Chandigarh : Green scare in India rising as India lost its original forests 70 times Delhi’s area in 14 years (1999–2013). India has lost 367 square kilometres of forest cover in the past two years. According to the India State of Forest Report, 2011, released by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) on February 7, the total forest cover in the country is now at 6,92,027 sq km. This accounts for 21.05 % of the total geographical area of India.
Despite an increase in green cover, the loss of original forests has increased exponentially with Chandigarh being the second highest to loss forests at an alarming rate of 92.7%. Moreover, large-scale deforestation in mid- and higher latitudes of the northern hemisphere impacts the South Asian monsoon far more than local deforestation does, and has caused an 18% decline in monsoon rains over India, a new study says all this has been happened in a decade (2003–2013).
Though estimated, India’s forest cover showed a substantial growth over the years. But forestry analysts criticized the methodology as it did not give the idea of how our natural forests were faring. According to the forest analysts over 14 lakh trees are being cut down in India in average per year.
So the Indian Institute of Architects, Chandigarh–Punjab Chapter has prepared a plan to organize tree plantation in Chandigarh on Sunday 19th July, 2015, in collaboration with ACC Limited, a cement company. It has been organized in green – belt of Sector 24 in Chandigarh Area. The mass plantation of trees serves various purposes like providing alternative fuel, increase production of food resources, helps create shelter-belts around fields to increase productivity, provide food for cattle, offers shade and decorative landscapes, helps conserves soil deterioration, etc. also the need of planting and tending of trees, as trees are one of the best ways to prevent global warming and reduce pollution.
Councillor Asha Jaiswal graced the occasion. ACC Limited was represented by Chandra Sahu & his Team and many architects from Indian Institute of Architects were also present. Architect Surinder Bahga , S.D. Singh & Anju Bala organised the program.