Humans are a threat to biodiversity

Tirupati: "Dinosaurs disappeared from Earth long ago due to a major catastrophe, but nowadays many species like vultures, cheetahs, sparrows and many others are disappearing, just because of wrong doings of human beings. The imbalance in ecological system is due to the recent developments, which resulted in enormous change in our life style," said PV Chalapathi Rao, conservator of forests, Tirupati Circle. In an interview with The Hans India on the eve of World Forestry Day on March 21, he said that earlier many governments felt that the forests were for timber wealth and later they realized about the importance of biodiversity and the protection of forests. The high emission of carbon is one of the major reasons for climatic changes and it is a threat to the planet in the form of global warming, he pointed out. There is a general perception among people that forestry is an untouched subject to many, but the situation has changed and lot of awareness can be seen among people nowadays, Chalapathi Rao said. The people realized that the ecological balance and the protection of biodiversity was possible only with the development of forests and greenery, he pointed. The conservator said that due to the climatic changes, there was a threat to the habitations of wild animals and many wild animals like cheetah disappeared from the country, Chalapathi Rao said. There is heavy deforestation in many areas, but fortunately the Seshachalam Forest is on an improvement path. A Every species is very important for the biodiversity and this can be maintained only with the development of forests, he stressed. Nellore: District Forest Officer Y Nageshwara Rao called upon the people to stop cutting the trees indiscriminately and to take the initiative to protect the forest lands in their respective areas. Speaking to The Hans India, he said that the department was preparing an action plan to increase the forest cover in the district and was also planning to educate the school students about the importance of forests and biodiversity.