When we drink a glass of water, let us think of forests

When we drink a glass of water, write in a notebook, take medicine for an ailment or build a house, we are often not aware of the connection with forests. Yet, these and many other aspects of our lives are linked to forests in one way or another. Forests, their sustainable management and use of resources, including in fragile ecosystems, are key to combating climate change, and to contributing to the prosperity and well-being of present and future generations.  

In a statement to mark the International Day of Forests later this month, the UN has highlighted these vital dimensions of the connection between human beings and forests. According to the UN, forests also play a crucial role in poverty alleviation and in the achievement of the UN’s sustainable development goals. Forests cover one third of the Earth’s land mass, performing vital functions around the world. Around 1.6 billion people -- including more than 2,000 indigenous cultural communities -- depend on forests for their livelihoods, medicines, fuel, food and shelter.   

 We need to be aware of the amazing fact that forests are the most biologically diverse ecosystems on land and home to more than 80% of the terrestrial species of animals, plants and insects. Yet despite all of these priceless ecological, economic, social and health benefits, global deforestation continues at an alarming rate, the UN warns.  

In 2012, the UN General Assembly proclaimed March 21 as the International Day of Forests. The Day celebrates and raises awareness of the importance of all types of forests. On each International Day of Forests, countries are encouraged to undertake local, national and international efforts to organise activities involving forests and trees, such as tree planting campaigns.  

The 2020 theme is Forests and Biodiversity. In some inspiring stories related to forests conservation, the UN says that in the Peruvian Amazon, a tree that stands more than 20 meters high is giving the forests a new value. The tree’s name is shiringa. The latex extracted from its interior offers indigenous communities an opportunity to strengthen their ancestral practices, generate income and adapt to climate change. “I am going to work with shiringa until I die. I am  happy because this work does not kill the body. Those who cut trees kill their bodies. This is what I want my children and my wife to learn,” says Geremías Apikai, an indigenous Awajun who has been working with shiringa since 2015. Apikai, who is 54-years-old, lives in the Datem Entsa community in the Tuntanain Communal Reserve, a protected natural area in the province of Condorcanqui in northern Peru, which shelters more than 1,850 hectares of wild shiringa. Latex extraction is an ancestral activity. Shiringa producers extract this milky liquid -known as the “white gold” of the Amazon- to create latex sheets and vegetable leather to manufacture jackets, footwear, backpacks and even tyres. In Datem Entsa, one of the 23 communities of Tuntanain, there are three families which work with natural rubber. Apikai stands out for his enthusiasm and dedication. “I only have 46 trees, because I am not from here. I want to plant shiringa on my land for my children and grandchildren. That is my vision,” Apikai says to the German press agency DPA.

In Sri Lanka, especially after we virtually wholesale swallowed  the concepts of the globalised capitalist market economy, our forest cover has gone down rapidly from 36 per cent in 1990 to about 30 per cent now. Among the causes are forest fires, some caused naturally others being acts of arson by vested interests. Reports also indicate that big scale racketeers cut hundreds of trees illegally and transport the timber to Colombo or elsewhere, and in many cases law - enforcement officers or other authorities are bribed. Excessive deforestation has also led to human-elephant conflict. As usual we blame the elephants. We rob their forest homelands for various purposes and they are forced to come to villages to obtain food. We rob their forest homelands and call them rogues. While taking precautions to protect innocent people from attacks by wild elephants, the government also needs to take effective steps to preserve and if possible increase our forest resources.  

On a personal basis we need to play our role as good citizens by planting trees preferably vegetables or fruit trees. Murunga is known to be one of the most nutritious vegetables and trees could be grown with rich harvest being obtained regularly. We could also plant trees that produce flowers and make our home gardens beautiful.