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Hard Hit By Climate Change, Villagers Raise a Forest on Their Own — Global Issues


Villagers work in a forest they planted to save themselves from the ravages of climate change. Credit: Umar Manzoor Shah / IPS
  • by Umar Manzoor Shah
  • Associated Press Service

In 2013, this farmer sowed a ginger crop on his half-acre plot and hoped to turn a profit. However, providence had other intentions. In September of that year, unseasonal rains ravaged Sheemanto’s village, destroying his crops beyond repair.

“We did not anticipate this. We prayed to God to give us a good yield. But the rains destroyed everything – our hopes and livelihoods,” said Chatri.

Another farmer, identified only as Marwin, shares the same predicament. He said that he has grown potatoes on his farm and is intending to sell them on the open market to settle a loan from the bank. However, Marwin said, the dramatic change in weather patterns affects farmers in the village the most.

“Sometimes the wind blows, sometimes it rains suddenly. All of this is unprecedented for the core. It affects our livelihoods and will hit our families hard,” said Marwin.

He added that the entire village had suffered damage in farming due to such an unprecedented situation, leaving people in dire straits in many ways.

“We have absolutely no idea why this happened. We even performed puja (prayer) and sacrifices to our gods, but nothing happened,” Marwin said.

According to another farmer, Arup Chater, a group of local NGOs with researchers visited the village in November 2014 and assessed crop damage. The team has also studied patterns of weather changes in the region and says they believe deforestation is to blame.

After the group’s visit, villagers – men and women, young and old, gathered in an open field to discuss remedial measures. They realized how the ruthless cutting of trees from the nearby forests affected their livelihoods.

“At first, we didn’t understand that anything like that would happen to us if we allowed the felling of trees from the nearby forest. We now understand that nature works in sync and it is affecting our lives a lot,” Chater told IPS.

At this point, the inhabitants of this village decided to develop a forest.

The village head made a joint announcement asking households in the village to provide seedlings for them to plant in the community forest.

“A sort of roster was devised to divide the work among the villagers. Every day, households are assigned the task of fertilizing in the forest, fertilizing with natural fertilizers, watering young trees and taking care of newly sown trees. Three groups of labor were formed – each assigned a task of its own: “longkpa“(Men),” lonkmie“(Women and”samlaMatttheus Maring, the head of the village, said.

Currently, there are more than 4,000 sycamore trees growing, he added.

“This forest is our only hope without having to witness the effects of climate change. This has grown into a full forest,” Maring told IPS. “There were birdsong and the sound of leaves everywhere. Gradually, climatic conditions and water scarcity have begun to subtly improve.”

He said he believes this forest building has made nature “kind”.

“In recent years, farmers have not complained. They receive rain at the right time and provide water. The economic condition of our village is also starting to improve,” said Maring.

He adds that a regular water supply is created by planting 2,000 trees Michalia champaca (Diengrai), Duabanga grandiflora (Dieng Mului) and 250 Dried carp (Dieng Sali .)) seedlings.

To enhance water availability from plant roots, there has been significant involvement of “longkpa“(Men),” lonkmie“(Women and”samla” During the day traditional vegetables or rustic delicacies.

Due to climate change, groundwater supplies, rivers, dams, streams and other places are all under strain. In India, rain-fed agriculture occupies 65% of arable land, highlighting the industry’s vulnerability to water constraints. As groundwater is rarely used for agriculture due to its degree of depletion, several states of the country are experiencing water shortages.

Recent studies have demonstrated that global warming caused by climate change increases monsoon fluctuations, causing both short bursts of intense rain and prolonged dry spells. Since 1902, 2022 has experienced the second-highest number of severe events – a dreaded scenario leading to droughts and floods.

In India, according to government data, monsoon rains decreased in frequency but increased in intensity during the second half of the 20th century. These unusual changes are severely impacting hundreds of millions of manufacturers and India’s food consumption raises questions about food security.

However, the residents of this northeastern village are optimistic that their hard work will pay off – if not today then surely tomorrow. “We will not let the tree felling happen like before. We will now be vigilant and understand that nature is a two-way street. We must cherish it carefully in order to expect it to take care of our lives in return. This community forest will definitely save us and will make our lives, the lives of our children better in so many ways,” said Maring. Report of the United Nations Office IPS


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© Inter Press Service (2022) – All rights reservedOrigin: Inter Press Service





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