Forests Are Drivers Of Sustainability

Forests are vital indicators of environmental health and socioeconomic well-being of a nation.

- GOVIND SINGH AND KONSAM NIRMALA

Forests are vital indicators of environmental health and socioeconomic well-being of a nation. The recently released India State of Forest Report 2023 puts the forest cover of India at 21.76 per cent. This figure was 21.71 per cent in 2021. According to the National Forest Policy 1988, the national forest cover goal should be to have one-third of the total land area under forest or tree cover. The current national tree cover, according to the India State of Forest Report 2023, is 3.41 per cent which puts the forest and tree cover of India at only 25.17 per cent. Forest conservation and afforestation activities in India must pick up pace to reach the one-third forest cover goal; doing so will help achieve many other goals including the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Global Forest Goals report 2021 of the United Nations estimates that 1.6 billion people, or one-fourth of the global population, rely on forests for meeting their daily needs, livelihoods and income (UN SDG 1&2). It further highlights that for centuries, forests have provided socioeconomic safety nets for people and communities especially in times of crisis such as the hardships brought upon by the Covid-19 pandemic. Three-fourths of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic and usually occur when natural landscapes like forests are cleared. Maintaining healthy forests is therefore critical for good health and well-being (UN SDG 3). Moreover, being in or near forests and trees boosts the immune system, lowers blood pressure, reduces stress and prevents diseases caused by stress.