Forests are most valuable resource for the sustenance of life on the mother earth. Nearly 4 billions hectares of forest cover the earth’s surface, roughly 30% of its total land area. These forests have provided timber for homes, firewood, food, medicines, transport services and tribal traditional uses. Many of the world's great forests are mostly reduced by logging activities. In fact, few places on Earth retain any virgin forests. Though extensive, the world’s forests have shrunk by some 40% since agriculture began 11,000 years ago. Three quarters of this loss occurred in the last two centuries as land was cleared to make way for farms and to meet demand for wood. Over the last five years, the world suffered a net loss of some 37 million hectares of forest (FAO). Each year the world looses some 7.3 million hectares of forest, an area the size of Panama.
The forests in India cover 67.833 million hectares, which is 20.64% of the total land area. About 60% of the Indian people are dependent on the forests for energy resources, grazing of cattle and construction materials. Planning and management practices will define the future structure and composition of forest resources and their ability to provide ecological, social-cultural and economic benefits. In 2006, forestry in India underwent a major change with the passage of the Forest Rights Act, a new legislation that seeks to reverse the "historical injustice" to forest dwelling communities that resulted from the failure to record their rights over forest land and resources. It also sought to bring in new forms of community conservation.
The changes on temperature in India show a striking pattern, with colder forests of being subjected to a larger increase of about 3°C compared to the evergreen forests, which on an average become warmer by only about 2.4°C compared to the national average of 2.9°C. Most of the forests show an increase of about 4°C with the northern temperate forests being subjected to about 4.6°C increase, while the evergreen forests show the least change of about 3.3°C. Unsustainable consumption patterns of the rich industrialised nations are responsible for the threat of climate change. Only 25% of the global population lives in these countries, but they emit more than 70% of the total global CO2 emissions and consume 75 to 80% of many of the other resources of the world. In per capita terms, the disparities are also large: an Indian citizen emits less than 0.25 tonnes of carbon per year whereas a citizen of the USA, for example, emits more than 5.5 tonnes.
Climate change is a global problem requiring a global response. Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions have risen 145-fold since 1850 and are projected to increase another 54% by 2030. Most emissions come from a relatively small number of countries. An effective global strategy to avert dangerous climate change requires commitments and action by all the world’s major economies. The United States with 5% of the world’s population is responsible for 18% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
This national conference is aimed at providing a common platform to forest scientists, environmentalists, researchers, sericulturists, industrialists, NGOs, farmers, entrepreneurs and forest officers for brain storming on national and global issues related to ‘FOREST, ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE’ to make recommendations for better planning and development of forests, environment and mitigation of climate changes.
Sumber .worldagroforestry.org
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar