NATIONAL FOREST MARTYRS DAY: THE NEED OF THE HOUR

11 September,2021  |  By Brainwonders

About the National Forest Martyrs Day:

Every year on 11th September, National Forest Martyrs Day is to remember those who laid their lives to protect nature.

In 2013, the Ministry of Forest and Environment declared the Day as National Forest Martyrs Day and since then this day is observed to remember those who laid their lives for protecting the forests. 

The history behind celebrating the National Forest Martyrs Day:

In 1730, in Maharaja Abhay Singh in Rajasthan, an order to cut down the Khejarli trees was issued. These trees were sacred according to the people of the Bishnoi community residing in the village. Hence they resisted cutting down the trees. 

When the army of Maharaja Abhay Singh came to cut down the trees, Amrita Devi, a brave woman of the village stood against them and told them to behead herself rather than the Khejarli trees.

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Unfortunately, the Maharaja's troops cruelly executed her, along with 359 others, before this terrible news reached the Maharaja's ears.

He then issued an order to halt the tree felling. He instantly apologized and honoured people for their bravery by issuing an order barring further chopping of the sacred Khejarli trees and animal hunting in and around Bishnoi village.

On this National Forest Martyrs Day, let us look at the need for forest conservation:

Nature conservation is an act of safeguarding the planet Earth for current and future generations. The most obvious purpose for environmental preservation is to protect wildlife and increase diversity. 

Promoting wildlife and protecting species must be a top priority since future generations may not have the opportunity to see them, which is concerning because we have a diverse range of species and should aim to maintain a healthy and functional ecosystem. 

Considering humans, nature must be preserved to live on our planet. With climate change already ruining the planet’s ecosystem, protecting the environment should be our top priority.

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On the occasion of National Forest Martyrs Day, let us look at recent statistics and studies related to the environment in India:

Forest cover is the total geographical area covered by forests.  

States with the highest forest cover in the country are as follows.

1. Madhya Pradesh - 94,689 sq km
2. Arunachal Pradesh - 51,407 sq km
3. Chhattisgarh - 59,772 sq km
4. Odisha - 61,204.17 sq km
5. Maharashtra - 61,579 sq km

The above states i.e. Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Maharashtra have the largest forest cover in the country. Their forest cover as compared to their geographical area is a huge contribution to the country’s total area of forest land. 

States with the lowest forest cover in the country are as follows:

1. Punjab- 3,084 sq km
2. Haryana- 1,559 sq km
3. Rajasthan -32,737 sq
4. Uttar Pradesh - 14,805.65 sq km
5. Bihar- 7,299 sq km

The above states have the lowest forest cover in the country. When forest property is transformed for development purposes, such as road expansion, trees are cut down. The states like Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar can take examples of states like Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and other states who have the largest forest cover and work on increasing their forest area. 

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On this National Forest Martyrs Day, let us look at some laws and acts to preserve forests.

1: The Indian Forest Act, 1927

The Indian Forest Act of 1927 was passed to regulate forest produce.

2: The Wildlife Protection Act, 1973

The Wildlife Protection Act, Rules 1973, and Amendment 1991 protect birds and animals, as well as all matters related to them, such as their habitat, waterholes, and the woods that support them.

3: The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2006

When this act was established, The NTCA (National Tiger Conservation Authority) and the Tiger and Other Endangered Species Crime Control Bureau also came into existence. 

4: The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980

The Forest (Conservation) Act was passed to give forests a better level of protection and to govern the diversion of forest area diversion for non-forestry purposes.

This National Forest Martyrs Day, let us look at some People who are single-handedly working towards protecting the environment by planting trees.

This National Forest Martyrs Day, let us look at some people who are working towards making a difference.

• Saalumarada Thimmakka - 

She is a Karnataka-based environmentalist who is known for planting 385 banyan trees along a highway between Hulikal and Kudur.

• Jaydev Payeng - 

gained the recognition of being the forest man of India.  He spent 30 years of his life planting trees to save his island. 

• V Vidyadharan -

V Vidyadharan began his green adventure when he was a child, and it quickly became a passion for him.

• Shyam Sundar Jyani -

He started as a collective effort in 2003 with his students at the Government Dungar College campus, Bikaner. Later Shyam Sundar Jyani planted saplings across the state for 11 years.

• Kapil Sharma, a software professional -

Kapil Sharma, a Chhattisgarh-based software developer, has planted over 35,000 seedlings around Bengaluru. He also co-founded SayTrees, an NGO dedicated to environmental preservation. 

5 things you can do to save forests on this National Forest Martyrs Day.

1. Plant as many trees as you can: Reforestation is a solution to the changing climate now. You can help in repairing ecosystems that have been damaged by planting as many trees as you can.
2. Donate to forest protection groups: You cannot always protect trees directly. Fortunately, there are numerous groups dedicated to preserving the world's woods. You can help by supporting such groups.
3. Purchase things that are forest-friendly (or certified): Buying eco-friendly products can definitely help in forest conservation. Alternatives to traditional paper and wood goods that do not use trees are becoming increasingly popular now.
4. Afforestation: If you cut a tree, it should be your moral obligation to plant a tree to replace it and repay the ecosystem. This would undoubtedly assist in balancing the number of trees. Afforestation can aid in ecological balance.
5. Controlling the forest fires: It is important to use the most up-to-date firefighting techniques in order to save forests from fire. Some fire suppression strategies include creating three-meter-wide five-lane lanes around the perimeter of the fire, backfires, and water spray arrangements. 

On this National Forest Martyrs Day, we urge you to come forward and save as many trees as you can. Remember, planting even a single tree makes a difference!

This National Forest Martyrs Day, work towards making a difference by planting as many trees as you can.