What is Conservation of Trees and Forests?

Tree conservation is the preservation and management of forests and, by extension, individual trees. It is a principle, a policy, and a practice, all of which have become more common and popular in the decades of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. In many parts of the world, activists, governments, and conservation organizations have done their best to inform people that the natural resource represented by trees and forests has great value to civilization, wildlife, and the overall well-being of the world's ecosystems, as well as potentially influencing climate and the use and conservation of other natural resources. Tree conservation is often at odds with the interests of for profit companies that exploit forests for natural resources as well as those who clear forests for the purpose of agriculture or other land use that requires the trees to be removed.

The primary goal of tree conservation is to preserve and protect forests. The reasons for this are many, including the preservation of wildlife habitat, prevention of erosion, and preservation of beauty for the enjoyment of future generations. These goals are only part of the overall concept of tree conservation, however, as the world's forests have a much greater value beyond these considerations. Many drugs and medicines come from plants and trees found in the world's forests, and many trees are an important source of food for humans.

Ways to Protect Trees and Forests:-

Ditch the printer:- The less you print, the less paper is used. Trees are cut down for paper. Therefore, the less you print, the fewer trees are cut down. In the long run this could really add up to a lot of saved trees.

Go digital with your bills:- In the same way that printing less causes less of a demand for paper, getting your bills through e-mail instead of a printed copy in the mail will decrease the demand for paper.

Double-sided paper:- If you must print, print on both sides of the page. This will cut down the paper consumption by half, which saves half the number of trees in a forest.

Regulated and Planned Cutting of Trees:- One of the main reasons of deforestation is commercial felling of trees. According to an estimate, about 1,600 million cubic metres of wood have been used for various purposes in the world. Although trees are considered as perennial resource, when exploited on a very large scale, their revival cannot be possible.

Control over Forest Fire:- Destruction or loss of forest by fire is fairly common; because trees are highly exposed to fire and once started it becomes difficult to control. Sometimes, the fire starts by natural process, i.e., by lightning or by friction between trees during speedy winds, while in most cases it is also by man either intentionally or uninten­tionally.

Reforestation and Afforestation:- The sustained yield concept dictates that whenever timber is removed, either by block cutting or by selective cutting, the denuded area must be reforested. This may be done by natural or artificial methods. Similarly, any forested land, which has been destroyed by fire or mining activities, should be reforested. In rugged terrain aerial seeding is the method of choice.

Check over Forest Clearance for Agricultural and Habitation Purposes:- Most of the present-day agricultural land was once forested and then cleared for the use of agriculture. But now it has reached the stage where further clearance will be dangerous for the entire ecosystem. There are tribal in some parts of Asia, Africa and South America, where shifting cultivation is still a part of their system of land procurement.

Protection of Forests:- The existing forests should be protected. Apart from commercial cutting, unorganised grazing is also one of the reasons. There are several forest diseases resulting from parasitic fungi, rusts, mistletoes, viruses and nematodes which cause the destruction of trees. The forests should be protected either by use of chemical spray, antibiotics or by development of disease resistant strains of trees.

Proper Utilisation of Forest and Forests Products:- Generally, trees are cut for logs and the rest, including stump, limbs, branches and foliage, etc., is left out as worthless debris. Further waste occurs at the saw mills. There is thus need to utilise this waste material. Today, several uses have been developed and products like waterproof glues, boar r etc., can be obtained.

Role of Government in Forest Conservation:- Although the government of every country is very particular about conservation of its forest resources and has several rules and laws for the protection of forests but, they are not implement in an effective manner.

Educate others:- Whether it be your children's, friends, or colleagues. The more people are aware of what they can do to help prevent deforestation, the better.

Reforestation:- Also referred to as sustainable yield, this method requires that every tree that gets cut down must be replanted. Similarly, any tree that gets burned down due to forest fires must also get replanted.

Plant trees:- Trees have been shown to assist with the removal of carbon dioxide (a key greenhouse gas) from the atmosphere and store it in the trunk, leaves, roots and soil. Furthermore the addition of tree to a degraded landscape also helps to reduce soil erosion, helps with water conservation, increases biodiversity and provides habitat for wildlife. Tree planting projects also provide livelihoods for communities in developing countries.

Raise awareness through tourism:- Forests could become popular tourist destinations. This will give the forest more value and protect it. It will also improve the local economy thanks to the tourists spending their money there. Poorer communities will no longer have to cut down the trees for a living.

Benefits of Protected Trees and Forests:-

They help us breathe:- Forests pump out the oxygen we need to live and absorb the carbon dioxide we exhale (or emit). Just one adult leafy tree can produce as much oxygen in a season as 10 people inhale in a year. Plankton are more prolific, providing half of Earth's oxygen, but forests are still a key source of breathable air.

They keep Earth cool:- Trees also have another way to beat the heat: absorb CO2 that fuels global warming. Plants always need some CO2 for photosynthesis, but Earth's air is now so thick with extra emissions that forests fight global warming just by breathing. CO2 is stored in wood, leaves and soil, often for centuries.

They make it rain:- Large forests can influence regional weather patterns and even create their own microclimates. The Amazon, for example, generates atmospheric conditions that not only promote regular rainfall there and in nearby farmland, but potentially as far away as the Great Plains of North America.

They fight flooding:- Tree roots are key allies in heavy rain, especially for low-lying areas like river plains. They help the ground absorb more of a flash flood, reducing soil loss and property damage by slowing the flow.

They clean up dirty soil:- In addition to holding soil in place, forests may also use phytoremediation to clean out certain pollutants. Trees can either sequester the toxins away or degrade them to be less dangerous. This is a helpful skill, letting trees absorb sewage overflows, roadside spills or contaminated runoff.

They clean up dirty air:- We herald houseplants for purifying the air, but don't forget forests. They can clean up air pollution on a much larger scale, and not just the aforementioned CO2. Trees catch and soak in a wide range of airborne pollutants, including carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.