The current level of carbon in the atmosphere is 380 parts per million (ppm). This amount is one third higher that before the industrial age began. A study by the Inter Governmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) has calculated that to reduce world wide carbon emission by two-thirds by the end of the 21st century it would be necessary to hold the level for accumulated carbon below 550 ppm. Even with this amount, sea level would rise and species would face extinction. (Timothy E. Wirth, C. Boyden Gray and John D. Podesta, ‘The Future of Energy Policy’, Foreign Affairs, July-August 2003) Thus, even if greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide which are being released in excess of the nature’s capacity to absorb are reduced now or in the future, the carbon in ppm terms is going to increase as the atmospheric lifetime of carbon is from 50 to 200 years.

Another way to express this excess carbon dioxide emission due to fossil fuel burning is to convert the annual emission in tons. Carbon in soils amounts to 1500 billion tons. Nearly 90 billion tons is exchanged each year between the atmospheric reservoir and the 39,000 billion tons reservoir in the oceans. Approximately 100 billion tons of carbon circulates between the atmosphere and the approximately 750 billion tons reservoir in land plants. (Jerry Leggett, ‘Global Warming: The Worst Case’, Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, June 1992, pp32-33) Add to this cycle of nature, the slow increase due to the burning of fossil fuels.  The worldwide emission of CO2 was 5.3 billion tons in 1980. In 1998 it increased to 6.6 billion tons, and now in 2003 it is 7 billion tons. (Complied from UNDP’s Human Development Reports) By the end of the 21st century, it may go up to 40 billion tons per annum.   Pre-industrial atmospheric carbon was 580 billion tons. Present levels stand at about 750 billion tons. If mankind were to burn fossil fuel without any alternatives, the coal and oil reserves that are waiting to be burnt are going to increase the atmospheric carbon to a figure of 4000 billion tons. This is indeed alarming. Trees, then assume great importance as they are carbon neutral if grown and burnt in proportion and carbon sinks in their natural form.

Sources and Sinks for Carbon

It has been estimated that carbon per hectare is as under (Sanjay Kumar, ‘Indigenous Communities’ Knowledge of Local Ecological Services’, Economic and Political Weekly, 28 July 2001):

                                                    Tropical Rainforest of India    Open Forest of India

Carbon per hectare in vegetation        135- 250 tons                        40-60 tons

Carbon per hectare in soils                100 tons                                50 tons

Terrestrial vegetation and soil absorb 40 per cent of global CO2 emissions from human activities. Model simulation has shown that terrestrial biosphere acts as an over all carbon sink till about 2050, but turns into a source thereafter. (Gamini Seneviratne, ‘Litter Controls on Carbon Sequestration’, Current Science, 25 January 2002, p115-116) If deforestation takes place it would further add to the carbon budget in the atmosphere.  Thus, afforestation and reforestation are the best solutions to offset excess carbon in the atmosphere.

Ecological Services and Sustainable Use of Forests

Beside the function of carbon sequestration, forests (if managed sustainably) are a source of wood, non timber forest product (NTFP) and ecological services. Forests have a high non market value such as biodiversity and watershed protection. (WEHAB working paper prior to WSSD 2002, ‘A Framework for Action for Agriculture’, pp12-13) It has now been established that ‘natural capital’ like forests carry out global, regional and local services. Globally they are sinks for green house gases, regionally they help in regulating water supply and locally they help in soil control, soil formation, nutrient recycling, pollination, biological control, food production, raw material, genetic resources and recreational and cultural services. (Dev Nathan and Govind Kelkar, Case for Local Forest Management: Environmental Services, Internalisation of Costs and Markets, Economic and Political Weekly, 28 July 2001, pp 2835-2845) Ecological services by the biosphere was estimated as being worth $33 trillion whereas global national product was $18 trillion. (Note 4, author work of Costanza et al) Locally speaking it has been estimated that (RP Bhattacharya, ‘Forest Conservation in Northeast India’, in Zahid Hussain (ed.), Environmental Issues of North East India, (New Delhi: Regency Publications, 2003)):

·         An acre of trees produce 4 tons of oxygen enough for 18 people to live for one year.

·         One well watered tree produces clean cool air which 10 room sized air conditioners produce each day operating 24 hours.

·         Trees filter dust and pollen and absorb chemical pollutants from air.

·         Reduce noise by 50 per cent.

·         Large leafed trees break force of rain and the gentle water then percolates down, this helps prevent top soil being washed away.

The National Scene

The 10th Plan document has mentioned that ecological issues and biological wealth has not been adequately incorporated in developmental strategies in spite of the fact that they provide environmental and ecological services. It proposes to re-generate 10 million hectares of degraded forests during the 10th plan. (10th Plan Document, Volume I: Dimensions and Strategies, paragraph 1.13) Forest cover directly affects the socio-economic development of our people. With theses benefits and the need to increase forests and tree cover from below 20 per cent   to 25 per cent by 2007 and 33 per cent by 2012, a National Forest Commission has been set up in February 2003. It is headed by environmentalist, Justice B N Kirpal (former Chief Justice of India). Its aim is to review and assess our forest policy and its administration with the help of the local communities including tribal people. (Public Notice in leading national newspapers of 19 June 2003)

Forests are vital ecological resources for India as they provide us human, national, regional and international security. Survival and growth of ecologically suitable trees is now an important security agenda.