Mrudul Godbole
28-11-2011, 09:39 PM
'Forests can't be recreated in original form'
Nov 22, 2011, 04.29AM IST
NAGPUR: Vrukshayurveda, the science of plant life, says "ten wells are equal to one pond, ten ponds are equal to one lake, ten lakes are equal to one son and ten sons are equal to one tree." This was the reaction to an article by chairman of Neco Group Basant Lal Shaw which appeared in TOI on November 19.
It prompted wildlife buff Ravindra Marpakwar to start a chain email with the Vrukshayurveda extract. Marpakwar added: "If forest can be created, can we seek example of one such forest, or bring back one species of any flora or fauna which are missing due to lack of natural habitat?"
DTS Moorthy of Wildlife Lovers Associate said, "It really pinches. Minerals and chemicals can give money but what is the value of money without humans? Forest is the only precious wealth. Man can't even dream to recreate a real forest with a number of species."
Bittu Sahgal, environmentalist and editor of Sanctuary Asia, says in a democratic country everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. But to be taken seriously the opinion must be based on fact. Humans, even with all the scientific advancements, have no way to 'recombine' the mix of species that make up a forest destroyed by mining. "We possibly need a massive 'adult education' campaign to save the planet," Sahgal feels.
"It is the failure of environment educators that we could not improve the scientific knowledge of corporate sector about ecology and environment," says Kishor Rithe, president of Satpuda Foundation.
Rithe adds that natural forests which have evolved since hundreds of years cannot be recreated in their original form. This has been accepted by the Supreme Court while discussing 'sacrifice of natural forests for extraction of minerals'.
India also ratified the Biological Diversity Act in 2002, stating that the biological diversity must be protected in the natural forests. It states that biological resources (including forest and minerals) and associated knowledge must be protected.
"Sadly, the country could not produce a strong conservation-based Minerals and Mining Act in tune with Biological Diversity Act 2002 and always preferred bringing superficial amendments," Rithe adds.
Environmentalist Sunita Narain of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) contests claims made by industrialists. She says that between 2007 and August 2011, 8,284 projects were granted forest clearance and 2,03,576 hectares of forest land was diverted. This is 25% of all the forest land diverted for development projects since 1981.
This indicates that forest land diversion has doubled in the last five years. In 2009 alone, 87,883.67 hectare of forest land was diverted for industrial use. A large proportion of this forest land (50,000 hectares) has been diverted for mining and power projects. More than half of all the forest land diverted was for coal mining.
During this five-year period, as many as 113 coal mining projects were granted forest clearance, highest in any five-year plan since 1981. Apart from this, 181 coal mines, 200 coal-based thermal power plants, 188 steel units and 106 cement units were given clearance.
"These clearances have led to doubling of capacity of industries but this capacity remains unutilized," says Narain.
Prafulla Bhamburkar, manager, Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), wants to know areas where natural forests have been created. Besides, there is no land to create such forests. "Can you bring back the loss of species and rich diversity with the loss of forests?" he asked.
Climate change expert Prof Nishikant Kale said, "We should not forget that this lobby gets their resources for peanuts. The real cost of natural resources that business houses are extracting should be worked out. Let that cost go for the creation of forests. Only then will Shaw's statement have meaning. If you firmly believe that minerals cannot be created, you should seriously think of conserving them."
Nov 22, 2011, 04.29AM IST
NAGPUR: Vrukshayurveda, the science of plant life, says "ten wells are equal to one pond, ten ponds are equal to one lake, ten lakes are equal to one son and ten sons are equal to one tree." This was the reaction to an article by chairman of Neco Group Basant Lal Shaw which appeared in TOI on November 19.
It prompted wildlife buff Ravindra Marpakwar to start a chain email with the Vrukshayurveda extract. Marpakwar added: "If forest can be created, can we seek example of one such forest, or bring back one species of any flora or fauna which are missing due to lack of natural habitat?"
DTS Moorthy of Wildlife Lovers Associate said, "It really pinches. Minerals and chemicals can give money but what is the value of money without humans? Forest is the only precious wealth. Man can't even dream to recreate a real forest with a number of species."
Bittu Sahgal, environmentalist and editor of Sanctuary Asia, says in a democratic country everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. But to be taken seriously the opinion must be based on fact. Humans, even with all the scientific advancements, have no way to 'recombine' the mix of species that make up a forest destroyed by mining. "We possibly need a massive 'adult education' campaign to save the planet," Sahgal feels.
"It is the failure of environment educators that we could not improve the scientific knowledge of corporate sector about ecology and environment," says Kishor Rithe, president of Satpuda Foundation.
Rithe adds that natural forests which have evolved since hundreds of years cannot be recreated in their original form. This has been accepted by the Supreme Court while discussing 'sacrifice of natural forests for extraction of minerals'.
India also ratified the Biological Diversity Act in 2002, stating that the biological diversity must be protected in the natural forests. It states that biological resources (including forest and minerals) and associated knowledge must be protected.
"Sadly, the country could not produce a strong conservation-based Minerals and Mining Act in tune with Biological Diversity Act 2002 and always preferred bringing superficial amendments," Rithe adds.
Environmentalist Sunita Narain of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) contests claims made by industrialists. She says that between 2007 and August 2011, 8,284 projects were granted forest clearance and 2,03,576 hectares of forest land was diverted. This is 25% of all the forest land diverted for development projects since 1981.
This indicates that forest land diversion has doubled in the last five years. In 2009 alone, 87,883.67 hectare of forest land was diverted for industrial use. A large proportion of this forest land (50,000 hectares) has been diverted for mining and power projects. More than half of all the forest land diverted was for coal mining.
During this five-year period, as many as 113 coal mining projects were granted forest clearance, highest in any five-year plan since 1981. Apart from this, 181 coal mines, 200 coal-based thermal power plants, 188 steel units and 106 cement units were given clearance.
"These clearances have led to doubling of capacity of industries but this capacity remains unutilized," says Narain.
Prafulla Bhamburkar, manager, Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), wants to know areas where natural forests have been created. Besides, there is no land to create such forests. "Can you bring back the loss of species and rich diversity with the loss of forests?" he asked.
Climate change expert Prof Nishikant Kale said, "We should not forget that this lobby gets their resources for peanuts. The real cost of natural resources that business houses are extracting should be worked out. Let that cost go for the creation of forests. Only then will Shaw's statement have meaning. If you firmly believe that minerals cannot be created, you should seriously think of conserving them."