41% of country's forest cover has suffered degradation: Kasturirangan

The Economic Times , Friday, February 10, 2012
Correspondent : TNN

PUNE: The 12th five year plan related to biodiversity will focus on reclaiming wetlands, inland lakes and ponds, assess coastal biodiversity resources, use and sustainability, implementing recovery plan for identified 16 wildlife species, improve forest production and maintain biodiversity, and target greening five million hectare under Green India Mission, said K Kasturirangan, member, planning commission and former head, Indian Space Research organisation.

Speaking at the national conference on 'Biodiversity assessment, conservation and utilisation', organised by the department of biodiversity, Abasaheb Garware College, in association with the BAIF Development Research Foundation, on Thursday, Kasturirangan said some of the suggestions made by the working group constituted for the 12th plan preparation includes providing sufficient resource for relocation of villages from the critical habitats to create inviolate space for all flagship wildlife species, a national action plan for management of invasive species be strengthened and a national action plan on wildlife species recovery for its protection and conservation.

Kasturirangan said the focus areas and the suggestions are made by this working group constituted for the 12th plan preparation on 'Ecosystem resilience, biodiversity and sustainable livelihood', whose chairman is Madhav Gadgil.

At present, the 12th five year plan is in the process of finalisation.

Speaking about biodiversity loss, he pointed out that 1.6 billion people worldwide rely on forests for their livelihood, but an estimated 41% of the country's forest cover has been degraded to some degree. The rich diversity of medicinal plants (over 6,500 species) in the country needs conservation and sustainable utilisation, as their habitats are either degraded or the species are being over-exploited.

"Biodiversity is currently disappearing at up to 1,000 times the natural background rate of extinction, 60% of ecosystems worldwide are in an advanced state of degradation, around 80% of global fish stocks are fully exploited or overexploited, which could lead to the collapse of global fisheries by 2050. Seventy-five per cent of the food crop varieties we once grew have disappeared from our fields in the last 100 year and of all the anti-cancer drugs available, 42% are natural and 34% semi-natural. The estimated global annual cost of biodiversity loss is close to 3 trillion USD,'' he said.

According to him, the major threats to biodiversity stemmed mainly from habitat fragmentation, degradation and loss, shrinking genetic diversity, invasive alien species, declining forest resource base, climate change and desertification, over exploitation of resources, impact of development projects and impact of pollution.

Thus, the constraints and challenges to biodiversity conservation relate to biodiversity information base, implementation of Biological Diversity Act, safeguarding traditional knowledge, economic valuation and natural resource accounting, policy, legal and administrative measures and institutional support the threat to biodiversity, he said.

"The planning commission held an inter-ministerial meeting to enable the ministry of environment and forests in promoting the gathering, analysis and dissemination of biodiversity data, information, status and trends of programs in place to avert threats to biodiversity and encourage interaction among experts and decision makers," he added.

On the occasion, Madhav Gadgil, chairman of Western Ghats ecology expert panel, said the report of the panel has proposed guidelines for regulation as well as promotional activities in different sectors. This panel was set up by MoEF to recommend for the protection and conservation of Western Ghats and demarcate ecologically sensitive areas in this region.

He said Kolhapur Zilla Parishad's formal resolution of October 2011 said it does not want ecologically sensitive area around wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. The people apprehend that with declaring of ecologically sensitive areas will bring unnecessary restrictions. Gadgil pointed out that public discussion in regards to the Panel's report was to be held by the government in September last year. But it was postponed indefinitely.

Stressing on the importance of areas around national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, Gadgil said windmills have come up outside the boundary of Bhimashankar wildlife sanctuary despite opposition from the locals. The range forest officer gave a report showing concern as the place is the home to endangered Indian Giant Squirrel and can have a negative impact on the environment. But, the report was suppressed and permission was granted, he said.

"The government can mend ways and protect environment genuinely. Citizens can also play an important role," he said.

BOX

Environmental performance index

The Planning Commission, along with the ministry of environment and forests, is preparing an environmental performance index on air pollution, water quality, forest cover, waste management and climate change in the country. The index combines ecological performance with economic delivery for purposes of fiscal planning and social delivery. And get information related to greenhouse gases with the help of a comprehensive Indian satellite to monitor greenhouse gases, said Kasturirangan.

 
SOURCE : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/environment/the-good-earth/41-of-countrys-forest-cover-has-suffered-degradation-kasturirangan/articleshow/11831152.cms
 


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