Pine forest – a silent desperado of the forest

Cool breeze in the pine woods and the scenic scent of eucalyptus trees is the beautiful tourist attraction in Kodaikanal. Tourists, mostly honeymoon couples, enjoy their time visiting these spots admiring its outward beauty despite realizing its significance on forest and other livelihood. Pine and eucalyptus cultivation are part of Monoculture plantation introduced by Government of India for its valuable timber wood and other ornamental uses. A routine of such introduced species has become invasive and threaten native ecosystems. Monoculture refers to planting of one species of trees, especially for high production. It can lead to the speedy spread of pests and diseases, where a uniform crop is vulnerable to a pathogen.

Pine and Eucalyptus trees basically need more water for their endurance when compared to other trees. It uses the water completely for its growth, leaving the soil dry and less fertile. Other indigenous trees like jack fruit, pear fruit, absorb the water during monsoon and give back the surplus water to the land surface during summer ultimately benefiting the environment. You cannot catch even a single plant or animal species in pine timber as it is really hard to live among them.

These trees, in a matter of 20 years, completely exploit the water resource of the woods, which has evolved and gathered in around 2000 years. This is highly unsafe for all the species, especially human population who depend on the Western Ghats, as it is the prime reason behind water source for around 20 reservoirs. Hence, one cannot break away, saying that saving Western Ghats doesn't have anything to do with their livelihood.

Next time if you are visiting pine forest, enjoy your time in that cool breeze, in the meantime know its consequences caused to the woods. You can as well move to the next stage by sharing the pros and cons of monoculture to the person whom you are travelling with.