🚀 go-pugleaf

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)


--
'The main characteristic of PROUT-based socioeconomic movements
is that they aim to guarantee the comprehensive, multifarious
liberation of humanity.'  P R Sarkar
PROUT - PROgressive Utilisation Theory
http://www.proutworld.org http://www.prout.org
New Renaissance: A Journal for Social and Spiritual Awakening:
http://www.ru.org