Tree plantation: Govt 'initiatives' remain mere formalities, with figures on paper

By Vikas Meshram*  

Summer arrives every year, but this year’s heatwave has set new records, causing widespread concern. The distressing temperatures in April, May, and even June have not only worried environmentalists but also the general public. Now, with the onset of the monsoon season, environmentalists stress the need for vigilance. 

They advocate that the more trees planted during this season, the better our future will be, thus sparing the next generations from hardships. 

Through robust tree plantation campaigns, we can mitigate future challenges, necessitating public engagement and committed action at individual levels. Government initiatives often remain formalities, with figures remaining on paper. If people seriously consider this issue independently, the environment can change.

Active participation of social, religious, and voluntary organizations in tree plantation drives can expedite solutions to this problem. Nature is man’s best friend, and hence, must be cared for. Reflecting on this, steps must be taken to preserve the environment to secure the future of upcoming generations. 

Emphasis on greenery is critical, yet we are engrossed in creating concrete jungles instead of tree-filled forests. This negligence from both the public and the government leads us towards self-destruction. If this path is not addressed seriously, the future will be fraught with peril. Deforestation and forest destruction lead to polluted environments, adversely affecting public health, causing people to spend most of their income on healthcare.

A report states that India’s agricultural sector had 600 million shade trees, over 60 million of which were destroyed by 2018, and this number continues to rise. Compared to this, the rate of tree planting is minimal, disturbing the environmental balance. Areas suffering from deforestation experienced extreme heat, serving as a warning. 

Environmental degradation impacts not only health but also the economy. Strict measures are needed to curb rising temperatures. The pollution deteriorating conditions in major cities is now affecting other metropolitan areas in the country. The primary reason for the Earth’s rising temperature is global warming. 

The balance of gases in the atmosphere is changing, with an increase in carbon dioxide and a decrease in oxygen, a worrying trend for humans, animals, birds, and plants. Scientists and environmental experts warn that conditions in metropolitan areas will become so severe that people may need to carry oxygen cylinders when going outside.

According to the Indian Forest Report, in 2021, India had 713,789 square kilometers of forest area, accounting for only 21% of the country’s total geographical area, which is now significantly decreasing.

Consequently, the call of the cuckoo bird and the pleasant monsoon breezes in fields are vanishing. Fruit trees, once a source of additional income, are disappearing. An article in the international research journal "Nature Sustainability," published in May 2024, states that the tradition of planting trees in fields is ending in India. 

Agroforestry, once the strength of Indian farmers, is vanishing, making it difficult to find shade around fields, negatively impacting agriculture. When rising temperatures are a widespread problem, and everyone knows that increasing greenery is the only way to prevent it, this research highlights that in the last five years, 5.3 million fruit and shade trees have disappeared from our fields. Neem, jamun, mahua, jackfruit, and mango trees are the most affected.

Research from the University of Copenhagen shows that the average number of trees per hectare in the country is 0.6, with the highest density recorded in northwest India’s Rajasthan and south-central Madhya Pradesh’s Chhattisgarh, with up to 22 trees per hectare. The report indicates that Telangana and Maharashtra have the highest rates of tree cutting in fields. 

Of the large shade trees recorded in 2010-11, about 11% had disappeared by 2018. In many places, half of the field trees have vanished. Between 2018 and 2022, nearly 5.3 million trees disappeared from fields, averaging 2.7 trees per kilometer, with some areas losing up to 50 trees per kilometer.

The reasons behind farmers cutting trees in their fields must be considered. Shade trees in fields mean water storage, valuable fertilizer from bird droppings, strong soil retention, and most importantly, the presence of leaves, all well-known benefits to farmers. It must be understood that our agricultural land is rapidly decreasing. Initially, farmland was divided among families, and over time, it was sold for commercial use.

Fifty years ago, in 1970-71, half of the country's farmers were smallholders, owning one hectare or less of land. By 2015-16, smallholders increased to 68%, with current estimates suggesting 75%. Government data indicates that the average cultivation area of smallholders has decreased from 0.4 hectares to 0.3 hectares. Similar trends are observed for small, semi-medium, and medium farmers.

Decreased land holdings directly impact farmers’ income. To maximize earnings from smaller plots, farmers first removed wide borders in fields, cutting down the trees growing there. Trees seemed to reduce the land available for plowing, prompting farmers to cut them down, earning some immediate money from the wood. 

Thus, decreasing land holdings directly impacted trees in fields. The government continued promoting tree plantation plans with posters and grants, while farmers, in an effort to increase their shrinking land area, cut down suitable trees. Heavy machinery sometimes required narrow pathways, leading to immediate benefits from cutting trees.

Less agricultural land but fewer trees invites a significant threat to human existence. Today, developing community forestry around fields is essential to maintain soil fertility, groundwater, and greenery. As urbanization increases, forests are disappearing. Significant efforts are needed to preserve them. 

Considering future crises and to prevent them, the government must create and strictly implement effective policies. People need to be made aware and engaged in environmental improvement plans. Such topics should be included in school curricula, with a focus on both children and their families. 

If every family member plants one tree annually, we can significantly reduce the surrounding temperature.

---

*Social worker and activist working for the rights of tribal and marginalized communities