Worldwide Day of Forests
Context:
The Worldwide Day of Forests was noticed on March 21. The theme for 2025 is “Forests and Meals,” emphasising the position of forests in making certain world meals safety and vitamin.
Relevance:
GS-03 (Conservation)
Standing of India’s Forest:
- Based on the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023, 25.17% of India’s complete geographical space accounts for forest and tree cowl.
- Madhya Pradesh has the biggest forest space, whereas Lakshadweep (91.33%), Mizoram (85.34%), and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (81.62%) have the best share of forest cowl.
- India’s mangrove cowl stands at 4,991.68 km² however has seen a slight decline of seven.43 km² since 2021.
Significance of Forests
1. Environmental Advantages
- Carbon Sequestration: Forests soak up round 30% of worldwide CO₂ emissions yearly and retailer roughly 861 gigatonnes of carbon, enjoying a significant position in combating local weather change.
- Biodiversity Conservation: About 80% of the world’s terrestrial species depend on forests. In India, forests present habitat for key species like tigers and elephants.
- Water Safety: Forests assist keep hydrological cycles, recharge groundwater, and forestall floods. Many main cities depend upon forested watersheds for ingesting water.
2. Financial and Livelihood Significance
- Forest-Based mostly Economic system: Globally, 1.6 billion individuals, together with 70 million indigenous individuals, depend upon forests for meals, drugs, and livelihood.
- Employment Era: Over 30 million individuals in India work in forestry-related actions, and authorities applications like MGNREGA assist afforestation efforts.
- Livestock and Agriculture Help: Forests present fodder for hundreds of thousands of livestock and contribute to sustainable farming practices.
3. Cultural and Social Significance
- Many Indian communities think about forests sacred, with over 100,000 sacred groves, such because the Kavus of Kerala and Regulation Lyngdoh in Meghalaya. These protected areas protect uncommon and endangered plant species.
- Forests additionally safeguard wild kinfolk of crops, akin to wild rice in Assam, important for breeding climate-resilient crops.
India’s Initiatives for Forest Conservation:
- Inexperienced India Mission (GIM): Goals to boost forest cowl by 10 million hectares and increase forest-based livelihoods.
- Forest Conservation Act, 1980: Regulates deforestation and promotes afforestation.
- Nationwide Afforestation Programme: Helps large-scale afforestation initiatives.
- PM Van Dhan Yojana: Strengthens tribal livelihoods by including worth to minor forest produce.
- CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund): Utilises funds from diverted forest land initiatives for afforestation.
- Nationwide Agroforestry Coverage (2014): Promotes tree planting alongside agriculture to boost local weather resilience and rural revenue.
Prelims Query:
Just about the Worldwide Day of Forests, think about the next statements:
- The United Nations Normal Meeting formally recognised the day in 2012.
- The theme for the 2025 Worldwide Day of Forests is “Forests and Meals.”
- India’s forest and tree cowl, as per the ISFR 2023, is greater than 30% of its complete geographical space.
Which of the statements given above is/are appropriate?
(a) 1 and a couple of solely
(b) 2 and three solely
(c) 1 and three solely
(d) 1, 2, and three
Reply: (a) 1 and a couple of solely
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