On the occasion of International Day for Biological Diversity, lets hear from you, Campaign was organized and participant was requested to send some ideas regarding the Possible solution for some major threats causing the loss in the Biodiversity, so one of my participant Amrit Shakya came up with very insightful solution for Deforestation. "Celebrating World Biodiversity Day 2021": We are the part of solution for Nature

Lets Hear Possible Solution on deforestation from

Contestant No 18: Amrit Shakya

Along with the rapid population growth, industrialization and unprecedented technological advancement, the level of deforestation has also rapidly increased. To find proper solutions to this escalating global issue, we first have to observe its causes.

According to Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the most significant contributing factors to deforestation are agricultural activities (both commercial and subsistence) and livestock ranching, which jointly account for more than 70 percent of deforestation. Likewise, illegal logging, urbanization, desertification, and other factors are also directly responsible for deforestation. The disastrous impacts of deforestation can be observed in several aspects from global warming and climate change to substantial loss of wildlife and biodiversity. After observing the causes and the proportion of their impact, we can be fairly certain that the increasing demand of the increasing population is the root cause of deforestation.

In order to tackle this grave problem, the roles of government, corporations, social and academic institutions are all crucial along with the roles of individuals and scientific innovations. Firstly, the responsibility and ability of the government to handle this, first and foremost, cannot be overstated. From formulating sustainable environment- friendly policies, legislating strict laws against smuggling, and then implementing them to protecting indigenous communities and encouraging education sectors to empower students in this matter, the government can play a vital role in controlling deforestation. Additionally, the government can also help by incentivizing green-products-based companies, spreading awareness through social campaigns, building national parks and conservation areas, and investing in research and technology for a better understanding of the problem.

Nowadays, the direct influence of companies, corporations, and marketplaces on people and societies is unbelievably high, even more so than the government. The rampant consumerism all over the world has provided companies, brands, and other private entities with immense power and influence on almost every choice of individuals. Therefore, the importance of these entities towards the control of deforestation is also very high. With the proper support of the government, they can commit to formulating forest-friendly policies focusing on the production of deforestation-free products with the practical implementation of 3 R’s (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle).Besides the government and the corporations, social and academic organizations can also foster the actions and awareness towards control of deforestation. By pressurizing the government, conducting social campaigns and community forestry, inspiring students and leaders towards forest conservation, afforestation, and reforestation, these institutions can be a part of the solution for deforestation.

As the famous saying goes, “Great changes start with individuals,” all the above- mentioned measures cannot be applied without the individual responsibility of each member of the community, country, and the world as a whole. We as individuals can contribute to reducing deforestation by consuming forest-friendly products, consciously eating less meat-based products, reducing consumption of single-use products, and spreading awareness to others. Apart from the traditional approaches to the solution of deforestation, the appropriate use of technologies and innovations can also play a vital role.

One of those modern approaches can be tracking the level of deforestation in real-time. Using satellite data and advanced software, we can monitor the real- time status of our forests and minimize illegal deforestation. Global forest watch is a famous project utilizing this technology. It has been already implemented by several countries but the more undeveloped countries should also make efforts to utilize these kinds of technologies.

Another innovative idea to control the smuggling of logs is to find some way to determine the source of wood. Scannable powder sprayed on trees can be very helpful in that process. One such powder is Stardust. This cheap, invisible, non- toxic powder forms a layer on trees which can be later scanned to know the authenticity of the product.

Finally, blockchains (secure, digital ledgers or databases of transactions) can be employed to control deforestation by preventing the companies and smugglers from forcefully taking over other’s lands and forest areas. One example of a company that utilizes this technology is Ubitquity.

Thus, deforestation is a major issue today, which, if unchecked, can have catastrophic consequences on human beings, wildlife, and biodiversity. Hence, the combined efforts of government, private entities, social organizations, and individuals should be invested in solving this problem with the appropriate use of technologies and innovations