As the specter of climate change looms large, the Society for Forest, Environment, and Climate Change in Mangaluru is sounding the alarm, urging the Union government to declare a climate emergency. Benedict Fernandes, the society’s secretary, conveyed this plea in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and principal chief secretaries, emphasizing the critical need for immediate action.
In their missive, the society implored the Prime Minister to mobilize students nationwide for a massive tree-planting initiative in collaboration with the forest department. They proposed engaging India’s 26.5 crore enrolled students to each plant a minimum of 10 saplings, with the government facilitating geo-tagging of these saplings through ISRO and assigning unique IDs to each. The data would be compiled into a comprehensive green database, detailing sapling information such as age, common name, and pruning status. To enhance accessibility, a QR code system was suggested for easy tracking and identification. Additionally, stringent measures were proposed to ensure the planting of non-invasive species.
Recognizing the imperative of forest fire prevention, the society advocated for the Indian Air Force (IAF) to collaborate with the Forest Survey of India in monitoring and controlling forest fires nationwide. They urged state governments to extend protocol services to the forces for effective fire management.
Expressing a sense of urgency, Fernandes emphasized their readiness to escalate the matter to the courts and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) if the government’s response is lacking. Furthermore, the society called for a temporary ban on tree felling over the next five years as part of the declared climate emergency.
This impassioned plea underscores the gravity of the climate crisis and the need for swift, decisive action to safeguard the environment for future generations.
