Tropical rainforests are forests characterized by their evergreen trees and tender leaves. But are they going to remain green forever? It doesn’t seem like as we are losing our forests day by day.

Tropical rainforests are known for their biodiversity and ecosystem along with genetic diversity. It’s a hub of resources like medicinal plants, edible products, raw materials etc. About half of the species of migratory living organisms live in tropical rainforests. It’s a habitat for flora and fauna that are indigenous at that place. And not only that but it also plays an important role in regulation the temperature at global level; it absorbs a huge of carbon dioxide and converts it into oxygen. In addition to that, it is responsible for the rainfall throughout the year. And it doesn’t stop here, it resists against soil erosion, droughts, floods, clogging and many such phenomena.

Though it still covers about 30% of world’s land area but they are disappearing at a very alarming rate. Between 1990 and 2016, we lost 502,000 square miles of forest (according to World Bank). Unbelievably, it is estimated that within 100 years, there will be no rainforests on earth. One and a half acres of forests are cut down every second. According to World Resources Institute, loss of rainforests contributes between 12 to 17 percent of annual global greenhouse gas emission. Moreover, there is a loss of biodiversity and ecosystem that forms a part of the food chain. Furthermore, adivasi people’s home gets destroyed, their habitat gets ruined. We always complain about wildlife animals coming on roads, they aren’t coming on our way; we are coming on their way.

So what’s the cause of loss of tropical rainforests? The prominent reason is agriculture. A huge amount of forests are pinned down to create land for agriculture; for livestock breeding; for exotic crop production and other primary sector activities. Other causes are road/highway building for transportation, metro station building, to settle a whole colony or civilization etc. We are one of the major contributors when it comes to deforestation. And how we contribute in this? By burning it for our use; cutting it for timber, rubber and other raw materials; ending it for medicinal uses. And the chain of pinning down forests has become unstoppable now.

Just recently, a significant amount of Amazon rainforest was cleared, either directly or indirectly because to humans only which created a huge problem for us. There’s a need to become proactive rather than reactive.

So what should be done? As, if we don’t seek for solution we will run out of oxygen some day. We should adopt the 4R principle of Recycle, Reduce, Reuse and Regeneration. We must discourage the practice of deforestation; discourage the use of rainforest products; create awareness about it; control population; adopt alternative ways for manufacturing; support indigenous communities; reduce our carbon footprint. And government needs to make rigid rules and regulations regarding this.

These measures must be adopted as soon as possible or it will be too late and that day, we’ll pay a heavy price.