Veroli Zhimo
Nagaland celebrated World Water Day on March 22 with the message that water, the most valuable resource on the planet and an essential component of every ecosystem, has now become a scare commodity almost everywhere.
Across the state, various experts and resource persons shared concerns on how climate change is disrupting the water cycle and precipitation in addition to degradation of both quantity and quality of water sources like, rivers, lakes, and ground water basins.
Along with the rest of the country, the state also witnessed the launch of Jal Shakti Abhiyan-II under the theme ‘Catch the rain where it falls, when it falls’—an initiative that propounds harnessing rain water in all probable storage sites through sensitisation and awareness programmes involving local authorities.
The campaign could not have come at an appropriate time for a state like Nagaland which receives 1,800–2,500 millimetres (70–100 in) rainfall a year but still faces acute water scarcity.
However, Nagaland seems to have missed out on an opportunity to underscore how green infrastructure solutions in the form of forests can produce low-cost options for restoring water quality and quantity.
The World Water Day celebrations received much attention but nothing was heard about how the International Day of Forests which preceded the former by just 24 hours, was observed at the State level or if it was observed at all.
Across the globe, there is an ongoing debate on the correlation between forest cover and rainfall that a place receives. Trees play a big role in water conservation — they absorb water and release it into the atmosphere — the average tree breathes out 250-400 or more gallons of water in one day. These forests not only generate rainfall but also help to stabilize the climate.
While this year, the state may or may not have observed International Day of Forests, it must recognize the fact that natural forest ecosystems are the most vital natural solutions towards reversing the effects of climate change. The discourse on replenishing water resources or effective water management cannot move forward without taking the status of forests into account—the two are intrinsically linked.
By studying how forestation affects water availability, we can work to minimise any local consequences for people and the environment.
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