The earth has enough to provide us with our needs, but not to feed our greed.” Mahatama Gandhi
Most of India’s wildlife may disappear over the next five years, according to a WWF report. This is a grim reality that would affect all our lives, including the country’s natural resources like water. Scientists attribute it to the large-scale deforestation of primordial forests and unsustainable development all across our country.
The most fragile Himalayan ecosystems are now under serious threat and development of any kind in this region will have irreversible effects on the last-remaining unfragmented forests and biodiversity, and local communities.
In Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, large areas have been cleared for a hydel project by the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC), a statutory body of the environment ministry.Development activities in this ecological zone would severely impact this world heritage site. Any disruption would wipe out rare species of plants and animals, including the snow leopard, the Himalayan brown bear and scores of animals and insects.
The paradox is that India ratified the Paris climate deal earlier this month. The Prime Minister said, “Care and concern towards nature is integral to the Indian ethos. India is committed to doing everything possible to mitigate climate change.” In spite of our good intentions and reverence for nature, the ground realities differ as several mining projects, which are destructive to the environment and wildlife, have also been cleared by the FAC without the participation of the wildlife board, WII scientists, experts or the NGT.
The environment ministry is the custodian of our natural resources and biodiversity. Under a new rule, the FAC needs no permission for clearing projects near wildlife zones and ecosensitive areas. It has imposed a levy of `43,000 per hectare from the developers, which surely cannot offset the ecological damage and does not justify the lopsided decision. The plea is that there is a shortage of funds and this amount will help the forest department in their conservation work. If it is so, then a 0.2 per cent tax can be levied to generate the amount rather than destroy the source.
Forests provide over 70 per cent of the earth’s fresh water. All the gold in the world will not be able to generate a drop of it. At the current growth rate, there will be nearly three billion people on earth without access to clean drinking water by 2050. In spite of all the wisdom and knowledge, our actions have pushed the earth towards the brink, triggering unnatural extinction of hundreds of species everyday.
It is time to slow down and learn to respect the needs of a living planet and its limitations. Political will is crucial and prudent decisions will help heal a fractured earth, our only home.
Documentary filmmaker on wildlife and environment
tigersdomain@gmail.com