Know Your Environmnet !!!

Interview Of Environmentalist: - Mr. Ashok S. Kothari M.B.B.S.

(Tree Shade Clinic)

Past President: Santacruz Medical Social Association.

Past Chairman: Rotary Club of Bombay Seacoast.

Chairman: Souvenir Subcommittee;

Bombay Natural History Society.Hon. Joint Secretary ( Since 1984);

National Society of the Friends of the tress.

Co-Editor: Salim Ali's India -1996

Treasures Of Indian Wildlife -2005

(BNHS & OUP Publications)

Has won many awards for planting the largest amount of trees.

Interview…..

Q.1. What is the Status of the environment that we live in?

We are loosing trees at an alarming rate, because of the pressure from growing population. And all the forests have been rendered very thin. What was the forest once upon a time it is no more the case, it is just a fraction of the size it ones was, and it still continues to decrease every day. You can even take the case of the Borivali National Park, it is under growing threat from Human intrusion. And is not by mere chance that, their is increasing attacks of big cats on Humans, nature cannot be taken so lightly.

People don't seem to have realised the importance of the Forest cover for the ecology of Mumbai. Every tree in Mumbai needs to be protected and we cannot just ignore the threat it poses to the environment in thereby also to all of us as well. "Compromising on Tress is compromising on Life".

Q.2. What are the implications on nature an account of deforestation?

There are many implications some of which are very dangerous for humans and also the nature in general. Firstly the life becomes dull, the pollution increases their will be an acute shortage of water. And this fact is testified by various examples from nature, like 'Sahara' desert is increasing and expanding every year and deforestation is being blamed by experts. The positive's that aptly demonstrates the power, influence and contribution of tress to nature can be seen by an example from a small district of 'Palanpur' in North Gujarat. A tree lover' Khalid Ahmed Khan' who had been planting trees every year and had been stopping tress from being cut and exploited. After many years, through the contribution of this one individual it was seen that the annuual rainfall increased from 12 inch to 32 inch. In contrast in 'Cherapunji' the rainfall is decreasing owing to deforestation, this example highlights the effect tress has on nature.

Apart from these problems there is also problem of erosion, landslides and also conservation of wildlife and the water source, which also has a lot to do with tress and are interdependent. Trees play a vital role in maintaining the balance of nature. If one tree is cut in nature it also means that many other forms of life are threatened and are now left vulnerable. And one of the reason that Mumbai has a regular and sufficient amount of water supply is that, we are surrounded and supplied by the lakes. And these lakes are surrounded by tress and this guarantees steady rainfall. And if we start cutting down these tress the entire Mumbai will be left vulnerable.

Q.3. According to you, what are the factors that have contributed to the problems of deforestation?

The biggest factors leading to deforestation are that, earlier we used to worship tress, but today we view it just as a commodity, which is there to make our life better, nothing else. Even the tribal, who were seen as a protector of tress are now exploiting them. A tree, which is essential for a tribal exists, has now become a partner in exhausting them. In the tribal area it is not hard to see truckloads of tress coming out with load full of trees chopped illegally. This clearly shows there is growing nexus between the tribals and the Tree or Timber mafia. The mafias are now very powerful and they make use of the corrupt authorities and unaware locals and make money out of the tress. The mafias are exploiting the tribals and nature for their vested interest.

Another important factor is the growing number of unemployment. Cutting down tress and selling them has become an alternate source of income for the

Q.4. How do you rate the performance of the government regarding the issue of deforestation? Why?

The government is planting tress no doubt. But the problem arises because in a hurry to see the tree grow quicker the government is carrying on with tree plantation without proper planning and study. The result is that the government is planting trees of foreign origin like 'Paltoforum', 'Gulmohur', 'Ren Tree' and 'Australian Acacias' and 'Eucalypti’s', which are not ideal for Indian ecosystem and Indian soil. Although these foreign trees grow quickly and don't require much care, but they create more problems then they solve. For example the 'Australian Acacias' don't live long although they grow very fast, so what is the use of the growing this tree in the first place. And the eucalyptus tree sucks away all the water in the vicinity and lowers the water level, which creates more problems for the people, which goes against the use of the tress, which is to increase water supply. And the foreign tress do not attract birds either or support small wildlife, which the tress is meant to nurture. And the 'Ren' tree's roots goes so deep and wide that it destroys all the construction near by, breaking the water pipe crippling the infrastructure of near by areas. The Indian tress although takes time to grow, but their is no doubt that it is a much better option.

The question which really baffles me is that in a country like India which has the second most variety of tress found anywhere in the world after Brazil has to be so dependent on tress of foreign origin. What is the rational behind it? My only hope is that the government sooner rather than later realises its mistakes and takes steps to undo the impact it has already had, atleast to some extend.

Q.5. What is the role of the Government the Ngo's and the society in coming up with an solution for the problem?

The Ngo's must make sure that the government is performing the duties and also is delivering on the promises made to the people. The government must keep a constant watch on the activities of the government and maintain a constant pressure on them so that they do not take the issue of the environment and nature lightly. The Ngo's should also provide a voice for the people demands and also raise the queries and transfer the complaints the general public has to the government and get it answered. Creating awareness is the best answers to all the problems. If the people comes to the know about the dangers of deforestation then their is no reason why people wont take a stand against it, after all we all know that deforestation is dangerous and has to be put a stop to. The tree act has to be made more stringent. The tree authority has to be made more accountable and a constant tab has to be kept on the trees that are cut. And rather than catching the workers one has to catch those who ordered for the tree to be cut. Most trees are cut on Weekends, which allows for the perpetrators to get away. So more thinking, time and man-hours, have to be devoted to this task, which is only getting tougher and arduous by the day. A special toll free number, which is primarily dedicated for complaints regarding the environment and the trees, has to be set, and the response has to much quicker unlike the Police or BMC who are difficult to contact and never reach on time.

Q.6. According to you, who should take the lead in the fight against deforestation? Why?

The answer is quite simple, it is the people and the society at large who should take the lead. The young generation should be instilled with the importance of tress. The key of tree plantation and how essential conservation of trees is. And plating and conservation of trees should be made a habit. And once the society is made aware of the problem and the steps that is required to put a stop to it, then there is nothing that could stop the tree from flourishing. The idea behind tree plantation is that the current generation has to plan ahead. As the tree takes time to grow it has to be planted years in advance so that the next generation could reap the benefits.

Q.7. What are your suggestions to tackle deforestation in the society?

There has to be strict action laws against the perpetrators of this crime against nature. In some cases the laws has not been stringent enough and there are many loopholes in the laws. When you talk about Mumbai there has to be strict vigilance in and around the National park as also in other areas under forestation. Every tree needs to be protected. There has to be a strict tab on the tress that is coming in and out of the city of Mumbai. Thousands of tress comes into India every night for cremation and that includes young tress, which is illegal and goes against the laws. Another solution that can be come is that the use of solar cooking gas has to be encouraged, also electric crematoria has to be made use of .All these measures could help save that all important extra tress.

Q.8. What lessons should be draw from a social movement like Chipko Movement? Is it the answer for deforestation?

It is the best example where a social movement has been instrumental in saving the nature. A social movement is the biggest personification of democracy and one that has the biggest impact. People’s movement is at the root of democracy and is very effective. It shows the collective strength of the society and that there is no power that can oppose the power of a social movement. It has the power to bring about a revolution, and it is now time to use this example and bring about a revolution to protect our environment and nature. And there can be no better start than saving the trees.

Q.9. Could you give any message for the Youth?

The youth is the future. Every youth should take this issue very seriously and make sure that the trees are preserved and new trees are planted. And before planting there has to be a careful study of the type of tress being planted. And indigenous trees always have to be given priority over foreign tress.