India: A Study on Social Awareness about Deforestation

Article type: Other

Authors: Nivithra, S.^a | Shoba Jasmin, K.S.^{b; *}

Affiliations: [a] Saveetha School of Law, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai, India | [b] Associate Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Saveetha School of Law: SIMATS

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author. E-mail: shobajasmin@gmail.com.

Abstract: Forests keep our climate stable, absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, and they regulate our water supply and improve its quality. Forests are vulnerable to anthropogenic activities which affect the biodiversity and have adverse socio-economic and environmental impacts. Large-scale destruction of the forests began with the British who wished to utilise the timber and the natural resources for the expansion and continuation of the empire. Over recent decades, human activity has also severely impacted the habitats and natural resources that wildlife and humanity depend on such as oceans, forests, coral reefs, wetlands and mangroves. This study attempted to analyse the level of awareness among the general public about deforestation in India. The impact of deforestation is poorly understood and the rate of deforestation is alarming the environmentalists wishing to protect the wildlife and forest resources. The causes and impacts of deforestation are associated with human activities but the linkage is not clearly understood by the public and the level of awareness is poor.

Keywords: Forests, ecosystem services, carbon sequestration, deforestation, afforestation

DOI: 10.3233/EPL-200243

Journal: Environmental Policy and Law, vol. 50, no. 4-5, pp. 411-414, 2020