Dr Vishiesh Verma
Biological diversity is concerned with the preservation of life forms, and the relationships between these forms. The behavioral patterns, processes and cycles of all living organisms and genes are essential to one another in the sustainability of ecosystems. It implies preservation of all plants and creatures from algae to tall trees, virus to whales, and amoeba to elephants. Diversity characterizes most living organisms. Our earth supports something like 1.75 million species of plants and animals. Out of these hardly 1,43,56,627 have been identified. Biodiversity in short refers to the whole variety of life on earth. It forms the web of life of which man is an integral part and upon which he fully depends.
Biodiversity as we see today is the outcome of over 3.5 billion years of evolutionary history, shaped by natural processes and increasingly by the influence of human beings. To increase understanding and awareness about biodiversity issues the UN proclaimed May 22 as the international day for Biological Biodiversity. Biodiversity forms the web of life of which man is an integral part and upon which he fully depends.
The planet earth is the Unique Gift of God to the humanity, where fire and ice, water and air, plant and animal, man and cyborg have co-existed. The complex process of evolution occurred on earth only because of some unique environmental conditions that were present water, oxygen rich atmosphere, a suitable surface, temperature etc. Both day and night happen only because the earth revolves.
India is the second most populous and seventh largest country in the world having a population of over one billion with 1.8 percent of world’s forest cover and tree cover (trees outside the forests) (TOF) there exists a significant tree cover wealth outside the conventional forest area. Indian forests have about 45,000 species of plants-of which 5,000 are unique to India. Similarly, the Indian forests boast of 81,000 species of fauna of which 1228 are birds and 57,535 are insects.
Species of plants and animals keep check on their numbers through food chain, so that wild life helps to preserve the environment as self sustained system. How do birds destroy the harmful pests china learnt this lesson after widespread loss of harvest due to pests which multiplied after the elimination of birds by the state in an attempt to save the crop. Famous bird watcher Salim Ali proved that an Owl kills at least three rats in a night and a pair of mice creates family of 700 in a year. Five rodents eat one person’s food. This is an example of interdependence in nature. With this knowledge comes an understanding of nature as well as respect for nature. The Species of animals and insects keep check on their numbers through food chain. It helps the wild life to preserve the environment as a self sustaining system.
How strong is man? He can survive only if helped by friends like snakes who eat rats or frogs who eat mosquito eggs. If snakes and frogs become extinct, plague and malaria epidemics will threaten the existence of human race. To avoid this we need to preserve biodiversity. Biodiversity implies preservation of all plants and creatures from algae to tall trees, viruses to whales and amoeba to elephants. Our earth supports something like 1.75 million species of plants and animals which have been the result of 3.5 billion years of evolution involving mutation, recombination and natural selection. In short, biodiversity means whole variety of life on earth.
One might think humans are the most powerful living thing on earth, but it is plants that time and again have set the agenda for life. All animals rely on plants for their survival. That goes to prove that plants are the most powerful evolutionary force on earth. It dominates the life of all living things and entire planet. Plants are the basis of all life on earth, providing clean air, water, food and fuel. All animal and bird life depends on them and so do we. They bind the soil particles, prevent soil erosion, floods and advancement of deserts, help in reducing temperature and pollution and thus they work as environmental conditioners.
The story of trees becomes a sadly eloquent when spoken of numbers. Cold statistics says trees are being destroyed ruthlessly and soon many of the species may not be available to mankind. What nature took millions of years to create, man is ravaging in but a few centuries. Ten percent of the known species of trees are near extinction. In numbers this means that more than 7300 species are near extinction. Twenty five of the European forests are sick or dying due to acid rain and 50,000 species of plants and animals disappear every year and the experts say this is due to the rapid disappearance of forests. By 2100, 30% of the world’s species of trees will be extinct. According to a global studies published in 2010, one in five of world’s 3,80,000 plant species is threatened with extinction and human activity is doing most of the damage.
A forest is more than just green cover; it is an organic source of sustenance for all species including the humans. A forest is a microcosm of all that gives and sustains life ranging from the smallest to the largest species of flora and fauna. There are intricate and intimate relationships between various constituents of the Jungle, including even the tiny termites city dwellers try desperately to fumigate from their homes. Termite mounds hide within intense activity and contribute greatly to forest biodiversity. More than 200 species of birds feed on termites as do monkeys and bears. Termites work methodically. A mound resembles a modern city system with air conditioned rooms.
On this planet, all the species of plants and animals interact with each other and maintain equilibrium. The rise and fall of anyone can lead to ecological imbalance with the disastrous effects on all components. Each species has a role and importance of its own. But the man is destroying other species for his own survival. The present wave of extinction of biodiversity is essentially man made due to ever increasing needs or rather greed of mankind. There is an ecological crisis which has threatened the whole support system and large number of habitats and species both of plants and animals have been progressively on decline. This is happening because of deforestation. The commercial exploitation of the forests and faulty land use are the factors responsible for deforestation.
On 04.04.2014, there was a news item in Daily Excelsior Newspaper ‘Kiln mafia fells hundreds of fruit tress’, a brazen violation of Jammu and Kashmir Brick kilns (Regulation) Act 2010, thousands of kanals of orchards and agriculture land is being brought under brick kilns in central kashmir district of Budgam and many other districts of kashmir covering 40,000 kanals of land. One can imagine the loss of biodiversity of the converted land. The commercial and faulty use of land is a casual affair in most of the states of the country. Nobody cares about the loss to the biodiversity.
In a National Park in Uttrakhand a Forest Department’s sign board bears a quote. “Let us permit nature to have her way. She understands her business better than we do”. There is little doubt that the Himalayan Disaster (June 16th -17th 2012 at Uttrakhand) had been triggered by natural events but the catastrophe was man made.
Government of the Uttrakhand had been tinkering with nature since decades and had encroached rivers, hills, forests etc just for commercial activities and good revenues. The forest cover had been receding and hills had been converted into the plains so that the hydro power projects could be built. The river banks were encroached to make shopping centers, hotels etc. These activities had distorted the fragile eco-system. Such activities undertaken by the Government or private agencies create geographical chaos, not only the loss of human life but the destruction of numerous species takes place.
In this context Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity under the United Nations Environment Program said, “Biodiversity is not only about conserving tropical rainforests and saving polar bears; it is about preserving the life cycles and processes which underpin our very existence. The world is on a path to self-destruction and we want to change its course. As we all know, clean water and air, pollination of crops, food, buffers from floods and storm surges, non-proliferation of infectious diseases, raw materials to meet consumer demands-all of these things that so many of us take for granted-are the direct result of an incredible diversity of plant and animal species and their intricate interactions. Together, they provide the ecosystem services that ensure the well-being of humanity. Yet in the same breath, we are destroying the very resources that sustain our lives and livelihoods. Every hour three species disappear. Everyday, up to 150 species are lost. Every year, between 18000 to 55000 species become extinct”.
The writer is a former reader Coordinator of University of Jammu.
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