🚀 go-pugleaf

On Wed, 31 Jan 2001 20:30:00 +1100, "Dharmadeva"
<u961309@student.canberra.edu.au> wrote:

>Re-Afforestation
>
>I hope you all know what soil erosion is. In Ra'r'h,
>Bengal, soil erosion is called khoya'i. Due to incessant
>rainfall water washes soil away from the parent body.
>Sometimes even one down pour is enough for a thick layer of
>soil to separate from the parent body. Through this process
>the fertility of the soil gradually diminishes.
>
>In ancient times there was an abundance of woods and
>dense forests. On the one hand forests would attract clouds
>and cause heavy rainfall, and on the other hand they would
>prevent soil erosion by binding the soil to the outstretched
>roots of the plants. Most trees preserved water near their
>roots by binding the soil to their various root systems.
>Trees which have closely bunched root systems have the
>greatest capacity to preserve water. In winter or summer or
>in dry seasons when the level of water declines, trees
>slowly release the water they have accumulated, thereby
>keeping water flowing in the soil.
>
>These days, due to reckless deforestation in many
>parts of the world, forest trees are deprived of that source
>of water. If this wanton destruction of plants and trees is
>not stopped, then in the near future the rainfall will
>drastically decrease and the frequency and intensity of
>floods will increase. Consequently lush, green vegetation
>will be transformed into arid deserts. This has already
>happened in the south eastern portion of Rajasthan.
>
>Today human beings have to be very cautious and
>restrained in this regard. Under no circumstances can
>reckless deforestation be permitted to continue. We must not
>forget even for a moment that the seed of destruction of the
>human race lies in the wanton destruction of forests. No
>more deforestation should be allowed. Our aim should be
>large scale re-afforestation.
>
>20 December 1987, Calcutta (Shabda Caynika Part 15)
>
We all agree. There is considerable awareness in Australia but, still,
as always, money rules. 
Reafforestation is officially encouraged but land clearing on a
massive scale continues in many regions.