Deforestation: The Institutionalized Destruction of Earth’s Last Natural Sanctuaries
Today's topic is deforestation, and it's not just a topic but a huge problem. In today's world, trees are being cut down simply to build new buildings, new residential areas, new malls, and in some places, construction factories and large-scale projects. You might say this is disastrous, because every developing country needs all these things; they need to develop their infrastructure and build everything. But things go wrong when you do all this in a protected area, a forest, a place designated for trees, plants, and birds. That area is reserved for trees and plants, and nothing is supposed to be built there. If the government builds something in that area, it's essentially illegal, because building there is completely wrong and shouldn't happen at all. That place is designated for a specific purpose, and building there would be a terrible thing.
First, it's important to understand that a forest is not just about trees. A forest is a complete ecosystem. It's home to animals, birds, insects, plants, and all of us, and we are all heavily dependent on it. Whenever we cut down a tree, it's not just the wood that falls; thousands of lives are indirectly affected. Animals lose their homes and habitats, and the natural balance is disrupted. This imbalance is the reason why so many species have become extinct today, and many things that were once common are now very difficult to find. I still remember when I used to visit my grandparents' house; there was a red sandalwood tree there. It was something very precious. It was highly valued, but today it has become a rare commodity. The wood from that tree is in high demand today, but you can't find it anywhere anymore.
The biggest result of deforestation is development. "Development" sounds like a very positive word, but when development planning is done without any authorization, without any investigation, it leads to destruction. Cities are expanding, and this is necessary because the population is growing very rapidly, and land is needed for everything. Forest land seems like the easiest target for everyone. But why should we cut down trees and build our structures in areas that are reserved for trees, plants, and animals? If you have to build, do it on barren land where trees can't grow anyway or in areas where there are no trees.
The second major reason why trees are being cut down there, or you could say, is the increase in population. If people continue to increase the population like this, they will need a place to live. They will need some kind of resources. So they acquire these places illegally and build houses, and the government, because of the votes, is unable to clear the area. They might give a warning to vacate the place, but gradually, people take over the area. Where you live now, there were once trees and plants. But slowly, people started living there illegally. Then development began, and everyone started to feel that they belonged to that place.
India is one of the countries where deforestation is most dangerous, or you could say, the effects are most severe. This is because the population is growing very rapidly, and due to the decrease in trees, the air quality has become extremely poor. This makes breathing difficult, and if breathing is difficult, you can imagine the conditions here. The air quality index is over 500 in every city—that's the minimum. The system is very bad; there's neither good air nor good places to live. While there are some relatively better areas in the south, you won't find any good places in the north. India needs to understand that our main focus right now should be on one thing: how to improve our health. How to ensure proper breathing. We should concentrate more on this, rather than solely on how to achieve more economic development, because this is also a form of development. If people are constantly falling ill, the country won't be able to develop.
Government policy can also play a crucial role in this area. Strict forest laws and heavy penalties for illegal logging are essential to prevent the expansion of deforestation. Simply creating policies on paper won't save the forests; proper implementation is crucial. Public awareness is equally important. Until people understand that deforestation is destroying their future, they will never be able to correct this problem. And until we understand that if we continue deforestation at this rate, it will significantly affect our lives in the future and may even ruin the lives of our future generations, we won't be able to make a difference. Therefore, do whatever you can at the individual level. Plant a tree every day and protect as many trees as possible, because trees are essential for our future.
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