Dr.C.M.Seth IFS (Rtd)
World Environment Day (WED) is the United Nations’ most important day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the protection of our environment. Since it began in 1974, it has grown to become a global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated in over 100 countries. World Environment Day serves as the ‘people’s day’ for doing something to take care of the Earth or become an agent of change. That ‘something’ can be focused locally, nationally or globally; it can be a solo action or involve a crowd – everyone is free to choose. In 2015 more than 1.25 million people participated in the campaign, “ Seven million Dreams and One Planet”.
To raise the consciousness of the civil society for taking some positive steps United Nations in 1972 at the time of United Conference on Human Environment at Stockholm, Sweden decided to observe environment day globally. Every year WED is celebrated on different themes to focus global environmental issues. From the year 1974 till 2015 United Nation selected themes like One Earth, Green Earth, Water, Global warming, Our habitat, Green economy, Forests, seven billion dreams, etc. This year the theme is, “Zero tolerance for the Illegal Wildlife Trade”. Angola, a country in African sub-continent is hosting this year’s World Environment Day celebrations seeking to conserve Africa’s biodiversity-rich wildlife, and protect its iconic species Giant Sable antelope. Angola’s Environment Minister Maria Fatima said, “Angola is delighted to host WED, which will focus on an issue close to our hearts, “The illegal wildlife trade, particularly the trade in ivory and rhino horn, is a major problem across our continent. By hosting this day of celebration and awareness-raising, we aim to send a clear message that such practices will soon be eradicated.” We expect that our nation and state also dedicate itself to protect its rare and threatened wild species.
India is one of the mega biodiversity country with rich natural heritage of flora and fauna. To save this biodiversity India has taken several steps by enacting Forest Act, Wildlife protection Act. Biodiversity Act, Environment protection Act, Water and Air Act. Jammu and Kashmir state also has rich heritage of wild plant and animal species. We have more than ten species of ungulates like Markhor, Himalayan Tahr, Ibex, Tibetan Antelope , Tibetan Gazelle, Blue Sheep and rare and threatened species of Snow Leopard, Leopard, Black Bear and Brown Bear, etc.
From Jammu and Kashmir many wild animals and their products are smuggled. Some of the smuggled items are animal skins of Leopard, Snow Leopard, Otters, Jackal, Fox, Civet cats. Musk pods and Bear bile (Liver) are in great demand. Hunters kill Musk dear to extract musk pod. In many parts of the state Musk Deer has become extinct. These days musk pods are smuggled in great number from Gurez, Michail, Wadwan. In the past there has been cases when snow Leopard skins were caught at Thathri in Kishtwar. Leh is one of the major corridors for international wildlife smuggling to China and other SE Asian countries. In the past seizures have been made in Leh by police and wildlife department of Rosewood, Caterpillar mushroom, Tiger and Leopard skins. Leopard skins and Python skins are also smuggled out of state by interstate smugglers. In and around Jammu and other Railway stations in the state organized interstate smugglers are working for smuggling of wildlife and its products. Few years back wildlife department raided Jammu railway station and apprehended smugglers with two Leopard cubs being smuggled out of state. Because of huge demand of Otter skin for caps this species has almost become extinct from the rivers and wetlands of Kashmir valley and rivers of Poonch, Rajouri, Udhampur and Chenab valley in the state. Illegal poaching has exterminated the rare Sarus Crane from the wetlands of Kathua and Samba districts. Although killing of wild animals is banned in the state but its enforcement is poor. Wildlife crime intelligence network is also poor. Government need to strengthen the wildlife crime wing of state to stop illegal poaching of animals and birds. During winter illegal shooting of migratory birds takes place in good number in Hokersar, Haigam, Wullar, Shalbug wetlands in Kashmir valley and Gharana, Abdulliana, Kukriana, Makwal and Pargwal wetlands in Jammu. To give protection to its wildlife J&K Government has created several protected areas under the Wildlife Protection Act like Hemis National Park in Ladakh, Kishtwar National Park. Dachigam National Park, Nadni wildlife Sanctuary, Jassrota wildlife sanctuary, Hirpur wildlife sanctuary and Limber Lachipora sanctuary. Unfortunately, all these protected areas are open to grazing and several Deras of Bakarwal graziers every season set up their camps during summer, disturb the wildlife and destroy its habitat. Government needs to provide full protection to these protected areas as per the provisions of the Act. There is a need to create Himalayan Tahr locally called Karth wildlife sanctuary in Padder and Sarthal Bani. There are no species recovery and rehabilitation programme of rare and threatened species in the state. Sarus Crane which was once abundant in the state has become rare. There is a need to create one or two Sarus Crane recovery centres in the districts of Samba and Kathua. Wetlands of Jammu are totally in a neglected mode these needs to be properly managed and protected. Biodiversity Act of the state ensures protection to the biodiversity of the state by documenting its biodiversity through Biodiversity registers and establishing Biosphere reserves but till today not a single Biosphere reserve has been notified to protect the unique biodiversity of some of the sites. In past three years several hundred quintals of rare herb Nagchatri has been smuggled out of state. Gurez, Tulail, Padder and Zanskar could be an idle habitats and ecosystems to be notified as Biosphere reserves. State has also enacted Cultural and Natural Heritage protection Act but so far no proposal has been sent by the state to notify any of the area as Natural Heritage sites to UNSECO. Some of the areas which could be considered for natural heritage sites are PirPanchal lakes, Tsomiri and Tsokar lakes in Ladakh, Kishan Sar and Vishan Sar, Amarnath Cave with its surrounding mountains, Brahma Peak and Brahm Kund, Trisandhya waterfall, etc. There are several acts to protect the environment and biodiversity of the state but more political will is needed to preserve the natural heritage of the state. Capacity of the concerned departments has to be increased both financially and technically with sufficient financial and budgetary support. If the civil society, environmental NGOs, and the Government come together to save their environment only then we deserve to celebrate the environment day otherwise these acts are of no use to stop the degradation of environment, stop poaching and illegal wildlife trade and smuggling of medicinal plants.
In the past few years there appears to be certain commitment on the part of Government to protect its environment but more is required to be done. PILs have provided new tools to the society and NGOs for ensuring environment protection. Judiciary too is helping in protecting environment. Already famous Dal Lake case is monitored by the Honble High Court. Forest Land encroachment case is also monitored by the Honble Court. There are several directions by the court for conservation of water bodies and Ponds. National Green Tribunal is also a very strong institution to monitor and preserve the environment. Already directions for new IIT and CU campus has been issued by the NGT. Several NGOs in all regions of the state are raising their voice through several campaigns like Save Tawi, Tawi Bachao Andolan, Green Kashmir, etc. In the last forty years since first environment conference at Stockholm (1972) world community has moved a long way in achieving the goals of environment protection by signing many international conventions for reduction of carbon emissions, reduction of temperature to reduce global warming and check climate Change. In these years civil society has become more aware, media and judiciary has become proactive and youth is more educated and enlightened to protect their environment. At the international level many initiatives has been taken but at local level these are not being translated into actions. At local level all stakeholders are required to take steps and activities which can protect and improve their environment.
Climate Change Authority of the state has to take up several projects for CC mitigation and Adaptation. Wildlife crime and intelligence network of Wildlife Department has to strengthened. All routes of wildlife and wild plants smuggling need to be plugged. To educate and generate awareness among the younger generation Education department should set up Nature Clubs in schools and colleges and organize Nature Camps in the wilderness areas. After 2009, National Green Corps Eco-Club scheme has been stopped by the Nodal agency of the state. This needs to be reviewed and revived by the Government by taking up the issue with the Ministry of Environment and Forests GOI and brought the scheme under state’s Education Department instead of Forest Department (PCB).
J&K Government is still in the process of framing its Eco-Tourism Policy but to promote tourism it has opened up all eco fragile Margs (meadows) for tourism like Gulmarg, Pahalagm, Sonmarg, Yusmarg, Bani Sarthal, etc. In all these places all meadows have been spoiled and huge quantity of solid waste is dumped. New sites are being included in these development authorities. To protect these verdant grassy Margs, government first should have passed Eco-Tourism Policy and then notified Area Development Authorities for promoting Eco-Tourism in these areas to preserve the ecology of the area.
We will be able to celebrate the environment day if our government and civil society is able to achieve the United Nation’s seventeen Goals of Sustainable Development as adopted by all the countries including India. Government of India’s Solar Alliance, two lakh ponds, Swach Bharat Abhiyan, River Ganga Mission are some of the projects aiming towards achieving these goals. Hopefully it is expected that in coming years our national and state governments will make environment conservation as part of their political statements and translate same in their policies and projects.
(The author is former Chief Wildlife Warden and an environmentalist)
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