The Impact of Tea Plantations on Landslides and Ecosystems

 In July 2024, the Wayanad district of Kerala witnessed a massive landslide, resulting in significant loss of life. Unfortunately, this is not a new phenomenon. A look at history reveals multiple instances of landslides in the Western Ghats districts like Ooty and Wayanad.

A landslide is a mass movement of material, such as rock, earth, or debris, down a slope. They can occur suddenly or gradually over time. When the force of gravity acting on a slope exceeds the resisting forces, including friction and the internal strength of the rock, soil, or sediment, a landslide occurs.

Studies suggest that tree roots reinforce soil layers, anchor the soil to bedrock, and form buttresses against soil movement. Trees also reduce landslide risk by lowering soil moisture levels through interception, evaporation, and transpiration.

One of the reasons for the recent landslides is the expansion of tea plantations in these regions, leading to the destruction of forest trees. Tea plantations were introduced to India by the British due to favorable climatic conditions. This helped them achieve self-sufficiency in tea for the British living in India, reducing the need for imports from European countries. Later, seeing the favorable conditions and cheap labor, they expanded tea cultivation and started exporting from India, boosting their economy.

Tea plantations were introduced in Wayanad and Nilgiris by 1853. By 1859, there were 27 small and medium estates in Wayanad, with around 80 British planters focusing on developing these estates. More than 10,000 acres of land were converted into coffee plantations within two decades.

After the British left India, large landowners and corporate houses took over these plantations and continued tea cultivation, yielding good income. They expanded plantations further by clearing forest land.

Data shows that India's total tea exports during 2022-23 amounted to 228.40 million kg, worth US$ 793.78 million. During the financial year 2021-22, India exported 200.79 million kg of tea, worth US$ 726.82 million.

While tea cultivation has become a lucrative business, the increased destruction of forests has led to landslides and the loss of many lives. It has also affected the forest ecosystem and biodiversity. The question now is how quickly we can use technology to restore the ecosystem for a better today and tomorrow.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Pitfalls of Imposed Language Learning: Advocating for Voluntary Multilingual Education

 Learning multiple languages is beneficial for any individual. Successful leaders often learn several languages, and many acclaimed writers have done the same, enabling them to produce innovative and translated works. In companies with a presence in multiple locations or international customers, learning their language creates a positive impact and helps build rapport. For instance, a Hindi-speaking leader who learns a few Tamil words to communicate with team members can foster a positive relationship. Similarly, when we meet a French person, attempting to speak even a single French word can help establish a connection. Learning languages out of interest allows us to appreciate the literature and culture of that language. Successful writers and filmmakers often do this. For example, many South Indian filmmakers watch Korean movies as a benchmark. Thus, learning multiple languages is always advantageous. Anyone with interest can learn a new language at any age. In India, children of...
Read more

Garbage and Advertisements: The True Path to Cleanliness

When I walk around parks and public places, I often see used water bottles, canned drink bottles, and snack wrappers scattered about. These items frequently end up on walkways, sometimes getting kicked around. I'm sure many of us have witnessed and experienced this. However, I've also seen people responsibly throwing their trash in bins, even separating degradable and non-degradable waste. This is something many of us have likely observed. I've noticed sanitary workers diligently picking up trash, sweeping the area, and disposing of waste. Unfortunately, many of these workers lack gloves, safety aprons, and proper tools. They work in public spaces as sanitary workers, but often don't have a place to sit and rest for their meals. Despite witnessing these efforts, I rarely see individuals picking up trash from walkways and disposing of it properly on normal days. Yet, I've observed groups of people coming together for clean-up events. They buy expensive gloves and saf...
Read more