Project for Environment 1

  

 

Q no 1:- Encroachment of land is a very common phenomenon. How does it spoil the land scape?

Ans:-

Introduction:-

Encroachment as per definition is a term used to describe the advancement of structures and utilities (roads, railroads, improved paths) and other development, into natural areas such as river corridors, floodplains, wetlands, lakes and ponds, and the buffers around these areas.

The term also encompasses the removal of vegetation and the placement of fill, or an alteration of topography into such natural areas. Encroachment increases impervious cover adjacent to rivers, lakes, and wetlands, thus increasing the runoff rate and volume, temperature of the receiving water and loading of sediment and other pollutants thus impacting the functions and values of the natural areas, such as a decline in water quality, disruption of equilibrium conditions, loss of habitat (both aquatic and terrestrial).

Causes:-

Impact of climate change: The global climate change also affects and worsens the situation. Whole Himalayan range is vulnerable because of rising temperatures. Each valley—be it Kashmir, Kedar Nath or Badrinath—faces the threat of increased precipitation.

According to the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, global warming will lead to changes in the Himalayan region. There will be at least one extreme event in the Himalayas every year, as per the report. It can range from north-eastern India to Pakistan in the west. Some examples of such events already happening are floods in Pakistan and cloud bursts in Jammu and Kashmir. Most typical of the examples is that of Uttarakhand disaster branded by environmentalists as ‘Himalayan tsunami’.

Significance:-

In their research titled, “Impact of urbanization on flooding: The Thirusoolam sub watershed – A case study” studied the risk of flooding due to increased peak volume of discharge and decreased time required to peak. The situation arises due to encroachment of flood plains and anthropogenic activities.

(S. Suriya, B.V. Mudgal 2012). a similar study in the Haihe River Basin (HRB), China. They quantified the change in landscape pattern to access the ecological consequences and the extent of the anthropogenic role in it. Again, satellite remote sensing data was used. In the study Shannon’s diversity index and Shannon’s evenness index were found to have increased during the period undertaken for study. (Yusheng Shi et al 2014)

Preventive measures:-

95% of basic needs for food, shelter and clothing are obtained from land. Human activeitie4s have not roughly about degradation of land but have also aggravated the pace of  natural forces to cause damage to land.

For example Mining of in lands are make the land hollow from the inside.

Factors responsible for spoilage of landscape:

Deforestation Urbanization Industrialization Growing population Dumping of wastes on to the land Excessive use of fertilizers.

• Deforestation.
• Urbanization.
• Overgrazing (Gujrat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra).
• Mining and Quarrying (Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Sothern Madhya Pradesh).
• Over irrigation (Panjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh).
• Industrialization (Like- cement industry the wastage or dust particle in mixing to air damages the agricultural area).
• Growing population.
• Dumping of wastes on to the land.
• Excessive use of fertilizers.

 

Solution to the project:-

• Afforestation.
• Management of gazing lands.
• Regulating mining.

• Drip irrigation, sprinklers.
• Plantation of shelter belts growing thorny bushes.

Conclusion:-

It is known as pollution. There can be various reasons that can lead to the spoilage of the landscape. For example, Urbanization, deforestation, industrialization, exploding population, excessive use of fertilizers, dumping of waste into landfills, etc.

Q no 2:- Why should local people be involved in protecting forests?

Ans:-

Introduction:-

Local communities depend on the forest for their livelihood and therefore have an interest in protecting it. Local people like the forest and therefore want to protect it. Cultural perceptions of forests differ from group to group and from country to country. Many social groups have ways of thinking about and acting towards forests which may seem unintelligible or conflicting to outside observers.

The total forest cover in India (2023) is 7,13,789 square kilometres which is 21.71% of the total geographical area of the country. India added 1,540 sq. km of forest cover from 2019 to 2021. The forest cover is divided into 3 parts.

·         Very dense forest: All land with tree canopy density of 70% and above.

·         Moderately dense forest: All land with tree canopy density of 40% – 70%.

·         Open forest: All land with tree canopy density of 10% – 40%.

Very dense forest	99,779 (sq. km)	3.04% of India’s area
Moderately Dense Forest	3,06,890 (sq. km)	9.33% of India’s area
Open forest	3,07,120 (sq. km)	9.34% of India’s area
Total forest cover	7,13,789 (sq. km)	21.71% of India’s area

 

Top 5 states/UTs with most forest cover area

·         Madhya Pradesh: 77,493 sq. km

·         Arunachal Pradesh: 66,431 sq. km

·         Chhattisgarh: 55,717 sq. km

·         Odisha: 52,156 sq. km

·         Maharashtra: 50,798 sq. km

 

Causes:-

Trees are the most conspicuous manifestation of Mother Nature that showers us with innumerable tangible and intangible blessings or to put it in scientific terms – provides ecosystem services! Apart from providing clean air, water, food and medicines, forests are a great source of aesthetic beauty, give peace of mind and spiritual bliss.

Significance:-

In an era where unsustainable economic policies have resulted in climate change, shrinking forests, vanishing biodiversity, depleting groundwater, chemical loaded food, lifestyle diseases and pandemics, trees are often looked at as a benchmark of a green way of life.

Technology and science have enabled a comfortable life; but also been misused. Now science is helping humans understand the importance of sustainable living. From the study of ecological importance of mangroves and seasonal vegetation on coastal plateaus in western India by Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) to the study of orchids and rhododendrons in north-eastern states by Botanical Survey of India (BSI), empirical evidence is increasingly highlighting the need for conservation of natural habitats.

Preventive measures:-

Local people should be involved in protecting the forest as trees give us food, shelter and allthe basics of life. If trees are not there then humans won't survive. We must protect our forests. Local people shall also be involved in tree planting.

Solution to the project:-

There are various ways to protect the forests

(i) People should be aware of the fact that diminishing forest cover would disturb the ecological balance.

(ii) Phenomena like forest fires must be reported immediately to the forest officers.

Conclusion:-

“I think that I shall never see, a poem lovely as a tree,” said the American poet, Joyce Kilmer. Before him, the 17^th century saint poet, of Maharashtra, Sant Tukaram echoed this sentiment with these words, “Trees and creepers are our friends in the forest.”

It is interesting to note that our ancestors were sensitive towards nature and knew the merits of living in harmony with it. In India, the nature worshipping Vedic culture has always advocated a holistic way of life. Described as Dharmic living, it encompasses the entire spectrum of sustainability including lifestyles that are in tune with the eternal cosmic principles, natural phenomena and the laws of the land, plus being in harmony with all living and non-living entities. The word Dharma is derived from the Sanskrit root verb Dhru, which means ‘that which sustains’ (धारयति इति धर्म)!

This eternal wisdom has, over the millennia, manifested in Indian traditions in myriad ways. It has made us revere the sun and rain/plants and animals, preserve sacred groves and pay obeisance to mountains. The philosophy has percolated into the country’s thoughts and literature.

 

Q no 3:- how can the local population help to prevent hunting and poaching of wild animals?

Ans:-

Introduction:-

In a survey, after the lock down the animal hunting is more than the before the lockdown. In earth day 2021 is all about ‘Restoring our Earth’ and that includes the dwindling population of endangered animals in India.

Some way take a sigh of relief in the fact that some populations are showing signs of increasing – like the tigers and rhinos in India. According to Saket Bandola, head of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC in India,” We cannot link population increase with their overall well-Being.”

Causes:-

Main reason of hunting and poaching of wild animals:-

Outlawing the buying and selling of wildlife animal parts, especially in animal markets can significantly reduce poaching. If the animal parts are outlawed, few people would go for them and a majority of those in the business will equally shut down.

Significance:-

The wild animals are the part of our ecosystem so if the wild animals are demonised by the human activities by positively or the negatively the environmental balance will be destroyed. After a period some of the types will be permanently vanished from the earth. Which will affect the ecosystem badly. Like the vultures are the natural sweepers and if the vultures are vanished then the system will face the lack of natural sweeper, who eats the death body and cleans the environments.

Preventive measures:-

To solve this problems we have to first aware about this although-

1.     Enforcement of Stricter Laws. ...

2.     Awareness Creation. ...

3.     Support or Fund Conservation Agencies. ...

4.     Avoid Buying Products With Animal Parts.

Solution to the project:-

Steps that can be taken by common people to prevent wildlife crime

1.     Saying NO, to illegal wildlife products.

2.     Being a smart consumer, asking for the ingredients and procurement from retailers.

3.     Discouraging the practice of cruelty towards animals for entertainment purposes. Ex- not going to circuses which use tigers or not watching cinema which shows cruelty towards animals etc.

4.     Using only cruelty-free and eco-friendly products.

5.     Choosing only sustainable, eco-friendly pets.

6.     Donating for the cause to the NGOs, or adopting an endangered animal.

7.     Creating more public awareness and public opinion.

8.     Speaking up for the victims of wildlife trade, filing petitions or PILs on their behalf.

9.     Bringing these instances of crime to the notice of wildlife police and also cooperating with them.

Empowering and assisting local communities in helping to conserve biodiversity and wildlife by encouraging their trade, promoting their businesses etc.

Conclusion:-

Conservation of wildlife and prevention of Wildlife crime should be dealt with by an integrated approach of the entire community as a whole, right from the policymakers, government bodies, international organizations, NGOs, local communities to the common people, everybody has to act in cooperation and coordinate towards the common goal of preventing wildlife crime. It is a cause of the environment, which affects all of us equally so it cannot be the responsibility of a single body of people but should be a responsibility of every individual on Earth.