This refers to the editorial, “Greening India” (February 14). The editorial piece is heartening but commercial plantations in and out of the recorded forest areas may have contributed their mite to the growth of India's enriching forest cover. This has much to do with States like Karnataka, where illegal mining and unabated forest destruction continue to pave the way for laying of roads. Artificial plantations neither have the groundwater replenishment ability nor calamity prevention utility. By the same token, mitigation of climate change can be a far cry under artificial plantations of trees. Animals may actually abhor such plantations, finding them useless and burdensome.
The carbon dioxide absorption system of plantations cannot be substitutes for rich, indigenous forest areas bristling with natural greenery. A distinct ecosystem containing profuse wetlands with characteristic vegetation of aquatic plants are what we need the most. Afforestation efforts for comprehensive carbon sequestration is also crucial. Growing a single crop or plants at a time or crop rotation may help an effective harvest. Strengthening the biodiversity is, therefore, crucial to increasing a natural green cover. Ultimately, forests may have to re-establish themselves for a sustained growth, and prevention of forest exploitation is the key for successful forest conservation.