“Forest Resources are crucial for the wellbeing of the Humanity”: Caritas Samaritan

Forest resources provide various materials that meet the basic human needs such as food and health-care. However, the use of these resources and the manners of their removal from the forest has been a serious problem when considering sustainability in agriculture. Over-exploitation hampered sustainability and efficient utilization of forest resources would lead to sustainable resource use in forest management and agricultural production. The result would lead to a constant supply of needed resources. Forest resources, therefore, must be conserved and utilized wisely in order to attain sustainability in agriculture.

They are crucial for the well-being of humanity. They provide foundations for life on earth through ecological functions, by regulating the climate and water resources, and by serving as habitats for plants and animals. Forests also furnish a wide range of essential goods such as wood, food, fodder, and medicines, in addition to opportunities for recreation, spiritual renewal, and other services. Today, forests are under pressure from expanding human populations, which frequently leads to the conversion or degradation of forests into unsustainable forms of land use. When forests are lost or severely degraded, their capacity to function as regulators of the environment is also lost, increasing flood and erosion hazards, reducing soil fertility, and contributing to the loss of plant and animal life. As a result, the sustainable provision of goods and services from forests is jeopardized.

Caritas Samaritans in Tripura took the initiative of working towards the conservation of forest resources. One activity was organised along with 35 tea gardeners to orient them on the usage of forest resources followed by a plantation drive. The objectives of this program were to enhance the knowledge among community people on optimum usage of forest resources. Dr. Pawan Kumar, an environmentalist, and scientist shared his deep knowledge and experience to the participants on the preservation of forest resources through hands-on training and sharing. It was also felt that spreading awareness of the correct usage of forest resources was also required.

Caritas Samaritans are oriented to be prophetic in nature and bear the flag of reaching out to the maximum and most marginalised. Caritas India embarked on this journey of volunteering in 2018 by calling out to the citizens of our country to join hands as volunteers. Through consistent efforts made by Caritas India through Caritas Samaritans, the efforts can be seen in most secluded areas. The training was designed to instill the spirit of volunteering and motivate them to initiate activities around their living areas for the good of our society. We at Caritas India truly believe that volunteers are people and teams committed to engage in favour of people in situations of vulnerability and social exclusion; they have compassion, at the root of their actions undertaken and are continuously engaged in developing these agents of change in every part of our nation.