Today, if the concept of conservation of bio diversity is to become meaningful, policies must take into account local participation and the cultural factor. This is imperative with International Day for Biological Diversity two day away; say ARUNABASUSARCAR and MANOJ KUMAR SARKAR
ASIA harbours an enormous diversity of plant and animal species. The region is also home to some of the oldest cultures, where ancient wisdom has valued the conservation of the nature for the benefit of mankind. December 29 is International Day for Biological Diversity which commemorates the implementation of the International Convention on Biological Diversity. The term “biological diversity” refers to life in its entirety, whichincludesmicroorganisms, plants and animals. According to the Forest Survey of India report, 1997, the country has lost 5,500 .km. of forest-cover sq. k in 1977. The total forest area is estimated at 63.34 million hectares, which is 19.27 per cent of the total land area. India is belletedrankaixth- among 12 Mega Bio diverse countries. Our range of bio-diversity is unique due to a varied physical environment.
Starting from World Environment Day, Vana Mahotsava, World Forestry Day… on the lines of seminars, conventions and treaties at the national and world bio-zonal levels, several treaties, based on the highest and most ideal objectives, have been committed. But how successful have we been?
In 1925 the first speaker at the 50th anniversary of the American Forestry Association said that while the topic was on 50 years of conservation it might as well have been called 50 years of the levels of conversation. In India, despite stringent forest legislation, a carefully crafted forest policy and treaties, covering basic objectives, we have still to accept the fact that conservation is at the cross roads. In this context I recall Clemenceau’s phrase:
“War is too serious a matter to be left to professional soldiers”. The responsibility to conserve bio-diversity is too big a job and too important in its implications to be left toprofessional forestersBut wall a moment. What would have happened tohad it been under themanagement of a fewagricultural departmentsrather than a millionproductivity of the land?
There is an element of apprehension among ecologists that asignificant proportion of diversity could be lost soon. Therefore, it is timethat environmentalsame priority as foodsecurity for all, in spite of the principle of commonbut different responsibilities for protecting theenvironment or bio diversity we seem to lack the courage to act uponthis and take it to its logical conclusion.
Forestry has been practised with differentobjectives, and, accordingly, termeddifferently protection, production, farm and social forestry. With a gradualmanagement is change in attitude and experiences, joint forest management is changing.
The aim is to involve local people. At this initial stage, people’sparticipation is directed by bureaucrats and executives. The next step is still awaited when local committees will decide their priorities and the mode of operation in forestry and environment protection activities. The environment cannot be an issue for the government alone. It has to be a mass movement.Reviewing the role of cultural and emotional sentiments, deeply ingrained amongst our people are the examples of the sacred groves, and the sthalavriksha (temple trees). Sacred groves occur in almost all parts of rural India. In villages, sacred groves occur around places of worship Around the village deities are small groves of naturally growing species. These are regarded as sacred as the deities themselves and are free of interference.
It has been recorded by a study group that such groves in Andhra Pradesh have, on an average. more than 134 rare and endemic plants. They arerepositories of the rare and valuable flora and fauna. Could this instance of cultural forestry suggest any better alternative strategy for preservation of our valuable genome? These areas of cultural heritage, ecological and sociological information need to be tended.
The initiative taken by the Karnataka Forest Department toencourage the preservation of bio-diversity under the names Navagraha Vana, Nakshatra Vana, Dhanwanti Vana (for medicinal plants) seems to be much more appealing in terms of impressing upon us the need for conservation. The ideals of conserving or maintaining sacred groves, sthalavrikshas, raising medicinal plants plots viz Dhanvantari Vana can be anticipated as the most effective mode to conserve the diversity biota involving local people.
Every year, under joint forestry management, hundreds ofprogramme villages are allotted simple funds, an objective being to conserve bio-diversity in the area. The National Forest Policy of India. Agenda 21 of the Rio de Janerio (1992) Declaration emphasises the participation of women in their own environment. But unfortunately, women still remain at the lowest rung in the context of environment protection due to serious gender in-equity in every sphere of society. They still remain half wage earners for a whole day of drudgery. This negative bias is so strong at the various levels that despite proper legislation the legitimate right of women in a simple issue could not be protected. The National Education Policy and Agenda 21 stress environmental education being imparted at even the elementary stage of education.
Accordingly, this has been introduced in the syllabi. School children do learn: what a forest is. about soil erosion, soil conservation and other aspects about the environment. But can they identify soil erosion or the few plants they come across every day? How many children can imagine a forests without having seen or been to a forest area? Barring the people living in and around forests, most people do not know a thing about our forests. There are many who have never been to a jungle. There are others too who will never see a forest in their life-time. This type of apathy towards conservation has resulted in a lack of synergy towards fostering a love for nature.
During ceremonial functions commemorating various international days like World Environment Day and World Forestry Day, children are asked to raise slogans like “we shall plant trees and get rain”. In a tree planting ceremony at Chennai, school children at the function were rehearsing a slogan to be chanted loud as soon as the chief guest came.
This is an example of a mechanical system for students. No child has the basic idea of nurturing a plant. The average school, when it can afford to, establishes a computer lab but not a nursery. It is time we are required to ponder over these issues and implement our policies at the grass-root level based on our cultural background.
