AFFORESTATION THROUGH RUBBER PLANTING IS THE ONLY ANSWER TO GLOBAL WARMING

It is a well known fact that afforestation is the only answer to global warming. Rubber Research Institute has already reported that rubber plantations ensure more protection from global warming than even natural forests and also that from among the different clones of rubber clone RRII105 is the best one to serve the purpose . This, it is very clear, is because of the highly effective green ground cover provided by the most effective cover crop Pueraria phaseoloides which acts as an efficient green geotextile which provides protection from water loss , retaining of soil fertility status due to biomass addition as well as atmospheric nitrogen fixation. This phenomenon works from the very starting of plantation upto closing of canopy by the rubber trees, thereby functioning as the most effective ground cover so that the soil surface is always covered and protected. Once the canopy closes then all throughout the life of the rubber trees the continuous thick dark greenish horizontal leaves with glossy upper surface functioning as an effective roof will never allow the sun rays to penetrate and fall on the ground which has a thick covering formed by dried leaves thereby ensuring total protection from heating of the soil surface

More over the cultural operations like weeding and tilling of the soil are totally discouraged in rubber plantations. The roots of the rubber trees being branched and spread out just below the soil forming a close network water from lower levels of the soil is not absorbed by the roots thereby retaining higher level of groundwater always unlike in the case of Eucalyptus where the very deep rooted trees absorb high quantities of water which gets translocated upwards and large quantities get translocated through the vertically hanging leaves with stomata on both sides. The leaves lack dark green colour as well in Eucalyptus . The practice of digging pits for rain water harvesting in rubber plantations in between the trees before the canopy closes also ensures better water retention helping in maintaining higher ground water level.

There were reports that the ground water levels in districts with more rubber area were higher in comparison to others. Todays report reveals that the atmospheric temperature is one degree more in comparison to the previous years. A very interesting observation reported is that the morning temperature in Kottayam District is one degree lower than that in other districts. Kottayam District which has no bordering coastal area to its credit, how is it possible that it can have a lower morning temperature than other Districts with longer coastal areas Even Alappuzha with coastal area in plenty and extensive backwaters and canals to its credit how is it possible that the temperature is higher than at Kottayam. Morning temperature is the highest at Alappuzha and Kozhikode.

Suddenly I probed the data on the extent of total area under rubber in the 14 Districts of Kerala. [Table attached]Yes, the answer is there. Kottayam is the District with the highest extent of rubber area and it is clearly evident that this is the very reason why the morning temperature is lowest there. Alappuzha has got the least extent of rubber area and that is a evidently the very reason why the morning temperature is the highest there.

No doubt, afforestation is the only answer to solve Global Warming. Afforestation in the form of rubber plantations will solve the whole problem. Among rubber clonesRRII105 is the only option. When mature for harvesting only the innovative IUT technology has to be employed which will solve all problems existing in the field of rubber plantation industry Extending the life expectancy of rubber trees from the present22 years to over 80 to 100 years by the use of IUT is yet another most important achievement of the technology which will most efficiently contribute to the afforestation process towards solving Global Warming.

There is no other go than constructing effective green roofs with the most effective trees such as rubber to combat the ill effects of Global Warming, it is definite. More and more rubber trees are to be planted throughout the state in all districts especially in Districts like Alappuzha and Wayanad and also in all the other states of India. Planting rubber and harvesting the trees using the innovative iut technology thereby extending the life span of the trees to upto 80 or more years by avoiding replanting will solve the problem of Global Warming on a sustainable basis.

DISTRICT-WISE TOTAL AREA UNDER RUBBER IN KERALA2009-10

DISTRICT Thiruvananthapuram Kollam Pathanamthitta Alappuzha Kottayam Idukki Ernakulam Thrissur Palakkad Malappuram Kozhikode Wynad Kannur Kasargode
DISTRICT-WISE TOTAL AREA UNDER RUBBERIN KERALA DISTRICT

Total area(ha) 30449 36111 49957 4329 112918 39679 58729 15017 35559 38136 20358 9723 43819 30624 525408

KERALA