Environmental Degradation and Protection: What are the efforts being made to improve and conserve the environment?
Steps taken by the Indian government ,Environment Degradation and Protection: What are the efforts being made to improve and conserve the environment
India's Environmental Degradation and Protection
What are the efforts being made to improve and conserve the environment?
Before you shall know about What are the efforts being made to improve and conserve the environment? ,it is important to first know about how the environment is degradred,it's various causes ,solution. Then we shall talk about sustainable development, Action done at international level to protect the environment, The National(India) level,then what can we do to protect our environment.
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| Environmental Degradation and Protection: What we can do versus what we do ? |
So let's explore
You must have heard the speech of chief seattle.In 1984,a speech was made by chief seattle,head of a native American tribe in response to an offer made by the US government to buy his tribe's territory. He expressed his real words to protect the environment. Wewill find that every ancient tribe knew of the dangers of overusing natural resources. And that every religion has taught man to live in tune with nature. Then how is it that today, our activities have caused such widespread degradation of the environment?
Causes of environmental degradation
One can think of many causes. The most important one is that in the modern age, progress in science and technology has given us the power to alter nature a power we did not have earlier. That power has led to the growth of industries, growth of consumption or the use of resources, and growth in population. It has changed our lifestyle in such a way that we are using up more and more resources. And it has produced synthetic materials that nature cannot dispose of. However, the fault does not lie with science, but with how we have used it.
Growth in population
This is one of the most important causes for the degradation of the environment. Whether we consider deforestation or degradation of land or pollution of land, air and water or over-fishing or over-grazing or generation of waste, growth in population is one of the causes.
Land Growth in population puts pressure on the land in many ways. More land is required for housing, crop fields and pastures. This means clearing forests, which leads to soil erosion, among other things. The intensive cultivation of land, to grow more food, degrades and pollutes land. Land also gets polluted with more and more industrial waste produced by the increasing number of industries, which are needed to meet the requirements of the growing population. The growing number of people pollute land further by generating domestic waste and sewage. The proper disposal of this waste to prevent pollution also puts pressure on land.
Forests
Other than degradation of land, deforestation causes the loss of biodiversity. Deforestation and indiscriminate hunting and fishing have caused many species to become extinct. Many others have become endangered or rare. Deforestation occurs not just to make room for crop fields, houses and so on, but also to meet the fuel, timber and pulp requirements of the growing population. Deforestation, as you have already learnt, leads to floods and droughts. It also contributes to global warming, since decreasing forests means more carbon dioxide in the air. It adds to air pollution too as forests absorb a lot of particulate matter.
Minerals
The development of transport, industry, communications, agriculture, almost everything that life depends on today, is based on minerals. Naturally then, growth in population means a growing need for minerals to make more vehicles, more tractors, more electric wires, more medical equipment, more houses, and so on. The mining and processing of minerals, as you have read before, pollute land, air and water. So the need for more minerals means greater pollution. A lot of the things made of minerals (for example, cans) are ultimately thrown away, so a greater consumption of minerals also leads to pollution.
Energy resources
As the population grows, so does the need for energy. Most of the energy requirement of the world is met by fossil fuels And since the burning of fossil fuels causes pollution, a greater requirement of energy means more harm to the environment. The burning of fossil fuels also produces carbon dioxide, one of the gases responsible for global warming. Global warming can really harm the environment by changing the climate all over the world.
Overuse of energy resources can damage the environment in other ways too. For example, oil tankers carrying oil across the seas have polluted them with major and minor oil leaks. Coal mines have degraded huge areas of land and affected the vegetation. And the dust from the mines has polluted the air around the mines.
Overuse of energy resources can damage the environment in other ways too. For example, oil tankers carrying oil across the seas have polluted them with major and minor oil leaks. Coal mines have degraded huge areas of land and affected the vegetation. And the dust from the mines has polluted the air around the mines.
Read this stort about Jharia(Jharkhand)
Carelessness by the company and the government
Have caused serious environmental consequences
Jharia is burning!
Jharia, in the state of Jharkhand, is famous for its coal deposits. But long years of mining and neglect of the environmental consequences is now threatening the very existence of the town. There is a fire burning in the mines under the town. It is burning up the coal and spewing out smoke that has enveloped the whole town. Sometimes the flames leap out, and the people live in the constant fear that any day, the entire town may collapse. The company that owns the mines has spent a billion rupees in trying to put out the fire, but it rages on The government is thinking of evacuating (shifting) the 300,000 people living in the town, but the people do not want to leave.
Water
The requirement of water for irrigation, industries and domestic use grows with the population. Rivers run dry as we pump out more and more water from them. The water table falls, leading to droughts. Besides, the growing population and the increasing number of industries pour sewage and waste into the rivers. Groundwater and water bodies get polluted with harmful chemicals from industries, households and crop fields. This harms human health and threatens the survival of aquatic organisms. Pollution affects the sea too, and this endangers marine ecosystems and reduces fish production.
By now, you must have formed an idea of the environmental issues that have become a cause for concern the world over. Issues that were mostly the concern of only environmentalists earlier, have now started becoming points of discussion between countries, shaping national policies and motivating NGOs, communities and individuals. They are being held up by courts and even being taught in schools. The reason behind this is our realisation that if development is to last, it cannot be at the cost of the environment. Since development depends on natural resources, we must preserve them, if not for anything else, then at least for the sake of our own progress.
Read this story about sardar sarovar Dam
Environmental Protection and Action
By now, you must have formed an idea of the environmental issues that have become a cause for concern the world over. Issues that were mostly the concern of only environmentalists earlier, have now started becoming points of discussion between countries, shaping national policies and motivating NGOs, communities and individuals. They are being held up by courts and even being taught in schools. The reason behind this is our realisation that if development is to last, it cannot be at the cost of the environment. Since development depends on natural resources, we must preserve them, if not for anything else, then at least for the sake of our own progress.
Read this story about sardar sarovar Dam
The social and environmental cost of the project triggered a people's struggle in 1985. The struggle is still going on, despite forcible evacuation by the government.
Read this story from the sunderbans(Jambudwip)
Jambudwip is a small island in the Sunderbans area It has mangrove forests and a natural harbour, which was used by fishermen earlier to bring their fish catch to the island for drying and processing. In August 2002, the state's forest department threw out the fishermen from the island, and blocked the mouth of the creek leading to the harbour with concrete pillars and chains. This threatened the livelihoods of 10,000 fishermen and brought misery to their families. The state department was acting on an order of the Supreme Court, which had asked the government to clear forest encroachments in order to protect them.
What is the solution then? The solution lies in sustainable development.
Sustainable development
To sustain something means to make it last. Thus, sustainable development means development that can last. In other words, it means development which ensures that we have the means to meet our own requirements without depriving future generations of the means to meet theirs. The goal of sustainable development is to improve the quality of our life, while ensuring the health of the environment, which supports us and all other organisms.
Action at different levels
As you learn more about environmental concerns and developmental issues, you will realise that individuals, communities, organisations and governments do not agree on what sustainable development is and the way to achieve it. For the moment, let us not go into the controversies. Let us, instead, take a brief look at the efforts being made at different levels to conserve and improve the environment.
Efforts being made at international level to conserve and improve the environment
International agreements
The first international conference on the environment and development was held in Stockholm (Sweden) in June 1972. It did not achieve much in terms of concrete plans, but did a lot in terms of setting a goal for humanity.
The Stockholm Declaration
Seventy-five nations participated in the conference and came up with what is known as the Stockholm Declaration. This urged all the nations to work towards development in harmony with nature. Among the many things put forward by the declaration, the two most important ones are as follows.
1. Every country has the right to exploit its own resources in a way that suits its needs, so long as it does not damage the environment.
2. It is the duty of every country to defend and improve the environment for present and future generations.
1. Every country has the right to exploit its own resources in a way that suits its needs, so long as it does not damage the environment.
2. It is the duty of every country to defend and improve the environment for present and future generations.
The Rio Declaration
Also called Agenda 21, this declaration consisted of a plan for future action. It was chalked out by the more than 150 nations which took part in the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), in June 1992. Some of the points made in it, put simply, are as follows.
1. Every country has the right to exploit its own resources according to its own plans, and has the responsibility to ensure that its activities do not harm the environment of other countries.
2. The right to development must be fulfilled in a way that meets the developmental and environmental needs of the present and future generations.
3. All countries should reduce unsustainable patterns of production and consumption. and promote appropriate population policies. Put simply, this means that every country should try to check over-consumption and overpopulation.
4.Every country should take precautions to prevent damage to the environment. And if any of its activities poses a threat to the environment, it must take immediate steps to prevent environmental damage.
The first promoted research on the ozone layer. The second set limits on the production of ozone-depleting substances.
Convention on Wetlands or Ramsar Convention
Convention on Trans boundary Air Pollution
To reduce the generation of sulphur and nitrogen oxides.
1. Every country has the right to exploit its own resources according to its own plans, and has the responsibility to ensure that its activities do not harm the environment of other countries.
2. The right to development must be fulfilled in a way that meets the developmental and environmental needs of the present and future generations.
3. All countries should reduce unsustainable patterns of production and consumption. and promote appropriate population policies. Put simply, this means that every country should try to check over-consumption and overpopulation.
4.Every country should take precautions to prevent damage to the environment. And if any of its activities poses a threat to the environment, it must take immediate steps to prevent environmental damage.
Antarctic Treaty (1959)
Bans military activity, nuclear explosion and waste disposal, to conserve AntarcticaThe Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol on the ozone layer
The first promoted research on the ozone layer. The second set limits on the production of ozone-depleting substances.
Convention on Wetlands or Ramsar Convention
To conserve wetlands
Convention on Trans boundary Air PollutionTo reduce the generation of sulphur and nitrogen oxides.
Stockholm Convention on Persistent organic pollutants
To eliminate or restrict the use of persistent pollutants, like industrial chemicals and pesticides
National level
Steps taken by the Indian government to protect and improve the environment
Let us take a brief look at some steps taken by the government to protect and improve the environment.
Environment Protection Act
Framed after the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, this is an 'umbrella' law that covers several aspects of protecting the environment. It deals with the framing of rules, setting of standards and establishment of environment protection councils.
Forest Acts
There are three such acts. They deal
with the setting up and management of reserved and protected forests, and ways of protecting and conserving forests. These acts also deal with offences related to forests, like the unauthorised felling of trees. Forest officers can take action against people who commit such offences.
with the setting up and management of reserved and protected forests, and ways of protecting and conserving forests. These acts also deal with offences related to forests, like the unauthorised felling of trees. Forest officers can take action against people who commit such offences.
Mines and Minerals Act
This aims to regulate minerals and mining operations. Any company wishing to start such activities has to get permission from the government and abide by certain rules related to safety, pollution, and so on..
Energy Conservation Act
This act promotes the conservation of energy resources and sets out guidelines for the conservation of energy.
Pollution Acts
The Central Pollution Control Board is supposed to enforce the rules related to air pollution under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act. It is also supposed to prevent and reduce water pollution under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act. Industries have to seek permission from the board to discharge effluents into water bodies. They also have to get a certificate or clearance regarding gaseous emissions.
There are many other acts and rules made by the government to deal with the various aspects of conservation, like ozone depletion, noise pollution, biodiversity and hazardous waste.
There are many other acts and rules made by the government to deal with the various aspects of conservation, like ozone depletion, noise pollution, biodiversity and hazardous waste.
Plans, projects and agencies
The Ministry of Environment and Forests carries out the plans and programmes of the government in the area of conservation and protection of the environment.
Among its many functions is to set guidelines and procedures for the Environment Impact Assessment Programme. As you have already learnt, all major development and industrial projects are cleared by the government only after this assessment.
Many organisations work under the ministry. The Botanical Survey of India, Zoological Survey of India and Forest Survey of India are three such organisations. These organisations carry out surveys and keep a record of the biodiversity and forests in the country.
The National Committee on Mangroves and Coral Reefs looks after the conservation and protection of mangroves and coral reefs. It also creates awareness and controls the utilisation of these ecosystems.
The Central Pollution Board looks after the activities of the state pollution control boards and pollution control committees All these bodies help to see that the rules and standards related to pollution are maintained. They also check the quality of water and air through monitoring stations established throughout the country.
The National River Conservation Directorate is in charge of carrying out the River Action Plan .
Conservation of wildlife various parks and sanctuaries have been set up under the plan.
Among its many functions is to set guidelines and procedures for the Environment Impact Assessment Programme. As you have already learnt, all major development and industrial projects are cleared by the government only after this assessment.
Many organisations work under the ministry. The Botanical Survey of India, Zoological Survey of India and Forest Survey of India are three such organisations. These organisations carry out surveys and keep a record of the biodiversity and forests in the country.
The National Committee on Mangroves and Coral Reefs looks after the conservation and protection of mangroves and coral reefs. It also creates awareness and controls the utilisation of these ecosystems.
The Central Pollution Board looks after the activities of the state pollution control boards and pollution control committees All these bodies help to see that the rules and standards related to pollution are maintained. They also check the quality of water and air through monitoring stations established throughout the country.
The National River Conservation Directorate is in charge of carrying out the River Action Plan .
National Wildlife Action Plan
Conservation of wildlife various parks and sanctuaries have been set up under the plan.
Project tiger
281 tiger reserves have been set up to protect the tiger.
Project Elephant
Protecting elephants in their natural habitat
River Action plan
To improve the water quality of rivers by treating sewage, setting up toilets, etc.
National Afforestation programme
To undertake afforestation with the participation of the people.
What we cand do conserve and improve the environment?
Individual and community level
If after reading all this, you feel that conservation of the environment is something an individual cannot possibly work for then think again. Remember the change brought about in the state of pollution in Delhi by the action of an individual. There are many such instances of individual initative and community participation. Some of these, like the MC Mehta case, have become very famous. Others, like what the people of Varkum (Kerala) did to stop the setting up of a hotel, are little known. One thing, however, is certain. Participation of the community is absolutely necessary, if the environment has to be conserved. It is with this realisation that the government has launched the Joint Forest Management Scheme.
What one man can do
Ralegan Siddhi was a dead village in Maharashtra about 30 years ago. The land was barren, the wells were dry, and the people were poor. Today, it is a model for other villages to follow. All thanks to the initative of a retired army driver called Kisan Baburao Hazare, and the support he got from the people. He started out renovating the village temple with his own savings. Then, with the help of the villagers, he built bunds. check dams, canals and tanks to harvest rainwater They planted trees to check soil erosion, fused cooperatives for farmers, and so on. Now there is no unemployment in the village. The streets have polar lights. The farmers grow three crops a year. And there are four community biogas plants.
Here are some things any individual can do.
•Reduce consumption.
• Help reduce pollution by recycling waste, avoiding disposables, not using plastic bags, and so on.
• Save water, fuel and electricity.
• Do not litter streets and public places and do not throw garbage into drains, empty lots, and street corners.
• Avoid using pesticides.
•Try to opt for products that promote conservation, for example, recycled paper and organic foodstuff, or foodstuff produced without using chemicals .
This is an end to the topic, we welcome and value your comment, opinion, views on this topic.But, one thing to remember always try to care,improve,and conserve the environment.
Plant trees.
