The Earth's Lungs - Rainforests

Tropical rainforests have been called the "Earth's lungs". Now I don't think I need to emphasis either on explaining their importance or on why to save our lungs. So the question is here not why to save them or what are they, everybody knows. The question is HOW? WHO??,WHEN???, WHERE????

Individuals at their levels, and the level they can take it to; even though the other person thinks you are crazy, make him/her one too ;)

Same holds for Groups/Communities/Government/etc...

If you are unable to do so directly, then you can contribute indirectly by assisting others who are already working for saving Rainforests.

At individual level you can still help by not supporting goods and services that have been produced by causing harm to the Rainforests or animals inhibiting them. For instance there was news very some 2 years back all over stating that KFC had been using product packaging supplied by Asia Pulp and Paper (AAP). AAP's packaging products sourced their raw material from Rainforest of Indonesia, which is the homeland of endangered Sumatran Tigers and Orang-utans. Such big brands are pushing the endangered wildlife on the verge of extinction. KFC is been accused of much more destruction to other rainforests too including Amazon, as exposed by Greenpeace. 

More than 60 companies around the world had suspended purchases from APP including Kraft, Adidas, Hasbro, Mattel, Staples, Unilever, and Nestle. Now that comes for some celebration to Rainforest's well wishers. In Feb, 2013 AAP promised that it will stop cutting down rainforests of Indonesia and has adopted Forest Conservation Policy.

It's not about just flora and fauna, it’s about the humans too living in such forests. They are another group threatened with extinction for example the ethnic Awa people of Amazon Rainforest. Amazon has been a prey to illegal logging. Here only the government intervention will make the real difference with new forest codes/rules/regulations. But the government is alike all over the world, they don't really even think over an issue, till the issue is raised by someone and the government is forced to take some action. So rise, make groups and make them aware of the situation to bring them into action. They should bring more land under protection.

An interesting idea given by Eugene Linden, Thomas Lovejoy, and J. Daniel Phillips (who work for environment conservation) was of dividing natural areas into blocks and then soliciting funding commitments from international environmental groups, development institutions, corporations, and other credible donors. Then there would be a bidding process, after which an entity would take responsibility for maintaining forest cover and forest health in each block of the entire forest system. Sounds great to me, at least something that can be given a thought or at least a feasibility test. This will involve Corp-orates too in conservation in the name of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility). A fund can be created where a percentage of the proceeds can be put and later can be used for other conservation/development programs. But in this too, there has to be a combined effort made by government, corp-orates, people and NGOs to make sure any one group is not exploiting the natural block secretively.

I would like to share basic steps professed by "MangoBay”:

·         Teach others about the importance of the environment and how they can help save rainforests.

·         Restore damaged ecosystems by planting trees on land where forests have been cut down.

·         Encourage people to live in a way that doesn't hurt the environment.

·         Establish parks to protect rainforests and wildlife.

·         Support companies that operate in ways that minimize damage to the environment.

Kids are probably the greatest impact on elders. So Kids what are you waiting for (if any of you really reading this!), as you are good at demanding things. Let’s demand for the sake of our "lungs". So Kids and their parents, there are few steps that you can take up at your level. Ask your school/parents to buy environmentally friendly paper. Ask your school fundraiser to raise money for donation to an organization that works for wildlife conservation. Try to read about other children who live in and near rainforests and try to figure out how they and their families depend on the plants and animals in the rainforest. Use less paper – re-use paper instead of throwing it out. Develop curiosity and ask your parents and teacher how paper is recycled. Do projects/skit/story to learn about rainforests and its ecological system. If you know of any organization or company working to protect rainforests, let them know that they are doing a great job! Think of things around you that originate from rainforests and what if they are no longer around. Try to learn of extinct species that our wonderful Earth uses to have and make sure the current endangered species don't fall in this category sooner or later. 

To my surprise, Indian paper & pulp industry is doing great job by reducing its dependency on forests. 80% of total requirement of the wood based segment of the industry comes from farm produced woods. Over the last decade the industry has brought about 0.5 million hectares under pulp wood plantations, mainly degraded marginal lands of farmers. Indian Paper Manufacturers Association has recommended that if paper mills are permitted to grow pulpable wood in the radius of 150-200 kms to their facilities on the available degraded forest land as well, it will help mills to achieve greater cost competitiveness in terms of wood and freight, generate employment and create wealth for rural and lend protection to environment.