Slideshow | “The benefits of forest to mankind”: World Forestry Day school celebration in Kanyakumari district – Tamil Nadu

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Photos: courtesy S S Davidson © 2013 Tribal Foundation (Nagercoil)

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Forests were the lungs of the earth and global warming and its attendant climate change needed to be dealt with in this context, said environmental educator S.S. Davidson.

Addressing tribal children at the Holy Family Middle School at Ettamadai near Keeripparai in the western ghats of Kanyakumari district on the occasion of World Forestry Day celebration on Thursday, he said that forests provided food, fodder, fuel, recreation and means for livelihood. The benefits of forest to mankind were many — roots of the trees hold the soil together and by preventing rapid runoff of water after heavy rain, floods were put in check. At the earth summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, enhancing the tree cover to 33 percent by 2012 to combat global warming was stressed. Forest cover helped in controlling earth’s temperature, pollution and provided oxygen, he said. Forests and forestry were interrelated to agriculture, food security and sustainable development. […]

The origin of the concept of celebrating this World Forest Day came up at the 23rd General Assembly of the European Confederation of Agriculture in 1971. […]

The pressure on forests should be lessened by dwellers there and those residing it the forest peripheries. Alternative livelihood facilities should be provided to the tribal people to reduce their dependence on forests, he said. […]

A drawing competition on wildlife was conducted for the students and prizes were given to the winners. Jacob Robert Singh, managing trustee of the Foundation, addressed the participants.

Source: Forests lungs of earth: environment educator (The Hindu, 22 March 2013)
Address : http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/forests-lungs-of-earth-environment-educator/article4536740.ece
Date Visited: Mon Mar 25 2013 17:54:28 GMT+0100 (CET)

[Bold typeface added above for emphasis]

The tribal population in India is 84.51 million, which constitutes 8.14% of tribal population. There are about 449 tribes and sub tribes in different parts of India. Half of India’s tribal people live in the forests and forest fringes and their economy is linked with the forests. Tamil Nadu has 7.21 lakh tribal populations as per 2011 census which constitutes 1.10% of the total population. There are 36 tribes and sub tribes in Tamil Nadu. Literacy rate of the population is 27.9%. Most of the tribals in Tamil Nadu are cultivators, agriculture labourers or dependent on forests for their livelihood. There are six primitive tribes in Tamil Nadu. The tribal groups in Tamil Nadu are distributed in almost all the districts and they have contributed significantly in the management of the forests.

Source: “Tribal Development” (Government of Tamil Nadu Forest Department, 29 May 2018)
URL: https://www.forests.tn.gov.in/pages/view/Tribal_Development_on-going
Date Visited: 11 October 2021

“There is a need to explore the tribal consciousness in the backdrop of climate change, development, and deforestation.” – Deepanwita Gita Niyogi in “India’s Adivasi Identity in Crisis” Pulitzer Center May 27, 2021 | Learn more about climate change and illegal mining >>

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