India's green cover spreads across 81 mn hectares, carbon footprints also increasing

Pavan Kaushik

The Earth is home to over three trillion trees and this number is so large that it's almost impossible to grasp fully.

The good news is that it is more than seven times the earlier estimation of 400 billion trees. By comparison, the Amazon Rainforest, which comprises over half of the Earth's remaining rainforests, is home to about 390 billion trees, or 13 per cent of the world's trees.

This may sound as if the Earth is full of trees. But the reality is that we have lost 80 per cent of the world's trees to logging, clear cutting, burning, and environmental degradation, according to data from the organisation 'One Tree Planted'. Overall, we have cut 47 per cent of trees since the beginning of the civilisation.

India is among the top 10 countries with most trees and many reports suggest that the total forest cover in India is about 81 million hectares (800,000 sq km), which is 24.62 per cent of the geographical area of India. Though marginal, but it has seen an increase from 24.56 per cent in 2019.

Even the forest area cover has increased by 2,260 sq km. The carbon stock has also substantially increased. The current assessment shows that total carbon stock in the country's forest is estimated to be 7,204 million tonnes, marking an increase of 79.4 million tonnes since 2019.

We need at least one mature tree or four to five small trees to make enough oxygen for one person. On the contrary, India has a whopping 36 billion trees, but its population is also more than a 1.35 billion. Hence, every individual would get just 25-26 trees each.

It is also true that protecting the environment is not just about tree plantation, it is also about pollution control, water conservation, energy conservation, civic sense, and above all, being a responsible citizen, who is an advocator of sustainable planet.

The change begins from an individual, and then individuals make a society and finally envisage a collective vision of a country. It is not about just being environment conscious, it is also about thinking for the future, thinking about the economic development and building a responsible and sensible society.

World Environment Day is celebrated across the world on June 5 with an intention to let everyone know that there is one Earth and it is the responsibility of each individual to balance it in such a way that everyone lives here in harmony. This is also the theme of World Environment Day 2022.

When we need to care about the future, the future generation needs to take the reins in their hands. The young children of today will become the torch-bearers of tomorrow.

We have one planet to stay and no more to go. Protect it before it decides to protect itself, as the nature does carry the power to protect itself.

(Pavan Kaushik is a leading communicator, storyteller and writer. The views expressed are personal)