Trees for life

Several programs have been organised to mark the swearing-in of President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the second term next week. Among the most important of these programs is the planting of over 1.1 million trees and saplings islandwide. This is a milestone in the country's environmental history, for such a large number of plants had not been planted all in one stretch at any other time. All should contribute to the success of this program irrespective of party politics, because of its impact on the future.

Sri Lankans have always been close to nature. This is partly due to the influence of Buddhism, which values all living beings and urges its followers to respect them. The Buddha paid homage through the Animisa Lochana Pooja to the Sri Maha Bodhi, which gave Him shelter to attain Enlightenment. Moreover, the conversation between Arahat Mahinda Thera, who brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka, and King Devanampiyatissa centred on a mango tree. Arahat Mahinda Thera used the tree as a metaphor to gauge the King's intelligence level. The other point that comes to the fore in this particular instance is the close link that existed between Sri Lankans and Nature from ancient days.

Sri Lanka is greener than most other countries. Rich foliage greets our eyes wherever we travel in this resplendent isle. Even Colombo, described as a concrete jungle by some, has its fair share of trees, some of which are centuries -old. Most households with even a small plot of land have a few trees and shrubs to give cover from the harsh elements. Some also grow flowers, others vegetables, but the idea is the same - getting close to nature and protecting it.

Over the years, the population expansion and the resultant demand for agricultural land and housing plots have led to the reduction of trees in the country. In other words, the country's forest cover has dwindled drastically. It now stands at less than 29 percent of the total land mass (which is 65,610 Sq Km), a farcry from what used to be at the turn of the 20th century. While this is much better than some other countries in the region, there is enough room for improvement.

Trees and forests are beneficial to us in many ways. The most well known fact is that they purify the air. They also prevent soil erosion. They are also a resource that we could use sustainably - the value of Sri Lanka's forest products was estimated at US$ 81,280,000 in 2005. Sri Lanka being a biodiversity hotspot, there are a considerable number of endemic flora in our forests. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Sri Lanka has 932 native tree species, of which 78 are critically endangered. Another 73 species are endangered while 129 are classified as 'vulnerable'. There are also many plant varieties, both endemic and non-endemic, which have medicinal properties and uses.

Of course, Sri Lanka's forests have an equal, if not more, numbers of endemic fauna some of which are endangered. The human-elephant conflict may be the most well known consequence of the reduction of forest cover, but it is by no means the only one. Not many know that new species of animals are being discovered in our forests every year even as some others are on the verge of extinction. In fact, researchers are flocking to Sri Lanka from all over the world to study the country's biodiversity.

In this backdrop, it is alarming to note that deforestation is occurring at a rapid pace, further reducing the forest cover. Over the past 20 years, Sri Lanka has had one of the highest deforestation rates of primary forests in the world. In that period the country has lost more than 35 percent of its old-growth forest cover, while total forest cover diminished by almost 18 percent. Worse, since the close of the 1990s, deforestation rates have increased by more than 25 percent.

This is an alarming trend that should be reversed by planting more trees - reforestation, in other words. We should strive to keep the existing forest cover intact while planting more trees. Stern action should be taken against illicit timber fellers and merchants. The authorities should also promote the concept of sustainable forests, wherein we could use the forest resource in a responsible manner should the need arise. As the old saying goes, planting a tree may not benefit the present generation - only the future generation will literally be able to reap its fruits. Even a single tree can make a difference to our environment. Just imagine what one million trees can and will do, if properly cared for through their formative years and 'adult' life.

The value and importance of trees must be inculcated in the younger generation, from pre-school years. It is important to involve schoolchildren in tree-planting campaigns. If they show an interest in gardening as a hobby, parents must help 'cultivate' it. They should also be taken on field visits to Sinharaja, the botanical gardens and other such places to give them an idea on the country's biodiversity and how they could contribute to nurture it for the future.

In the meantime, we can adopt a few more meaningful practices to help save trees and the environment here and elsewhere in the world. Minimising the use of paper, if possible, is one such initiative. In the office, you can opt to print only the most essential emails and other documents. You can recycle old newspapers and donate books that you no longer need to libraries. You can even read e-books instead of buying the paper version, now commonly called dead-tree books to highlight that trees die for our printing needs, sometimes unnecessarily.

Protecting the forests and the environment in general should be a collective initiative. The Government and the relevant authorities alone cannot save the environment without public input and participation.

It is, therefore, important for the public to participate in tree planting campaigns and similar initiatives to safeguard the country's future.