Protect Our Future Urgency of Forest Conservation Sustainable Living
There are days when I sit by the window, contemplating the future of this nation. The roads and houses we have built, will they stand the test of time when our resources have been exhausted? While the world is spinning in a technological storm and the hustle and bustle of urban life, we seem to have forgotten that everything we have and use comes from nature - an endless cycle of life that nothing can replace.
Losing forests means losing our source of life. Without trees, there is no food. Without food, there is no tourism. With scarce materials, merchants will have to pack up and leave. If merchants don’t stay, houses become meaningless. Thus, the economy sinks into debt. Many people will hastily blame the government, the military, or the merchants.
But think about it, who will save this sinking ship when resources run out? Sitting idly by and watching the waves submerge us day by day? When there is not enough food reserve from the forests in the country, where will we find exports in the coming years? I’m not saying we can solve all problems immediately.
But at least, protecting the forests will be the first step. It’s not just about protecting resources but also about safeguarding the lives of millions of people who depend on them. We have invested too much in buildings, roads, and economic models, but we have forgotten how to maintain the flow of money back to us from natural resources.
The issue is, we are not only losing forests and resources, but we are also losing the very awareness of preserving those precious values. Each of us must ask: "What have I done to help the forest grow greener?"
From the smallest actions, like planting a tree or saving paper, we can contribute to environmental protection. Don’t let the stories of dried-up rivers or devastated forests become our common sorrow. Should we continue to exploit the last remaining patches of forest?
Cutting down the last trees to maintain the current state? Like a sinking ship, waves submerging in panic. Each of us watches, leaving it to those paid to fix it. Some wait for opportunities amid global recession gloom, while others are unemployed, replaced by AI.
There is a saying: “Lock the barn door after the horse is stolen.” What is the solution? Do we continue to lament about the recession, ineffective economic plans, or how AI technology is eliminating our jobs? You see, we used to take pride in the green forests and silver seas of this country. But as time passes, what has happened?
Think about it, how can we turn buildings and roads into money? We have paid labor to build them, but now that money doesn’t generate itself or disappear. It hovers among the land, cement, and plants, unable to flow back to us. Thus, this cycle continues: resources deplete, people’s hearts grow anxious.
The story does not end with the loss of our green lungs. When the forest is gone, food becomes scarce. Where once there were terraced fields heavy with rice, now only barren, arid land remains. This leads to a chain of consequences: no tourism, no merchants, and investment dwindles.
Then houses and land fall into neglect. The real estate market becomes bleak, merchants carry debt, waiting for a miracle that may never come. The flow of currency doesn’t naturally multiply; it is created from labor, from the sweat and tears of the people. When the forest is replanted, it is not only about restoring a green patch to the land but also about recreating livelihoods, bringing the economic flow back.
When this resource cycle is restored, it will also help balance our lives again. Are we dancing ballet in a burning palace, while chasing illusions? The forest is being cut down, food sources depleting, yet we fail to see the importance of environmental and resource protection.
The country is like a lavish palace, but lacks the solid foundation of green forests and food. A friend of mine is a farmer, diligently working on his land every day. But he is always worried about the forest being destroyed. "Without the forest, water can’t be retained, floods keep coming, how can the crops survive?" he says.
I understand, it’s not just him but many other farmers facing this situation. One morning, sipping coffee and reading the news, I realized I couldn’t just sit and wait for a miracle. I thought about the merchants, the big investors, do they see the lurking danger?
Surely they know, but they believe in the stability of numbers. But sometimes, numbers cannot accurately reflect reality, especially when resources deplete day by day. It takes 20 years for a tree to mature. So when an entire forest disappears, it takes 20 years to get the products back.
Then we will see our favorite brands return. Touching them, feeling them, a preciousness we now feel abundant in scarcity. A strange feeling indeed. On those days, I couldn’t avoid the sadness of seeing the forest gradually disappear.
I thought about the once-dense forests, now only barren patches remain. Some say, “Those running the country should do something.” But it’s not only their responsibility. We, each one of us, are children of this country, and have a responsibility to the forest, the environment, and natural resources. If we don’t act now, what will the future hold?
Environmental protection, some think it’s just a slogan, but if you’ve ever walked through an old forest and seen the giant trees toppled, you’ll understand its importance. Honestly, I didn’t care much about the forest or food before. I thought having money was enough, buy anything at the market.
I didn’t care about the weather either. But life taught me a lesson. I have a close friend named Jack, who opened an eco-restaurant on the outskirts. I saw him planting a whole orchard. One day, I asked Jack, "Isn’t it tiring to take care of such a large garden?"
He laughed, "Taking care of the trees is tiring, but it’s also joyful. You know, every time I see ripe fruit, I feel stronger." See, taking care of trees is like taking care of people, healthy trees make for lush forests and prosperous lives. But life is not a dream, the economy’s instability led to Jack’s restaurant gradually losing customers.
Not just Jack, many others too. Many think they must develop the economy, open restaurants, build projects to get rich. But forget that when the forest is gone, food is scarce, tourism doesn’t develop, merchants like us can only wait for a miracle. If you ask me, "How to change?" I will tell the story of Michael. He not only takes care of his garden but also creates jobs for local people.
Michael told me, "Each person doing a small part can have a big impact." I think he’s right. If everyone is conscious of protecting the forest, and stops consuming unsustainable products, we will make a difference.
In conclusion, you don’t need to do anything grand. Sometimes, starting with small things like planting a tree or reducing plastic use can make a big difference. Small changes can create significant impacts, and I believe with patience and determination, we can protect the environment for future generations.
We talked about future plans. Michael said to me, "You know, our future depends on how we treat nature today." I realized this is true. If today we only focus on exploitation without regeneration, soon those lush green forests will only be memories.
Skyscrapers will replace them, but can we live without fresh air, clean water, and food? I wonder: If we lose all the forests, what will we have left? Merchants may try to cope, but can they survive when resources deplete? The rural people, the hardworking farmers, will they have any land left to farm?
And the government, how will they maintain stability when the country faces environmental crises? These are questions that keep me thinking. But I believe, if everyone starts with small changes, by protecting the remaining forests, we still have hope. In today’s complex world, looking at the Jewish and Chinese communities, I can’t help but admire them.
They have gone through many ups and downs, from genocides to great calamities, but their way of overcoming and developing together is truly worth learning. What makes their strength is unity, seeing each other with equal and friendly eyes, always ready to support each other and get rich together. Some leave for other countries because they can’t stand the public pressure.
But wherever they go, they still face wars or climate change just like at home. What’s the difference? Some choose to stay and continue the uncertain future. Not knowing whether to continue or stop.
The division is so deep that it turns around, blaming each other for not recognizing global threats like war and climate change causing economic collapse, while the rich are also affected, losing capital, having to cut labor, replacing our jobs with AI to optimize costs, to keep businesses serving us, also bearing the burden of debt, what joy is there?
The government is also struggling with the loss of forests and resources. The economy has faced difficulties from trade, tourism to agriculture. If the spirit of unity is extinguished, nothing remains. In the past six months, the El Niño weather phenomenon has caused heavy damage, reducing agricultural output, withering crops, and dead fish.
La Niña is forecasted to continue causing difficulties in the next six months. With this situation, we won’t have significant production for a whole year. So what will we eat next year? When domestic production does not meet the demand, how can we think about exports?
While the country’s stability depends heavily on food, we cannot confidently develop the economy if domestic order is unstable and people don’t have enough to eat. We must clearly understand the urgency of protecting forests and natural resources, as it is the foundation of life, the basis for the sustainable development of the country. This is what I predict in the coming years. The crisis will become more severe when the gaps cannot be patched in time.
When hunger strikes, those who previously focused only on the service sector, chasing new technology, suddenly realize, but it’s too late. They rush to produce but lack experience, with loose management, leading to worsening famine. We are witnessing a major change in the economy and society as factories and production systems struggle, leading people to find ways to unite and cooperate more closely than ever.
This year, many farmers focused on cultivation have gone bankrupt because there are no traders to buy their produce and the land has been seized. The result is that goods will not be enough to supply the cities, and next year there is a risk of food shortages. When factories stop operating, people will tend to set up small cooperatives to produce the necessary goods themselves, and at that time, tools like AI supporting production, and ChatGPT will be important information in creating the goods we need.
Not only as tools to enrich literature and help us understand each other better. ChatGPT or AI can support in many new areas, from producing soap when supplies are scarce, to growing and processing food. This process will combine old experiences and knowledge with new ideas and technology. I have witnessed the development of technology from old black-and-white cameras to today's super-sharp photos.
Each era changes and adapts to new advances, but one thing never changes: the basic human needs for food, sleep, rest, entertainment, care, and connection with each other, as well as a bond with nature. Instead of competing with AI, we should find ways to use AI to save food and protect the last remaining forests.
These things will help us survive in the coming years, especially in the context of climate change and war. Without support from factories, we will have to rediscover our ability to survive, facing the challenges of food and population. We need to cooperate and support each other to overcome this difficulty.
Using existing technology and knowledge to create sustainable solutions is the way forward. Think about it, the forest is the root of the nation; losing the forest means losing everything. Each of us should look back and find ways to protect the forest. How will we live in the coming years if we don't act now?
Each small action of ours will be like a candle in the night, spreading the light of faith and hope. We can create a better future where our descendants live in a clean environment, where the forests are green and food is abundant.
Let’s stay attached to this land together, protect, and regenerate the green forests. Then, we will see clear rivers, green forests, and a prosperous and peaceful life as before.
