Essay on Forests precede civilizations and deserts follow them

1. Forests precede civilizations and deserts follow them

Source: The essay topic is a quote by the French philosopher François-René de Chateaubriand.
The phrase “Forests precede civilizations and deserts follow them” reflects the historical pattern of human development, where societies often exploit forests for resources, leading to environmental degradation and desertification if sustainable practices are not implemented.

Anecdote

The Fall of the Mesopotamian Civilization: Mesopotamia, often referred to as the “Cradle of Civilization,” was once a lush region teeming with life due to the fertile land of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. However, due to unsustainable agricultural practices and deforestation, the region gradually turned barren, contributing to the eventual decline of the civilization.

Quotes

“In wilderness is the preservation of the world.” – Henry David Thoreau

Introduction

• Start by describing the evolution of forests on the Earth. (First forests appeared in the Devonian era. About 10,000 years ago 57% of the world’s habitable land was covered by forest.  Today, the world has lost one-third of its forest – an area twice the size of the United States.
• Mention examples of early civilizations that emerged from forested regions (e.g., Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, Mayans).
• Still, today, forests are considered as a important aspect of national development – FAO.

Body

Arrival of humans and their interaction with the nature/forests.

• Homo sapiens, the first modern humans, evolved from their early hominid predecessors between 200,000 and 300,000 years ago.
• Early human-forest interactions were largely symbiosis – humans gained knowledge about nature and forests benefited with human intelligence – E.g. Aranyakas (derived from the work forest) dealing with philosophical interpretations; Aranyakas play the role of the middle path and help to bridge the gulf between the Karma-kanda (actions) and Jnana-kanda (knowledge) – linking human actions and knowledge.
• However, later, interaction of symbiosis has been polluted with interactions of prasitism lately.

Transformation of forests – era to be defined as Anthropogenic era. → leading to desertification- E.g.  The UNCCD says that 100 million hectares of productive land are degraded each year.

• Forests as resources:  how civilizations cut down forests for agriculture, settlements, and infrastructure.
  • Agriculture:  
    • Clearing land for crops: Transformation from hunter gatherers to agriculturalist – slash and burn agriculture utlised by civilisations – E.g. Mayan civilisation
    • Irrigation systems: used by Mesopotamia and Indus valley – often led to soil depletion and desertification over time, as seen in the Fertile Crescent.

• • Settlements:

• • • • Urbanisation: Ancient Rome, for example, witnessed large-scale deforestation to construct its grand city.
      • Wood as a primary building material – The earliest known use of wood dates back to roughly 1.7 million years ago in the early Pleistocene era, as suggested by archaeological evidenc – Introduction of wood in tools and weapons – ship building etc. 

• • Infrastructure:

• • • • Roads and trade routes: The Romans, famous for their expansive road networks, cleared forests across Europe to connect distant provinces.
      • Mining and exploration: the copper mines in Cyprus during ancient times contributed significantly to deforestation.

Modern day desertification

• While land degradation has occurred throughout history, the pace has accelerated, reaching 30 to 35 times the historical rate, according to the United Nations.

Impact of Civilization on the Forests/Environment

• Soil Degradation and Desertification: More than 75 percent of Earth’s land area is already degraded, according to the European Commission’s World Atlas of Desertification, and more than 90 percent could become degraded by 2050.

• Industrialization and Deforestation:

• The impact of the Industrial Revolution on forests—excessive use of coal, deforestation for factories, and railways.

Environmental coservation and restoration – Measures Taken

• Global efforts: UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Paris Agreement (2015), The Bonn Challenge

• Balancing Development anc conservation: Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): 

• National efforts: The National Afforestation Programme (NAP), Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), Joint Forest Management (JFM)
• Localised efforts: Chipko Movement (Uttarakhand), Appiko Movement (Karnataka)

Way Forward

• Human Responsibility Toward Nature: Ethical obligation to preserve forests for future generations to prevent deserts from “following” our current civilization.
• The Cycle of Civilization and Nature: Consider the cyclical nature of human interaction with the environment and the lessons from history to avoid repeating the same mistakes.
• Sustainable Land Use and agriculture – Climate Smart Agriculture, Forest as carbon sinks, 
• Climate change mitigation: Nature based solutions, Carbon markets.
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Policy Implementation: SDG 15: Life on Land: SDG 15 of the United Nations encourages the protection, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. 
• Education and public awareness: Encouraging sustainable lifestyle – LiFE Approach.
• Technological and Scientific Innovation: Remote Sensing and Monitoring, Sustainable Building Materials: – Bamboo, Water Management Technologies: 
• Economic Incentives for Forest Conservation – Ecotourism.

Conclusion

• History has shown us that the rise of civilizations is deeply intertwined with the exploitation of forests, and their downfall is often marked by environmental collapse.
• If we continue on the same path of unchecked deforestation and exploitation, will our legacy be that of deserts following in the wake of human progress?
• The challenge before us is clear: to strike a balance between development and conservation, and to recognize that the health of our environment is inextricably linked to the survival of human civilization.. The choice is ours, and it will determine whether deserts continue to follow in our footsteps—or whether forests will flourish alongside us, as partners in progress.

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