Conservation: Our Urban Footprints

 Exploratory Zeal or Human Greed 

Being an extremely mobile species with intelligence and thought we have explored and invaded every nook and corner of the World. Unfortunately our thoughts and intelligent approach as been vitiated and overpowered by greed and lust. Animal Kingdom does not understand these vitriolic virtues because it cannot think beyond the existential limits set for it by nature. We humans appear as aliens with no existential fear, and thus hell-bent upon the destruction of nature. Are we eventually planning to settle in colonies on other planets or will our actions lead to the imperative? This may be yet unclear, but our escape from Earth is definite...perhaps much before the expiry of the Sun.      

We have not been killed by curiosity rather we have been murdered and plundered due to it. Our greed does know no end, and our desire to amass is unique to us in this animal kingdom. We run after comfort and material wealth, and now automation all this has come about through the exploitation of finite natural resources chiefly minerals and fossil fuels. 

Not a Rat Race this It is Human Madness 

There is a weak effort to contain and balance the carbon emissions and the resultant pollution. Alternate energy perhaps would fetch redemption one day.  Global warming is spreading like wildfire and so is the pandemic. It is free for all in absence of pragmatic World order. The quasi-governmental bodies on a global scale are an abject failure or at best existing for their namesake. The impact of various pacts between Nations is not very productive and the energy consumption is on a disastrous scale. This is not a rat race, on the contrary, an example of extreme human madness, we should stop maligning creature which lives within the biological limits set by nature.    

We are not lacking in desire to preserve the globe and prevent further extinction including that of the human species. We are just entangled in a race for destruction within and a callous approach that time and again rings a bell that everything is not okay. In order to outdo each other, we are taking steps in spite of constraints. Nuclear proliferation is one fine example.  Destruction of nature is more internecine than the threat of a nuclear war which so far has been easily constrained due to fear of retaliation. 

Understanding extinction requires an understanding of many facets of life since nature does not retaliate like in the case of nuclear war rather it becomes ineffective and incapable of supporting life. This will become a reality if we continue to damage life-supporting systems.  

In countries like India, it was the indiscriminate land use pattern that destroyed precious ecosystems. The agricultural expansion though with good intent has destroyed millions of square miles of natural land that had remained untouched besides the early human encroachment which was severely restrictive. Commercial farming and wood logging the World over is proving to be disastrous but go on unabated destroying our green lungs. It is the main reason for species extinction on a global scale. 

From hunters, we turned hunter-gatherers and then nomadic pastorals before settling down as agrarian communities. We saw another World order as industrialization became the mainstay of our economies. The last two phases have been instrumental in damaging the Earth the most. But the destruction continues unabated with equal vigor in the contemporary era. Now urbanization in remote areas has become imperative. 

Expanding Urban Footprint

The linear movement of humanity has been most invasive thanks to recent technological developments and the race for a wealthier status not only among the elites but for the masses as well. We have been reckless in pursuing our objectives totally neglecting the impact our actions carried forward. Prime ecosystems and niche habitats have been pounded by hammer persistently. 

Romantic Illusions 

This coexistence of humans in conformity with nature is at best a romantic illusion. India being an old civilization we dwell in many such romantic illusions at times adulterating the pragmatic approach. The crux of this article is to change our approach as regards infrastructure development and agrarian practices and thus stem the rot. 

Whence polluting industries are discouraged regarding the procurement of extensive, land the resistance is simply a threat perception that it could unsettle traditional economic practices existing for centuries, but in severely degraded land with no muscle for regeneration industries provide a better option for economic revival dying agrarian practices. This is applicable in overpopulated and poor countries like India. Why this is being advocated as an alternative? This question arises as we have severely eroded most of our natural lands, and the ecology is damaged beyond repair in such places...there is no choice.   

Containing Urbanization to Save The Tiger         

We are living in a country that was introduced to sound conservation ethos, and that played a vital role in the preservation of whatever remains. But there is a conflict that prevails. Can we regenerate severely damaged ecosystems in urban areas? or Lend them to Industry while greater importance is accorded to intact ecosystems. This approach will certainly prevent the extinction of key species including the tiger. 

Tiger

This big cat is highly sensitive to its environment and human intrusion, like few other species. An unwarranted change in the food chain, human intrusions, and invasions, the virulent epidemics can lead to a certain extinction of the big cat. Animals like the swamp deer are highly susceptible to habitat change and human intrusions as well. And we have seen this happen. Most of the species on Earth need a human-less environment and we should respect this by staying away from sensitive ecosystems. Over or unsustainable fishing is one example of how we are eroding aquatic ecosystems amid terrible food shortages. 

Protective Area Concept  

The protective area concept is proven to be a boon for species survival, especially the inviolate areas. Wildlife conservationists or environmentalists should study how efficiently this is being managed in India. The species are being protected and are breeding well besides the benefit of regulated tourism is raising the local economy in a commendable manner.  Local sentinels play a key role in the protection of the species and income from inheritance is most welcomed. The tiger reserves have set a fine example where tourism income from the park is fetching revenue for conservation and benefiting the local communities immensely.    

But PAs can be susceptible to human greed and political infringement. Some politicians are least sensitive to environmental concerns due to greed for a vote and thus register policies that please the vote bank. These islands created in India are heaven for sensitive species as resource banks. The day PAs are de-notified it will be disastrous. Many among the political setups are totally oblivious of environmental concerns and this can happen whence they come to rule the roost. The perception is not chimerical mind you!          

But can we release more land for the predator's survival?  

This is a testing proposition, especially for the dispensations that come at the helm from time to time. Dense human populations are a major threat to the environment, unfortunately, they can also destabilize ruling dispensations. Need I say more...     

If we have to prevent further extinction in the country we have to measure the impact of every step forward. Micro-urbanization is a major threat since most of the remaining ecosystems thrive in remote, less populated places. But changes are inevitable in economic practices in this age. But can we create an eco-friendly industry, encourage local craftsmanship, and instill an eco-friendly residential design and architecture. Even minor forest produce can be productive outside the PAs in the periphery.  

Rabid urbanization is difficult to control in towns and major cities but in the case of remote settlements, we should seriously consider the ecological impact of infrastructure development. There has to be a plan in place that differentiates action plans for places on basis of their ecological importance. There exists no such necessary segregation as far as I know.    

We cannot develop using a single linear approach, alternatives indigenous perhaps, and setting up limitations in the outer rings is the possible answer. This is being actively under consideration in India, and some steps have already been implemented.  Let us hope we will witness better implementation during our lifetime and leave enough of these islands to provide us with fresh air, water, and natural foods for our progeny. Biodiversity is essential for our survival least we forget. !       

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Uday Works as Freelance Naturalist and Blogs on conservation, tigers, and environmental issues.

He also provides SEO and Website Content in English. He teaches Digital Marketing in Jabalpur in summer.

He can be contacted at:

Mail: pateluday90@hotmail.com
 Mob: 09755089323

             

Tiger Conservation Threats & History of Linear Development in India

When the British conquered India the exploitation was mostly of resources. They were physically perhaps not as brutal as the earlier invaders which were looters, Mogul megalomaniacs, bigots and usurpers. They did not sack the local populace resorting to senseless killings, rape, loot and forced conversions. Those were times of colonization and there was a purpose! 

The Raj was a manifestation of an advanced and comparatively modern civilization shaped by the industrial world of Europe. The natives were no match for them and the subjugation was complete. 

The disparity that prevailed was absolute because the Sahibs were contemporary with overpowering cultural traits, elite, educated, and yielded power that came easily with their superior force. The governance was aided by employment of  natives in various disciplines and the satraps due to whom a handful of them could easily rule over India. They had mastered structured governance in their domain, albeit India too had a structure in place being a Vedic civilization dating five thousand year but we were helpless in front of such overbearing. During the Raj, the rulers writ ran large. 

Coming straight to the point in order to exploit the natural resources better, an infrastructure was required to be put in place. With a technology considered modern in those times, they invaded the hinterland all over. This was the culmination of disastrous unplanned infrastructure building were  only thing that mattered was reaching and unearthing the natural resources and dispatching them to their homeland. 

The aim was extracting maximum economic benefit of having a jewel in the crown - a subjugated civilization that was enormously rich in natural wealth and yet timid and impoverished. With modern infrastructure in place, the enslaved country was being milked incessantly.

In post independent India we benefited from the infrastructure created by the British...and till this day we are following in the footsteps of our erstwhile masters. Though the rulers have left in the year 1947 we are still living with the slave mentality which we inherited during centuries of foreign subjugation.  

We have lost our original ethos and our civilization is badly corrupted by traits of external civilizations that at the most has made us submissive and adaptable babus.  

Post independent India, the incursion into our hinterlands became linear development a contemporary terminology that describes invasion of our lands in lieu of development. We have not hesitated to emulate our erstwhile rulers by doing exactly what they did. 

In this assault on our natural spaces we are empowered to a great extent by education in foreign language and rigidly following the Western ethos, a civilization parasitism that is simply incomprehensible and irrelevant till this day.      

1. During the Raj we had lost a large chunk of our natural spaces, and denudation and plantation of commercially viable species had already altered the remaining forever. When the rulers left, we did everything that they should not have done. And we still continue...the linear development that is taking a heavy toll of our tiger reserves, National Parks and other ecosystems continues unabated.  

The tiger is on verge of extinction so are many other species, we have no count of how many species that have become extinct, and the extent to which our forests have been denuded. Tigers need inviolate space to breed and live. But is there more space for them in this country? How many big cats does our land mass can support? Will development impact or alter our tiger reserves negatively? These are the questions conservationists are raising. 

Our geography has changed and become non-viable, climate change is affecting us badly with greater  ferocity every year, carbon footprints are enlarging every year, heat, water shortage, pollution and other life threatening factors are on increase. Yet we are in race for development that we perceive is good for us. 

Linear infrastructure development creates opening and easy accessibility to remote regions which were in an inviolate state since evolution due to inaccessibility. This impacts the linear connectivity and prevents corridor formations or makes existing corridors non-viable. Overall habitat loss and or fragmentation of our ecosystems can happen as a result of intrusion. Intruding humans can also cause problems like damage to the fragile species web of life, poaching and wood logging besides according access to foreign or alien species to overpower. Wind erosion and fires can be deadly and so can be territorial changes brought about by man. 

India is on a spree of infrastructural development, and the haste can prevent or discourage the alternative, a less damaging methodology.  The impetus on road building, new settlements, urbanization and extraction of natural resources, power projects, dams etc are  like a death knell for species survival and conservation of our natural spaces.   

It is imperative for the Nation to develop sound policies that in spite of infrastructural development circumvent or safe guards our natural spaces and preserves crucial resources besides creating a harmonious environment good enough for our well being and maintain an equilibrium.
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Uday works as a naturalist in India and writes on tigers and their conservation.
Contact: pateluday90@hotmail.com
9755089323