploitation depleting ecosystem, says Forest official

Dimapur, June 5 (EMN): Asufü Christian Institute, Mao, Manipur observed World Environment Day by organising a webinar on ‘Ecosystem Restoration’ on Saturday.

An update informed that D John Sha, Divisional Forest Officer Senapati, government of Manipur was the speaker. He emphasised on pertinent issues regarding ecosystems both in local and global context.

‘Rapid increase in the world population leads to over exploitation, unsustainable extraction of our natural resources creating environmental issues. We are utilising the resources beyond the capacity of replenishment that the rate at which nature can produce is not equivalent to the rate of consumption’, Sha stated.

He further stressed on forest fire as one of the major causes of forest degradation and the harm it does extensively to the forest area and destroys biodiversity storehouse. ‘Dzükou fire that broke out this year distroyed 627.12 Ha of forest/grassland as per FSI report, burning all valuable resources like herbs, medicinal plants, seedlings, microorganisms, etc. It is like burning our own house’, he said.

He pointed out that forest fires last longer due to global warming. He expressed his concern on the water crisis in the absence of forest and wildlife and shared how wildlife balances the environment and provides stability to different natural processes of nature.

According to Sha, planting trees seems to be the easiest way to battle the environmental problems where everyone can be involved. In the light of this, he cited a Bible passage from Deuteronomy 20:19 — “When you are besieging a town and the wars drag on, do not destroy the trees. Eat the fruit but do not cut down the trees. They are not enemies that need to be attacked”.

He cited the examples of a bill passed in the House of Representatives (Parliament) in Philippines mandated students from high school until college to plant 10 trees each in order to graduate, Delhi High Court passing a final verdict to an accused to plant 100 trees and get plantation certificate from DFO and a patient of Covid-19 in Nagpur, who was asked to plant 10 trees in order to give back the 1,44,000 litres oxygen she consumed while recovering.

“Due to our negligence and over exploitation of our earth’s resources we are going to pay a heavy price”, Sha concluded the webinar by citing Article 51 (A) (g)–It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect the natural environment including forest, wildlife, lake, river and to have compassion for living creatures.