Perspective of World Days : A Fashion Trend or Genuine Cause of Concern

Wetlands are important. Photo by author

It is incumbent upon us to save Mother nature for ourselves and future generations. World Days should be taken in its right spirit, not for fashion. 

On 22-March-2021, the world observed World Water Day. It was the fourth consecutive occasion of March dedicated to Mother Nature; World Wildlife Day, World Sparrow Day, followed by World Forest Day and World Water Day. 

Declared by UNO for the awareness and program implementation by countries of the world, these occurrences seem to have become a ritual. They have created a class of their own. Certain people, eager to grab eyeballs and camera flashlights, always eye for a platform that could establish them as Messiah of public cause. Ostensible concern about Nature and its causes, including water, is one of them. Mushrooming of organizations and NGOs, especially by the influential people claiming to work for it and other such concerns, has been seen in the recent past. Most of them get money as donations. 

Computer-based information technology has augmented this trend. Social media platforms become inundated with hashtag messages about these causes. It appears like a renaissance - an awakening. People are now more aware and informed about the natural causes and concerns, but for some it is vogue. They feel elevated to post something or the other on such occasions. Social media platforms become flooded with forwarded and reforwarded messages, pictures, memes or video-clips. No one wants to be left out. They are seen sending greetings, goodies et cetera, without the application of prudence. 

 

Deep cogitation is needed. The causes and cure of the depletion of forests, dwindling wildlife, vanishing population of vultures and sparrows ought to be thought about and discussed. It is no more the domain of elites, intellectuals or specialists only. It is a common cause that relates to all. Public outcry is justified and should be appreciated, but as the diverted track leads a train to go to the inappropriate place, the cause may also be distracted. This has to be observed. 

Picture by Author

A blessed country, India is endowed with natural bounties. We have contrasting terrains like rain-fed areas, drought-prone areas, degraded land, deserts and dense forests teeming with wildlife and a myriad of flora and fauna. The country is reeling under the heavy pressure of a burgeoning population which is both an asset and a burden. The upside of the huge population is that it is a big consumer market plus the largest intellectual bank besides being a big labour force. The downside, however, is the daunting task of management and catering requirement of such a huge population. Excellent infrastructure, health services, good education, housing, agro-farming, agriculture, industries and other economic activities essential not only for survival but for a decent human life are needed. They cannot be ignored. The increasing demand has put tremendous pressure on land and natural resources that in turn pressurized our natural resources as well. It is engulfing forests, causing habitat destruction and heavy ecological imbalances after swallowing degraded lands and farmlands. 

Fast urbanization has added its share too. The increasing population density in metro cities has caused their further expansion, giving rise to numerous satellite cities and conglomerates like NCR. The mounting pressure on demand is exponentially increasing pressure on natural resources; overuse has drained them a lot, causing heavy environmental degradation on one hand and polluting it on the other. The water bodies, rivers and wetlands are either getting heavily polluted or being dried up and over-exploitation of groundwater is causing the emptying of aquifers to lower its level. 

Water is a valuable natural gift. It cannot be manufactured. We get water from a natural cycle filled in the bowels of the earth. Water from the ocean evaporates, rises and condense into clouds. Forests and trees act as natural barriers to stop nimbus clouds and cause them to precipitate. The rainwater feeds the earth surface, and percolating down the earth surface gets stored in aquifers as groundwater. The cycle is responsible for the continuous freshwater supply for the living organisms to survive. 

Despite that about 71 per cent of the earth surface is covered with water, out of which 98 per cent is held in oceans, people face the brunt of water scarcity. There are places where people die of thirst, crops destroyed and their cattle perish because of water unavailability. Womenfolks in some areas, especially those of Chattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand and arid Rajasthan use to saunter several kilometres to fetch water for domestic use carrying heavy headloads. Row and fighting over water acquisition have also figured in media reports. It is why the former Prime Minister of India late Sri Atal Behari Vajpayee, while addressing the scientific community, had said, "India is amongst the wettest countries in the world, yet desert-like conditions are now prevalent in many parts of the country. We are fast plunging into a water emergency era." 

The depletion of forest cover from the earth surface causes fast water run-away, low water absorption by the earth and erosion. The denuded slopes increment the soil erosion and silt deposition in the river bed, causing recurring deluge and wastage of water besides the widespread loss to crops and property during monsoons. The work is being done to fight against the inimical situation by the technique of water harvesting, making check dams and plantation activities but humanity would be benefitted substantially from wide sensitization and active people participation.  

Making hashtags of ' save water ', ' world water day ' or ' world forest day ' has become trendy and vogue. The purpose of observing days was to think about the problem, chalk out programmes and involving people with the cause, not that mere rhetoric and celebration. It is an opportunity to work diligently for the cause of saving the environment and its components. Our environment is our primary house. Its constituents are vital links to a large but important food chain through which energy flows. Thus the life goes on. Disturbance in it is fatal to the very survival of not only biotic and abiotic components of the whole ecosystem but mankind itself. Saving forests would help conserving and proliferation of water resources. Clean drinking water is the basic need of a human being and it is his right as well. It is incumbent upon us to save Mother nature for ourselves and future generations. World Days should be taken in its right spirit, not for fashion. 

Thick verdure is soothing to the eyes and helps trap nimbus clouds to precipitate. 
Picture by Author

Desertification and Land Degradation: A Lot More Needs To Be Done

Amidst the cacophony of shrieking news channels about crime, lynching, scams, elections and related abuses by leaders there came a soothing piece of news in print. The news is encouraging for all the environment lovers who want it safe, viable and clean. As per unconfirmed news, the government is mooting to create a 'Green Wall' to increase the green cover and curb desertification. Keeping the magnitude of the problem, it is a welcome step and deserves to be appreciated.  

The desertification is a problem, for it extends its arms and insidiously engulf the tillable land. It is because of the degraded land which is on the rise in India. ISRO, in it's 'Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India' released in 2016, has pointed out an increase in the land degradation of 1.87 Mha (0.56%). The atlas says that between 2011 and 13 out of the total 328.72 million hectares (Mha) geographical area of the country, 96.40 Mha (29.32%) is under land degradation whereas it was 93.53 Mha (28.76%) in 2003 to 05. It may sound insignificant but it is certainly consternating and needs urgent attention. The worst affected areas are the states of  Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana. In some wherein, more than 50% of the total area is degraded facing the threat of desertification.

The waning of topsoil and decreasing its thickness merely to a few inches causes the land degraded, making it unsustainable for life because of its low water-absorbing/retaining capacity and nutrients. The loosened topsoil gets easily washed off either by wind current or rain, leaving the land barren. The degraded land thus loses its ability to trap carbon dioxide - the 'Green House Gas' - primarily responsible for the rise of environmental temperature. The adverse effects of global warming need no elaboration. It is a vicious cycle. 

Denudation is the major cause of land degradation. The depleting forest cover, haphazard land use, excessive grazing et cetera are responsible factors contributing to denudation. The extreme weather conditions also add significantly to the process of degradation of forests and then of the land. The extreme weather conditions like perennial floods, droughts and rising temperature are near defenestrating the economy besides adversely affecting the biodiversity of the county. The fact that several vital flora and fauna are either on the brink of extinction or have already been extinct is a cause of consternation. The fast-changing scenario is a devastating shock for bio-clock. The earth may witness 'Holocene Extention' lest it is not addressed. 

Forests are not a mere conglomerate of trees and twiners on a patch of land. They are vibrant entities which sustain life-forms by establishing a complex food web. It takes years to grow a forest. Each component of the ecosystem is interdependent. It is why forests and related fauna have been treated with the utmost reverence since ancient times in Indian society. It is not strange why they have been given the place of God and worshipped by the people. Our ancient holy scriptures copiously praise them and underline their importance. An urge to save the forest is neither rhetoric nor emotional. It is the necessity of time, even in terms of a materialistic angle as well. The forests cannot be equated with plantation wherein planting of trees is taken up systematically and artificially. Such plantations, though increase the green cover, do not instantly fill the void of forests. Done with bonafide intention, however, planting new saplings and their care is the right step in the right direction. 

The adverse effects of desertification and degradation attracted the world's attention. United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was established in 1994. Conference of Parties (COP) with 197 member countries was made supreme decision-making body of UNCCD. The decisions of COP are legally binding on the member countries. The 14th summit - COP14 - was held in New Delhi. In the summit, ended on 13-September-2019, participating countries adopted 'Delhi Declaration' wherein they expressed their commitment, besides other things, for the restoration of ecosystem and also recovering 26 Mha of degraded land in India. Raising the concern while addressing the summit, Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi said that climate change was leading to land degradation of various kinds. 

As has been pointed out above, one of the most crucial areas Rajasthan needs prior attention. The daunting task to check the progress of the desert towards the east can be achieved by creating wind barriers in the form of a thick plantation. The green cover is to be restored and created including the degraded Arawali region. An idea to develop a 'Green Wall' is the replication of 'The Great Green Wall' of Africa which was mooted a decade ago. Though in Africa it was not fulfilled completely because of the involvement of many countries, in India the 'Green Wall' would probably be 1400 Km long and 05 Km wide, stretching from Porbandar to Panipat covering entire Arawali range and beyond. Completed, it will be able to check the spread of the desert beside being able to effectively contain the land degradation and its restoration. 

The forests and wildlife is a concurrent subject in the Constitution of India. Though the decisions of the Center has an overriding effect on the State's decision, their involvement is natural. Keeping harmony and larger national interest in mind the work of 'Green Wall' is to be taken up. Ours is a vast country, home to 18% of the world's population. There is a need for infrastructure development, agriculture, housing, sanitation, education and health. This creates a lot of pressure on our valuable forests. Additionally, illicit felling is a sore. An estimated 1.6 Mha of forest cover has been cleared during the last 18 years. The forested area has increased albeit marginally. It is, however, equally important to have a clean and healthy environment as well.