A woodcutter named Jagan lived in a small hut. He was very poor. He had four members in his family. His wife used to work in some nearby houses and earn a little money.
Jagan had two daughters. He loved his family very much. He used to go to a forest to cut old and dry trees and sell the wood in the market. Sometimes he wouldn’t get old and dry trees, and come back empty-handed. He did not like to cut green trees for the sake of money.
One day when he came back without any wood from the forest, his daughter said, “Dear father, why did you not cut any tree today?”
Jagan said, “I cut only dry trees which are of no use. Dry trees are to be cut one day or the other.” The second daughter who was listening to her father intently said, “But I know many people who cut trees even when they are green.”
Then why is it that you do not like to cut green trees?”
Jagan said, “My dear daughters, do you know that green trees are essential to our lives. They make the air pure and fresh. In absence of green trees, we shall not be able to breathe fresh air.”
The daughter said, “What is fresh air?”
Jagan said, “You are too little to understand, but I shall tell you. Actually, we inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. These green trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen.”
One daughter interrupted, “Oh father, we don’t want to go into its details. Please tell us the importance of trees in short.”
Jagan said, “O.K; listen! Trees make our environment healthy and check storms and floods. We can also make furniture from trees.”
Both the daughters said, “Now we understand the importance of trees. In fact, trees play an important role in our lives.”
Moral : We must protect trees for healthy environment.
