"In recent years, indiscriminate felling of forests has been occurring faster than afforestation/reforestation, particularly in the tropics. Of all the damages caused by deforestation, the most serious appears to be the increase of the “greenhouse effect.” Despite warnings by meteorologists, deforestation continues, apparently without concern of a worldwide change in climatic conditions. Trees act as a vast storehouse of excess carbon dioxide. In the absence of forests, carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere, forming a layer over the surface of the earth. The sun rays penetrate this cover but back radiation is prevented. This has led to a rise in the temperature of the earth. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned that a further rise in the temperature of about 1.5°C will melt the ice in the polar regions leading to a rise in sea levels. A rise in ocean levels can inundate low-lying areas. Thus the need is to conserve our forests rather than to eliminate them...."   J.K Gnanaratnam- 1993, USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-140.

MANJUNAN GNANARATNAM:::::