<i>Vanishing forests</i>

Photo: STAR

Woods are vanishing from the country at a great pace. The recent reports on the mindless felling of trees in the CHT highlight the fact that the forests of the said region now only exist in the textbooks. No longer is the region dotted with tall trees that once drew the lovers of nature to that area. No more do the birds sing that used to build their nests in those trees. No more do the wild animals roam around.
It is evident that a section of forest officials and people are responsible for rapid deforestation that has denuded the hills of trees. It is a tale of ignorance coupled with greed and sheer apathy to the environment. These days the undulating hills are covered with acres of arum!
In fine, the felling of trees has erased the pristine forests of the hills once and for all. In place of indigenous plants foreign species like acacia and eucalyptus are being planted. Again in the cleared up hills, people are raising arum and bananas.
It is time the authorities came up with a solution that will bring back the rich biodiversity of the hills.