The Oxygen Oceans of Our Planet
Sahil Manzoor Bhatti
Forests are the oxygen oceans of our planet. To destroy them is to murder life itself. Those who cut them down for greed deserve strict legal punishment.
Nature has blessed us with countless gifts, all meant for human welfare. Yet, humanity has become its own enemy, exploiting forests, water, and air for selfish gain.
Forests are not just clusters of trees. They are the lifeline of human existence. They provide timber, fodder, and regulate rainfall. They prevent floods, landslides, and soil erosion. When trees fall, disaster follows.
The Alarming Impact of Deforestation
Deforestation is the large-scale clearing of trees for profit and expansion. It leads to erosion, flash floods, and climate imbalance. The cutting of trees reduces oxygen and increases carbon dioxide, pushing global temperatures higher. This disrupts the natural gas balance essential for life.
Science gives us the tools to understand and combat these crises. But knowledge alone is not enough. Action is needed.
Greed Over Green
Many people misuse forest resources for money. Forests are not business assets. They are national treasures. Our intellectuals understand this truth but lack the authority or means to act.
The government and forest departments must move beyond files and desks. They should launch strong awareness campaigns through media, community counselling, and public hoardings. People must see conservation as duty, not choice.
First-Hand Reality
In recent years, I have visited forests in Budgam, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam. Once thick with life, many now lie barren. The stumps tell their own story — of greed, negligence, and loss.
The Soul of Nature
Forests have always inspired poets, painters, and filmmakers. The sight of pine trees, the sound of rustling leaves, and the buzz of dragonflies show nature’s unmatched beauty. They refresh the mind and heal the soul.
India has about 7,12,249 square kilometers under forest cover. Jammu and Kashmir has around 20,230 square kilometers. The Pir Panjal range, part of the Lesser Himalayas, is home to rich biodiversity and vital to the region’s ecology and economy. Stretching from Himachal Pradesh to Azad Kashmir, it stands as a living guardian of our natural wealth.
Forests: For Recreation and Research
Forests have long been spaces for exploration, trekking, and study. Scholars, researchers, and students rely on forests to study unique plants and herbs that grow nowhere else.
Why Forests Matter
They maintain the ecological balance.
They support food chains and provide shelter to wildlife.
They offer grazing land to nomads.
They supply medicinal plants essential to human health.
They sustain communities living near forest zones.
The Causes of Destruction
The main drivers of deforestation are timber smuggling, construction, urban expansion, and human interference. Each axe swing contributes to climate imbalance.
The Way Forward
The best remedy is afforestation — planting trees to replace lost forests. But growth takes time. Meanwhile, the government must enforce strict monitoring, strengthen forest protection, and involve local communities. Forest guards should patrol regularly, even at night. Awareness must be continuous, not seasonal.
The Final Word
Deforestation is murder — of trees, water, wildlife, and humanity itself. Forests are the golden lungs of our planet. Their protection is our collective duty. For our children and for generations yet to come, we must act now.
Protect forests. Protect life.
