Organic Growth Vol 14 & 15 Organic Growth Vol 14 & 15 Our Vanishing FOrests What is a Forest? Is it simply, as million years ago, and humans only is that “we can’t survive on forests, science defines it, an area of dominant 11.7 thousand years ago. To put that we need crops and grains to sustain vegetation and acts as habitation into context, if the time since forests our food systems”. However, I posit for flora and fauna?Somehow this appeared is one year, humans have that the answer need not be one or definition though technical fails to only existed for 17 minutes. Yet, we the other. Much like most major capture the complexity of a forest. have already had an irrevocable challenges the solutions must be as Much like this scientific definition we impact on these species which existed nuanced as the challenge is complex. as communities, organizations and for eons millions of years before us. In this case the answer may lie in the nations often discount forests as being In fact, over the years forested land has harnessing of the best of both worlds. simply, “a collection of vegetation”. been so beneficial to the arability of the One answer may lie in Agroforestry, Forests are complex systems made soil that in our quest for higher returns a system of land management which of a multitude of layers and species, we have tamed teeming forests to involves the simultaneous cultivation so when we destroy these forests promote monoculture. Over the years of farm crops and trees. we create a rippling effect across we added numerous chemicals and While we have established that the ecosystems. How then do we revive pesticides to eke out greater yields, forest has multiple layers there such a complex habitat?The answer to now however, we are reaping the are 4 identified layers which aid this is much more than simply planting adverse impacts of this trend. As the the regeneration, the forest floor, 1000s of saplings of the same species arability of the land reduces we have understory, emergent layer and on world environment day because the also seen a greater incidence of pests canopy layer. Each of these layers result of such planting is a plantation, and chemical resistant weeds which provides a specific service in the not a forest. are reducing the yields. Water sources ecosystem of the forest and plays In the timeline of evolution of the Earth, have dried up or been contaminated host to a diverse sampling of animals, scientists believe that the first forests and the soil leeched of its nutrients. insects, etc. The interactions between began appearing approximately 350 The common rebuttal to this trend the flora and fauna of the forests form 2 Organic Growth Vol 14 & 15 forests we are creating a natural asset which has value well beyond the existence of the trees within it. Now we must ask ourselves why a tree in such a forest is less valuable than a tree as a piece of furniture? Apart from the obvious benefits like food, fruits, shade and soil integrity these forests also provide benefits such as carbon sequestration, fresh oxygen, rain water harvesting and other which we are still unable to account for quantitively. If the trees in the forest provide so many services what is their value? Can we put a price tag on it? More importantly, should we put a price on these services and how do we find metrics to better convey the intrinsic value of our forests? Today, about 27% of the earth is covered with forests but the rate at which we are consuming is having an adverse effect on our natural Figure 1. Stratification of Vegetation resources. Humanity now needs of 1.7 self- contained ecosystems which impact on the natural ecosystem while Earths to accommodate the current contribute to the well-being of all providing better living conditions for level of consumption. India has about the species within and surrounding the communities living in these areas. 21% forest cover, down from 33% at forests. Using agroforestry we can use The availability of such diverse independence. One major reason for these layers to grow endemic species, forest habitats can also give rise to this pattern of hyper consumption is wild foods and fruits, and timber and the way we measure value, economic building material yielding plants. This variety of plants value has become our default as a This variety of plants preserves the standard of value measurement. integrity and diversity of the forest preserves the integrity While this is adequate as a measure while making it a valuable asset for and diversity of the of short term gains, we tend to forget the communities residing besides forest while making that economic value doesn’t take these forests. This comes with added it a valuable asset into account the real costs of doing benefits of keeping the soil healthy, for the communities business. sheltering animals and preventing residing besides these Globalization has further bolstered them from coming into conflict with the focus on economic value as the humans, preventing soil erosion and forests standard for measuring success and also creating fresh water catchments benefit while discounting the social and for both the humans and animals sustainable, nature-based economies environmental costs of doing business inhabiting the ecosystems. which promote the handlooms, globally. When purchasing a product, In adopting these models we will handicrafts, clothing and cuisines its price doesn’t reflect the fossil fuels also promote the availability of of the forest fringe communities used from manufacturing to shipping, sustainable construction materials which rely on the availability of these the trees felled or natural resources such as bamboo and timber and endemic materials, thus allowing for contaminated. This false valuation has hence, hopefully create sustainable flourishing micro economies. created a narrative which puts Human infrastructure surrounding these When you think about it, by encouraging aspirations and Environmental assets forested areas, thereby reducing our the sustenance of these teeming on opposite ends of the spectrum. 3 Organic Growth Vol 14 & 15 We need to change the way we value example, it has the maximum amount located is home to a wealth of natural our natural assets and promote a new of forest cover in the region, with over and cultural diversity. We constantly model of interdependent growth. This 60% of the states land area under explore ways in which not only to isn’t impossible, in fact it is the only green cover. Communities have preserve and enhance natural richness way to continue to innovate at the resided and lived with this biodiversity but also to showcase it to the world pace we have been doing so in the for generations, yet the state struggles through our products. The Spice Park past decades. economically. How can we justify this focuses on bringing the rich flavours of the region to the world in a way which Japan, the world’s second most paradox when we understand that optimizes land use but also seeks to industrialized country, forests cover regions like this form the lungs of reduce the impacts of manufacturing 67% of the land area. This clearly the country? through renewable energy, rainwater debunks the myth that we have built We need to change our perspective harvesting and waste management. which pits human development & on the importance of Nature and industrialization against the increase focus on building Natural Capital by We are also fortunate to be surrounded in Natural Capital. The adhere to the understanding and calculating the true by inspiring eco entrepreneurs in the philosophy of Satochi-satoyama, economic value of these forests. We Eastern Himalayas, who have already recognized this important fact and are where people and enjoy the blessings also need to stimulate nature-based doing encouraging work in building of nature in a sustainable manner economies and interdependent living. economies by enhancing the nature through the cyclic use of natural Assam being the most developed assets of the region. resources around their villages. state in the region has lost much of Through this philosophy, human its green cover in pursuit of traditional Some such entrepreneurs are, the intervention has in fact added to the economics and needs to step away communities in Bhairabkunda,who biodiversity richness of the regions from its monoculture practices and are securing their natural assets through community participation and cyclically humans have enjoyed polluting industries to enhance the beginning with a habitat restoration the fruits of the nature they co- climate for building more sustainable of 800 ha+ of depleted forest land. This exist with. This is the very kind of agricultural practices, promote the restoration has further led to growth interdependence we need to adopt culture within the state and join hands in new economies for eco-tourism in especially in the northeast of India with the rest of the northeastern states the region. Inspired by this another where we still have access to a wide to focus on creating more sustainable set of 12 villages in the Udalguri sampling of biodiversity in most states economic drivers. district, adjacent to the Khalingduar save Assam. The Eastern Himalayas where many Reserve Forest have begun a habitat Let’s take Arunachal Pradesh for of the Amalgamated Plantations are 4 Organic Growth Vol 14 & 15 restoration of 500 ha of land. with the environment. Inspired by their towards building an interdependent Arindam Dasgupta of Assam launched efforts in securing our natural assets future. Tambul Plates Marketing Pvt. Ltd. we must focus on how we can play our While the impacts of vanishing to promote eco friendly dinnerware part not only in supporting their efforts forests may be felt more acutely by made from Areca nut palm leaves.