When I see people sheltering under a tree for relief from the heat when waiting for a bus, I smile sadly because I know that as soon as they get home then, out will come the axe and .. .. Chop! Chop! Chop!
What are they chopping at? They chop at their environment – the shelter and home to lizards, frogs and birds that eat bothersome mosquitoes and other insects – trees! Then these same people complain about flooding, mosquitoes and the heat! They cut trees just when they should be planting them and cultivating more! Trees give us so many things: apart from shade, they give fruit for food, useful medicines, spices such as cinnamon, even oxygen for breathing, and of course wood which we need for building our houses (- also called ‘timber’ when cut into useful pieces, planks).
Heavy rain causes land on hillsides to slide down to a new resting place. When it is just the fertile ‘top soil’ that is washed away they call it ‘soil erosion’. Much of this erosion can be prevented by roots: grass, creepers, bush and tree roots; these hold the soil from being washed away and so help to prevent erosion. And they drink lots of water, too!
Another great benefit is that small, local or ‘mini-climates’ start. This is because the foliage, all the leaves and branches of an area, hold back the sun’s rays and keep the ground cool. This is important as this prevents the ground drying out rapidly and also killing-off the natural life sheltering there. On still, windless days, slow loss of moisture helps to form clouds which then also help to keep the trees on the ground cool. And clouds give us rain, and then the cycle is completed.
But instead, everywhere you go there is the buzzing of chainsaws in action. People everywhere, instead of planting trees, are cutting them down to sell. This keeps them in money for a few days. Great Mara trees, many as old as 150 years, are turned to matchwood in a day or two. Experts say that Lanka was covered in forest until recently – only 50 years ago. Where have all those animals, the elephants, wild cattle, bears and leopards gone? – the same way as the trees!
People have the habit of planting Mango, Jak, Eucalyptus and Pine trees – for their economic value – ignoring the need to maintain variety and soil fertility. Lanka re-enacts the disaster that gradually overcame ancient Anuradhapura.
Criticus. 28/4/2011
Resubmited by R.O.S