Forests precede civilizations and deserts follow them

The above phrase “Forests precede civilizations and deserts follow them” reflects the impact of human civilizations on the environment over time. It shows the relationship between human activity and the environment. It suggests that before the development of civilizations, the world was rich in forests and natural landscapes. However, as civilizations grow and expand, they lead to environmental degradation, symbolized by the desertification that follows.

Here, some questions are arising – What do civilizations mean? How do deserts follow forests? Civilization marks a stage in human societal development where people live together in structured communities with shared norms, institutions, and practices. Deserts follow forests to basically fulfill human greed over need. For e.g. The British cleared vast tracts of forests for commercial purposes, particularly for timber to support railways, shipbuilding, and other industrial activities.

Along with greed, the increasing population and building sense of competition also exhausted the forest ecosystem. For example, the growth of the Industrial Revolution forced to cut trees to expand urban areas and use natural resources. Commercial plantations, such as palm oil and soybean farming, also accelerate deforestation. Similarly, urbanization and infrastructure development, including roads, dams, and housing projects, encroach on forested areas, fragmenting ecosystems and disrupting biodiversity.

Taking a leaf out of civilization development

Forests are the source of food, shelter, and the resources that are necessary for human societies to flourish. In this context, ancient civilizations like Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley were closely tied to natural environments. Forests supported agriculture, supplied timber for shelter, and offered medicinal plants to people. They also played a spiritual and cultural role. For instance, people of the Indus valley worshipped nature.

Subsequently with the civilizational development during the Vedic period, humans started expanding cultivating areas. It was the time when the use of iron was prevalent. In this process, a large number of trees were cut to support human civilization. It shows that the progress of human civilizations has deserted the forest. The story didn’t stop here but also continued in the modern time.

Human communities in modern times used in these environments, developing tools, systems of governance, and trade networks. Forest ecosystems, with their biodiversity, also nurtured humanity’s curiosity, leading to significant advancements in science and medicine. Also, with the development of industries after Industrial Revolution, greed started to dominate over need in the era of industrialization. This process further suffocated the forest ecosystem.

Finding Footprints in post-modern World

In modern times, Civilizations, in their pursuit of growth, have disrupted the very ecosystems that supported their emergence. As societies expanded, forests were cleared for agriculture, urbanization, and infrastructure development. While technology and globalization have brought unprecedented advancements, they have also accelerated deforestation and climate change. The Amazon rainforest, often called the “lungs of the Earth,” is rapidly disappearing, threatening biodiversity, indigenous cultures, and the global climate.

In this process, agricultural development exploited not only groundwater but also deserted land. According to the FAO report, the use of chemicals and pesticides has made land deserted. Especially after the use of HYV seeds and fertilizers, the forest ecosystem has been adversely affected substantially. It was mainly done to support the increasing population. It’s spillover effect can be seen as urbanization and ghettoization of population.

Therefore, urbanization has concretized the land in cities. Subsequently, it leads to the urban island effect that causes global warming. Also, to support the civilizational journey, the human population has been rehabilitated in cities by filling water reservoirs rapidly. Consequently, we often see floods in cities. Thus, the cocktail of industrialization, modernization, and unsustainable agricultural development suffocated the forest ecosystem. In a nutshell, these developments show that civilizations deserted the ecosystem.

Another side of the story

It is true that human civilizations have impacted the forest ecosystem negatively. However, it doesn’t mean that civilization always deserts forests. Some of the civilizations have protected the ecosystem. For instance, many tribes consider certain forest areas as sacred groves dedicated to folk deities. The Garasia tribes in Rajasthan have preserved patches of forests termed sacred groves, protecting threatened plant species.

Similarly, today the world is talking for sustainable development to protect land ecosystems from desertification. For example, the world formed the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in the 1990s as a legally binding international agreement that aims to protect and restore land and ensure a more sustainable future. Also, technological developments have been making civilization progress in a sustainable manner. For example, the development of BSVI IC engine to reduce pollution is one of the examples.

What should be the way ahead?

First of all, there is a need for sustainable land management to integrate trees into agricultural landscapes to maintain soil health, prevent erosion, and provide shade, improving resilience against desertification. Also, there is a need to implement rotational grazing systems to prevent livestock from overusing and degrading forested areas.

Along with this, there is a need to undertake large-scale reforestation and afforestation projects to restore degraded lands and expand forest cover. Apart from these, there is a need to make people sensitive about the ecosystem so that civilizational development can be sustainable in nature. For this, community involvement is a prerequisite to preserve civilization.

In conclusion, the phrase, “forests precede civilizations, and deserts follow them” is both a reflection on history and a cautionary tale for the future. Forests are a symbol of life, growth, and potential, while deserts remind us of the cost of overexploitation. As stewards of the planet, humanity must learn from the past and act responsibly to ensure that forests remain a thriving legacy for generations to come.

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