Bio 6

UNIT-16         MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Natural resources can be broadly categorized into two types, viz. exhaustible and non-exhaustible. Management of natural resources is all about their judicious use in a way that the exhaustible resources can last for many generations to come and non-exhaustible resources can be maintained in as pristine form as possible.

CONSEQUENCES OF EXPLOITATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES

There are many consequences of exploitation of natural resources. Some examples are given below:-

Burning of fossil fuels creates air pollution. Excess amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere leads to global warming. Some polluting gases; like oxides of nitrogen and sulphur lead to acid rain, which is harmful for living beings. Acid rain is also harmful for monuments and buildings.

Excess exploitation of groundwater leads to a drastic fall in water table. This is the reason many places are experiencing acute shortage of drinking water.

Overuse of fertilisers and insecticides leads to soil pollution and soil erosion.

Many pollutants are directly flown into water bodies. This has resulted in water pollution in many rivers, lakes and even in oceans.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Development is necessary for making all around economic development. But development often comes with a price in the form of environmental damage. Sustainable development means following certain practices which help in saving our environment from damage. This is necessary for maintaining the earth in a good shape so that future generations can also enjoy the bounty of nature.

Three Rs (Reduce, Recycle and Reuse):

Reduce: We should reduce the consumption of various resources wherever possible. For example; we can reduce the consumption of electricity by switching off lights and other appliances when they are not required. While leaving the home, one should always check for fans and lights and switch them off. This can not only help in saving electricity but also in saving the fuels which are utilised in electricity production. We should immediately repair a leaking tap so that precious water can be saved.

Recycle: There are many items which can be recycled again and again. Recycling is another way of reducing the demand for natural resources. For example; by recycling paper, we reduce the demand for wood and thus help in saving the forest.

Reuse: Many items can be reused many times. For example; old newspaper can be used for packing many items. Old envelopes can be used for doing rough work while doing your homework. Old plastic bottles can be used for many other purposes.

FOREST AND WILDLIFE

Conservation of forests and wildlife is necessary to protect the biodiversity. This is important because loss of biodiversity leads to ecological imbalance. But any conservation effort for forest and wildlife must keep the interests of all stakeholders in mind.

Stakeholders:-The stakeholders who are directly or indirectly affected by forest are as follows:

People living in or around forests; as they depend on various forest produce for their livelihood.

The forest department which is the owner of the forest land.

Various industrialists who depend on forest for many raw materials. For example; the beedi industry needs kendu leaves as raw material. Wood is used as raw material in many industries.

The wildlife and nature enthusiasts.

Before the beginning of the colonial rule in India, forest dwellers were free to utilize the resources from forests as they wished. But things changed when the British rulers took over the control of the forests in India. They restricted the access of forest dwellers to forest resources. This created huge problems for many people who had traditionally been dependent on forests for their survival.

After the independence of India, the forest department took over but the interests of forest dwellers continued to be ignored for a long time. The forest was cut to obtain timber for making railways and for various construction activities. The cleared forest was replaced by planting eucalyptus trees which led to the problem of monoculture. Growing a single species is called monoculture. It disturbs the biodiversity of an area.

LOCAL PEOPLE AND FOREST CONSERVATION

There are many examples which suggest that involvement of local communities is necessary for any conservation effort. The Bishnoi community of Rajasthan is one such example. Amrita Devi Bishnoi is still remembered with reverence for the way she fought for protecting the khejri trees in Khejrali village. She; along with 363 other people; sacrificed her life for the protection of khejri trees in 1731. The ‘Amrita Devi Bishnoi National Award for Wildlife Conservation’ has been named in her honour. Another example is of the nomadic herders of the Himalayas. The nomadic herders used to graze their animals near the great Himalayan National Park. Every summer, the nomadic people brought their herds down the valley so that the sheep could get plenty of grass to eat. When the National Park was made in that area, the nomadic herders were stopped from grazing their sheep in the protected area. Now, in the absence of grazing by the sheep, the grasses grow very tall in the region. Tall grasses fall over and prevent fresh growth of grass. This shows that by excluding and alienating the local people from forests, proper conservation efforts cannot be carried out.

CHIPKO MOVEMENT

The Chipko Movement began in the early 1980s from a small village; Reni in Garhwal district. The women of the village began hugging a tree to prevent the cutting of trees by the contractors. The Chipko Movement later spread to other parts of India. It had been instrumental in stopping deforestation to a large extent.

ARABARI’S EXAMPLE OF PEOPLE’S PARTICIPATION IN FOREST MANAGEMENT

In 1972, the forest department realized its mistake while reviving the degraded sal forests of Arabari forest range. Arabari forest lies in Midnapore district of West Bengal. The earlier methods of policing and surveillance were a total failure as they often led to frequent clashes with local people. It also led to alienation of people from the conservation programme. Then came a forest officer; named A K Banerjee; who was a real visionary. He involved the local people in the revival of 1,272 hectares of forest. In lieu of that the villagers were given employment in silviculture and harvest and were given 25% of the harvest. They were also allowed to gather firewood and fodder against a nominal payment. Due to active participation of the local community there was remarkable revival of the Arabari sal forest. By 1983, the value of the forest rose to Rs. 12.5 crores.

WATER FOR ALL

Water harvesting is an age-old concept in India. Khadins, tanks and nadis in Rajasthan, bandharas and tals in Maharashtra, bundhis in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, ahars and pynes in Bihar, kulhs in Himachal Pradesh, ponds in the Kandi belt of Jammu region, and eris (tanks) in Tamil Nadu, surangams in Kerala, and kattas in Karnataka are some of the ancient water harvesting, including water conveyance, structures. These are still in use at many places. The traditional water harvesting structures are location specific and have been perfected by people over a long period of time. They take into account the local geography and the need of the local people and hence are highly efficient.

The traditional water harvesting structures usually focus on recharging the groundwater rather making an open reservoir. It has several advantages. Unlike surface water; the groundwater does not evaporate and thus loss because of evaporation is prevented. The groundwater does not provide a breeding ground for the mosquitoes and hence is good for public health as well. The groundwater is relatively protected from contamination by human activities.

COAL AND PETROLEUM

Coal and petroleum are the main energy resources for us. But since these are exhaustible in nature so we need to find out alternate sources of energy. Scientists are working on developing some alternate energy sources so that dependency on coal and petroleum can be reduced. Some examples are given below:

• Solar energy is being used to produce electricity at many places. Although the technologies for solar energy are still costly but future prospects look bright.
• Fuel cell is another development which may help in replacing the internal combustion engines from automobiles.
• Hydrogen is being used as fuel in buses and cars in many countries. Hydrogen; when used as a fuel produces water as a byproduct. Thus, hydrogen can be an environment-friendly fuel.

                                      TEXTUAL QUESTIONS

1. What changes can you make in your habits to become more environment-friendly?
Answer-We can be eco friendly by:
→ Using the principle of 3R's i.e. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
→ Putting off unnecessary lights and fans.
→ Using unleaded petrol in vehicles.
→ Using local transport like buses or train.
2. What would be the advantages of exploiting resources with short-term aims?
Answer-If resources are exploited with short-term aims it will be very beneficial for the present generation as it will help in growth of economy at a faster rate.
3. How would these advantages differ from the advantages of using a long-term perspective in managing our resources?
Answer-If resources are used in accordance with short term aims, present generation will be able to utilize the resources properly for growth and development.
But if we use resources with long term aims, future generation will also be able to utilize resources for fulfilling its needs.
Thus it would be better to use our natural resources with a long term perspective so that it could be used by the present generation as well as conserved for future use. But it will deprive future generation from the benefits of these resources as resources are exhaustible.
4. Why do you think there should be equitable distribution of resources? What forces would be working against an equitable distribution of our resources?
Answer-Natural resources of the Earth must be distributed among the people uniformly so that each and every one gets his share of the resource.
Human greed, corruption, and the lobby of the rich and powerful are the forces working against an equitable distribution of resources.
1. Why should we conserve forests and wildlife?
Answer-We should conserve forests and wildlife because they are essential for us in following terms:
→ Forest provide us oxygen, they cause rain fall.  → Forest prevents soil erosion.
→ Plants are dependent on animals and birds for their pollination and seed dispersal.  → Forests provide us various medicines. → Various forest products are used as raw materials in industries.
2. Suggest some approaches towards the conservation of forests.

Answer-Some approaches towards the conservation of forests are:
→ Conversion of forests into national parks, sanctuaries.
→ To take help of local people in conserving forest.
→ Not to allow the destruction of forests for making roads, dams and hotels etc.
→ Planting of trees should be increased.
2. Compare the above system with the probable systems in hilly/mountainous areas or plains or plateau regions.
Answer-In plains, the water harvesting structures are crescent-shaped earthen embankments. These are low, straight, and concrete.
In hilly regions, the system of canal irrigation called Kulhsis used for water harvesting. This involves a collection of rain water in a stream, which is then diverted into man-made channels down the hill sides.
Excercise
1. What changes would you suggest in your home in order to be environment-friendly?
Answer-Changes that can be undertaken in our homes to be environment-friendly are:
→ Switch off the electrical appliances when not in use.
→ Turn the taps off while brushing or bathing and repair the leaking taps.
→ Throw biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste into separate bins.
→ Construct composting pits.
→ Food items such as jam, pickles, etc., come packed in plastic bottles. These bottles can later be used for storing things in the kitchen.
2. Can you suggest some changes in your school which would make it environment-friendly?
Answer-Changes that can be undertaken in our schools to make it environment friendly are:

→ Electricity can be saved by switching off lights and fans when not required.
→ Turn the taps off when not in use.
→ Biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes should be thrown into separate bins.

3. We saw in this chapter that there are four main stakeholders when it comes to forests and wildlife. Which among these should have the authority to decide the management of forest produce? Why do you think so?
Answer-The forest department of the government should have the authority to decide the management of forest produces. This is because the forest department is the care taker of the forest land and is responsible for any damage to the forest.
4. How can you as an individual contribute or make a difference to the management of (a) forests and wildlife, (b) water resources and (c) coal and petroleum?
Answer-(a) Forest and wildlife:
→ We should protest against the cutting of trees (deforestation).
→ We should protest against the poaching of wild animals.
→ We should stop the annexation of forest land for our use.
(b) Water resources:
→ Turn the taps off while brushing or bathing and repair leaking taps.
→ We should practice rainwater harvesting.
→ We should avoid the discharge of sewage and other wastes into rivers and other water resources.
(c) Coal and petroleum:
→We should take a bus or practice car pooling to avoid excessive use of petroleum.
→ We should stop using coal as a fuel (angithis).
(iii)We should use alternative sources of energy such as hydro-energy and solar energy instead of depending largely on coal and petroleum.
5. What can you as an individual do to reduce your consumption of the various natural resources?
Answer-Natural resources such as water, forests, coal and petroleum, etc. are important for the survival of human beings. The ways in which we can reduce the consumption of various natural resources are:
→ We should stop the cutting of trees (deforestation).
→ We should use recycled paper to reduce the cutting down of trees.
→ We should not waste water.
→ We should practice rainwater harvesting.
→ We should practice car pooling to avoid the excessive use of petroleum.
→ We should use alternative sources of energy such as hydro-energy and solar energy.
7. On the basis of the issues raised in this chapter, what changes would you incorporate in your life-style in a move towards a sustainable use of our resources?
Answer-One should incorporate the following changes in life-style in a move towards a sustainable use of our resources:
→ Stop cutting trees and practice plantation of trees.
→ Stop using plastic and polythene bags for carrying goods.
→ Use recycled paper.
→ Throw biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste into separate bins.
→ Waste minimum amount of water while using and repair leaking taps.
→ Practice rainwater harvesting.
→ Avoid using vehicles for short distances. Instead, one can walk or cycle to cover short distances. → To cover long distances, one should take a bus instead of using personal vehicles.
→ Switch off electrical appliances when not in use.
→  Use fluorescent tubes in place of bulbs to save electricity.
→ Take stairs and avoid using lifts.
→ During winters, wear an extra sweater to avoid using heaters.