Every last Saturday of March in a calendar year, the Earth Hour is observed to save energy worldwide. The main motto is spreading consciousness for conservation of energy. During the Earth Hour lights were switched off from 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm across India as a part of a global campaign.
Energy is life and without it, life is not possible in the earth. Every individual in the earth should realise the same. Not only electricity all type of fuels like petrol, diesel and cooking gas, etc. should be saved not for the present generation alone but for the posterity. The observation of Earth Hour aims to make the earth healthy, prominent and sustainable to meet the rising needs of human beings. The human population is increasing at every moment; and the living assets are limited. So conservation measure is absolutely needed for the existence of man in the globe; otherwise the globe will turn a desert and unsuitable for any life.
Before introduction of electricity, coal, petrol, diesel and cooking gas, the man was using firewood and other combustible biological products for day- to -day needs. It led to accumulation of carbon in air. But today, due to several activities by man, carbon threats have turned huge. So there should be united efforts throughout the globe to save the whole universe from carbon threats.
There is worldwide attempt to save the globe from carbon threats. Our individual greed causes enormous damages to our biological wealth and properties as we are losing coordination between ourselves for saving the national wealth. As recent information goes, the Odisha forests are burning and forest fire over as many as 1,600 spots have been detected through satellite imageries, which is 57 per cent greater than last year fire damage.
last year, fire occurred over 1,018 spots during the corresponding month of March and the extensive damage and the colossal loss of biological proprieties of current year is definitely greater than the last year. The peak season of fire is still ahead. The ecological as well as economic losses are not assessed till today as the fire season is not over. The concerned organisation should communicate to the general public the extent of the ecological loss due to unrestricted forest fire. The ecological loss include destruction of flora and fauna and also the mother earth itself due to charring of mother soil including the micro-organisations in the top soil. The soil becomes dead and the fertility of the soil is lost till new soil is formed through iological activities being renewed by nature, which is a time taking process. The water observing capacity of the soil is also lost due to forest fire. And, the repeated forest fire in successive years causes colossal ecological loss of nature. The new regeneration of indigenous species is debarred as the fallen ripen seeds are burnt in the forest fire.
The accumulation of fresh carbons and carbonised dusts in the atmosphere is enormous due forest fire; which spoils the health of all kinds of fauna and avifauna. The forest fire also spoils the health of the forest dwellers of all kinds. The forest tribes, and forest dwellers, who are generally economically downgraded, suffer the most due to suffocation through carbon and carbonised dust inhalation. The water systems of the nature are also spoiled due to burning of jungle constantly and repeatedly due to carelessness of the forest administration. The large scale plantations are being done in degraded areas for revival of lost ecological systems; but due to forest fire such revival process of eco-systems is rendered futile.
Besides, huge economic loss also occurs due to forest fire. The huge deposit of carbon in the atmosphere should be assessed. The timber values of trees are reduced after they catch fire. Especially the birds which generally stay on the crowns and holes and come to the ground floor for collection of food suffer the most. Generally, the summer is the breeding period of almost every fauna in forest. They suffer the most after being burnt by wild fire. The mammals, egg laying birds, the lizards and the reptiles living in the forest floors and hallow trees suffer the most to continue their progenies.
Again, forest tribes and forest dwellers, who survive on collection of minor forest produce, such as fruits, nuts, fibre, tassar, cocoons, broom-sticks, leaves, mushrooms, roots, herbs, gums, honey, wax, resin etc. suffer most. Presently the State Government is financing the “self help groups” created in the forest villages and fringed villages of forest blocks to stabilise their economic strength for sustainable living, but the forest fire destroys and damages the economic forest resources of these poor people, which the authorities of State Government should realise. If repeated forest fire occurs every year and twice and thrice in a fire season, how these people will survive and pay back the Government loan is a moot question.
Now the Forestry Sector Development Project phase two is going to be implemented after completion of the phase one by the State Forest Department. The phase one’s term was from 2006 to 2015. The sole objectives of the project are restoration of degraded forests and livelihood improvement of forest dependent community. As the phase-I becomes successful, the phase-II is going to be implemented. The period of phase II is for 10 years. The project is mainly supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Here the question arises, if the forest fire is not contained, how the restoration of degraded forests will be possibleIJ The question of Earth-Hour is to conserve earth’s vitality for sustainable living of man and other creatures of the globe. So restoration of degraded forests by containing the fire is the need of the hour.
The second phase of Odisha Forestry Sector Development Project is going to be operated over 14 forest/wide life divisions, which are core areas of tribals and forest dwellers, who entirely survive on forest resources. So the key works are to be undertaken to form 1,200 Vana Suraksha Sammits (VSSs) in 50 forest ranges within the 12 forest divisions, including two wild life divisions, for proper and intensive management of forest resources and biodiversities.
(The writer is a former senior forest officer and an environmentalist. Tel no 9937460649)
