In the brief essay, Two Long Term Problems: Too Many People, Too Few Trees, Moti Nissani discusses two interrelated problems they are, overpopulation and deforestation. With their impact showing several consequences of the twin problems, the writer makes us aware of our duties to solve them and to save the biosphere for our future generation.

Scientists from all over the world expresses their serious concern (worry) about the present state of bio-sphere as human activities caused very serious damage to the environment and on critical resources. With the introduction of modern medical facilities, nutrition, and sanitation, the world’s population started growing more than 80 million per year. In Nepal only, in less than 50 years the population increases at the rate of 2.5% per year from 9 million to 25 million. If this alarming growth continuous unchecked, the population of Nepal will be 46 million by 2026 A.D. which would be very difficult for Nepal to accommodate. In order to feed more people, more forest, lands are destroyed on a very large scale.

As a result, soil erosion, desertification, flood, landslide, tropical diseases, siltation of rivers and dams and mass migration are increasing. High growth of population has already polluted our food, air, water, rivers, soil, drains, and farms. The chances of cancers and emphysema (lungs disease) and asthma are far higher now and we are suffering from premature hearing loss. Lead and dioxide are causing a serious effect on children’s intelligence and health. The world has already faced frightening problems such as desertification, acid rain, loss of wild species of plants and animals, ozone layer depletion and greenhouse effect because of human-caused pollution.

However the situation could be improved by controlling population and pollution, many factors such as modernization, effective family planning measures equal economic, educational and legal opportunities to the woman will help to control the rapid population growth. In order to set this world for our future generation, we must save the forest by reducing population pressure on it through effective family planning measures and educating people. We may also save the forest by making effective and strict laws with a provision to impose a high tax on wood product and provision of an incentive for pressuring forest. There should be a provision in the law to punish severely for destroying the forest. Massive reforestation, another effective step will benefit the world in conserving biodiversity, pristine wildness and to minimize desertification, flood and weather extremes. By controlling population and saving the forest, we may solve this planet for our future generation utilizing our knowledge to convert our wisdom, courage, and passion into practice to turn this world into heaven.

Question for Practice :

1. What prime (main) problems does the writer discuss in his essay?
2. What is wrong in Nissani’s view with treeless in Nepal?
3. What leads Nissani to the belief that the world is facing an overpopulation crisis?