Question

speech on deforestation

Answer 1

Deforestation is decrease of forest cover of an area. World forest cover of 7000 million hactares has been reduced 2400 million hectares in 2000.

It is estimated that about 40% forests have been lost in the tropics compared to 1% loss in temperatre regions.

In India, at the beginning of 20th century forest cover was about 30% of the total land. By the end of the century, it shrunk to 19.4%, where as National Forest Policy (1968) of India has recommended 33% forest cover for the plains and 67% for the hills.

Causes of Deforestation:

1. Jhuming:

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Slash and burn agriculture is commonly called as Jhum cultivation. In this process the farmers cut down the trees of the forest and burn them. The ash is used as a fertilizer and the land is then used for farming. After cultivation, the area is left for several years so as to allow its recovery. The farmers then move to other areas and repeat this process. Technically it is called as shifting cultivation.

2. Hydroelectric Projects:

Man made dams, reservoirs and hydroelectic projects submerge forest areas, killing all plants and animals.

3. Forest fire:

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Huge forest fires in dry seasons destroy large patches of forests.

4. Human Establishment:

There is an increasing demand for agricultural land in order to grow more food crops for feeding the growing human population which is done through clearing forest areas. Forest land is also used for building more residential complexes and industrial townships.