By – Dr. N. Munal Meitei
“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.” — Mahatma Gandhi
The World Nature Conservation Day is celebrated on 28 July to promote conservation, sustainability and outreach on protecting nature and natural resources. This day acknowledges that a healthy environment is crucial for a stable and healthy society. It’s a chance to protect our planet’s natural resources: air, water, soil, minerals, sunlight and fuels – to protect ecosystem and biodiversity.
Nature based solutions, backed ways of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and storing additional carbon in the earth’s biomes to reduce greenhouse gas, capture and store additional CO2 and maintain existing sinks. To improve resilience and adaptation, helps communities to adjust the increases in extreme weather events and support the livelihoods of local communities.
Protecting biodiversity and restoring native habitats for plants, animals and other organisms, enhances resilience to climate impacts and creating jobs in a new sustainable economy. Investing in nature is also a way to increase food security, clean air and water, spread cultural diversity, empower women, youth and indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs).
Most nations after the Paris Agreement, agreed to hold global average temperature below 2°C. While we examine how much mitigation the nature could contribute with the global forests, wetlands, grasslands and agricultural lands, it seems over one-third of the present crisis could be solved while on improving forests, cleaning the air and maintaining biodiversity.
The nature is characterized by the wonderful diversity of living organisms existing on the planet. To ensure the well-being of the present and future, we all are responsible in protecting and conserving our nature. To educate people about the best practices to safeguard the planet’s limited natural resources is our moral responsibility.
The Earth is what we all have in common. Forest is the disguise of the Mother Nature. On Earth there is no heaven, but plenty of such places in the form of nature. The major problem in the world today is the result of the differences between how nature works and the way how people act.
Nature conservation means protecting the nature so that it is not overexploited. It also means for use of natural resources judiciously and the need of present can be satisfied without compromising future generation’s ability to maximize their own needs. A report from WWF states that since 1970, the pressure that we exert on the planet has doubled and the resources upon which we depend have declined by 33 percent. Thus, if we continue to consume the natural resources at this trend, then mankind will require two Earths by 2030.
Nature comprises of everything that surrounds us. The trees, forests, rivers, mountains, soil and air are all the parts of nature. Keeping nature and its resources integral is important to sustain life. It wouldn’t be possible to survive, if we spoil our natural environment.
Amidst the present global political conflicts, a forced change has brought about, which gives more perspective on what are really important in life. We need to bring nature back from the brink to 1920s, because the future natural disasters may add even greater impact on societies and economies. We all need to play a big role in the recovery of nature and reducing our profound impact on the planet.
The natural resources may be renewable such as air, water and sunlight that refill naturally. And non-renewable like fossil fuels and minerals that do not restock and reform immediately. The biotic resources originate from living beings like plants and animals. A biotic resources which come from non-living things and non-organic material such iron, copper, gold and silver etc.
Human prosperity need not cost the earth. Everyone must promote environment-friendly activities in their daily life to lead for a green lifestyle. Global warming, diseases, natural disasters, the melting of glaciers and rising of seas are all examples of a natural imbalance.
The environment is the key to existence of the life on the planet, and for a better future, we need to conserve the nature. The most important act to conserve nature is to protect wildlife and promote biodiversity. These flora and fauna are maintaining for a healthy ecosystem. A lot of medicines are provided by nature in the form of chemicals, thus conserving the natural habitat enrich and keep our planet alive.
Some of the steps for conservation of nature are; reducing dependence on fossil fuels to reduce carbon footprints. We should buy need-based items only to reduce the wastages. We should avoid single-use plastics which not only pollute the soil, water, air and oceans but killing millions of lives. Planting trees and increasing forest cover is the key for our survival and to curve from environmental degradations. This day also aims to save species of plants and animals that are in danger of extinction.
We are all protected and governed by the nature. A healthy nature provides nutrients that flow up the food chain, from plants to animals, to provide energy. By preserving nature, the planet and all its inhabitants are guaranteed for a constant supply of clean water, soil and fresh air.
Human beings were sent to live on this earth by utilizing nature at its best. But with modernization and being wedded to economic pursuits, humans started to exploit nature. World Therefore, let’s take up firm steps to conserve the nature for the sake of future and humanity.
(The author is Environmentalist, presently working as DFO/Chandel, [email protected])
