Whilst the current curriculum in the GE3246 module has covered the discarding and impacts of plastics to marine environments, it is also important to recognise that plastic wastes are also quite commonly seen in forest environments. Plastics definitely carry an appeal for making our lives more convenient – be it the single use disposable cups or the plastic bags provided after shopping in the supermarket. Despite its conveniences, plastic material takes a whopping 1000 years for it to decompose. Part of the problem stems from the irresponsible disposal of plastics. In the Mudumalai and Sirumalai forests of Chennai, a large amount of plastics are seen disposed of improperly by tourists and other visitors. The sheer amount of plastics disposed has also resulted in them piling up (Oppili, 2016). In addition, even properly disposed plastics could end up in forests by accident. Due to their lightweight structure, it is relatively common from them to be blown out of garbage trucks and make their way into forests.
Marine plastics are also a likely source of plastic deposition within forests. Shore depositions as a result of the movement of waves are identified as major sinks of marine plastics (Martin, Almahasheer and Duarte, 2019). Even the remotest of islands could see plastics being washed ashore. Mangrove forests, covering around 132,000 Km2 of subtropical and tropical shores are also sites whereby plastic material can be trapped from incoming ocean currents.
Finally, tree planting efforts ironically is also a source of plastic pollution in forests. While efforts to replant and regenerate forests are noble, current methods employs the use of plastic tubes to prevent saplings from being eaten by wildlife, hence hindering their growth. As most of these plastic tubes are made from single use plastics, they are often left to disintegrate once the trees start maturing (Thomson, 2020). As a result, this contributes to the deposition of plastics and even microplastics into current and emerging forest environments.
This blog post has presented an introduction to the pathways that plastics have traversed to reach forest environments, as well as the potential sources of it. Future blog posts will further detail on the impacts of having accumulated plastic within these environments, as well as the methods to prevent further plastic deposition into these environments.
References:
Martin, C., Almahasheer, H., & Duarte, C. M. (2019). Mangrove forests as traps for marine litter. Environmental Pollution (1987), 247, 499-508. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2019.01.067
Oppili, P. (2016, February 6). Plastic waste dumped inside forests by tourists kills animals, officials alarmed: Madurai News – Times of India. Retrieved November 04, 2020, from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/Plastic-waste-dumped-inside-forests-by-tourists-kills-animals-officials-alarmed/articleshow/50875612.cms
Thomson, A. (2020, January 22). The drive to stop plastic pollution growing in new forests. Retrieved November 04, 2020, from https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-51206456