The annual World Environment Day (WED) will be held on June 5, 2011 (Sunday) under the theme ‘Forests: Nature at Your Service’. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) this year’s theme underscores the intrinsic link between quality of life and the health of forests and forest ecosystems. The WED theme also supports this year's UN International Year of Forests. While the world observes this important day, what are the things that Nagaland and its people can also do in order to protect and preserve our forests. As noted, our forests are vital for human existence. In fact God has blessed us with so much of natural resource and it is only appropriate that we use this blessing with greater wisdom and foresight. And so this world environment day let us be reminded of the vital functions performed by our forests and the need to safeguard this life giving asset of ours. According to statistics, 1.6 billion people depend on forests for their livelihoods. “They play a key role in our battle against climate change. Forests feed our rivers and are essential to supplying the water for our urban cities. They help to regulate the often devastating impact of storms and floods. Forests are also the most biologically-diverse ecosystems on land, home to more than half of the terrestrial species of animals, plants and insects. Forests also provide shelter, jobs and security for forest-dependent populations. Yet despite all of these priceless ecological, economic, social and health benefits, we are destroying the very forests we need to survive. Global deforestation continues at an alarming rate -- 13 million hectares of forest are destroyed annually”, as per a study.
Last year, to mark the World Environment Day, the Nagaland Government under the Department of Forest, Wildlife & Environment launched the Year of Plantation. How far this exercise has been successful or not, we still don’t know. But the drive to maintaining the green cover that our State is known for should be a continuing process with active participation of our community. And so as we commemorate another World Environment Day, let us renew our collective effort to ensure a sustainable future. We should also keep in mind that the concern for our environment does not end with merely planting trees every year on June 5. Protecting our environment and ensuring a sustainable future may also demand changes in our attitude, lifestyle and consumption pattern. For instance a UN panel has even suggested that eating meat causes environmental degradation. Experts believe that the greatest cause of greenhouse gas emissions is food production and the use of fossil fuels. According to the panel, energy in the form of fossil fuels and agriculture, especially the raising of livestock for meat and dairy products is “having a disproportionately high impact on people and the planet's life support systems”. And anyway meat is known for carrying a horde of health problems. People must be informed about all these issues so that we can adapt ourselves to a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. To begin with, why not we take a relook at our reserve of traditional wisdom and knowledge because our forefathers may have been better at protecting the environment and nature The Naga model for sustainable development may well be found in our tradition. And this could just be what we need to do—restoring the simple things in life and to be as normal and green as possible in our living.
Last year, to mark the World Environment Day, the Nagaland Government under the Department of Forest, Wildlife & Environment launched the Year of Plantation. How far this exercise has been successful or not, we still don’t know. But the drive to maintaining the green cover that our State is known for should be a continuing process with active participation of our community. And so as we commemorate another World Environment Day, let us renew our collective effort to ensure a sustainable future. We should also keep in mind that the concern for our environment does not end with merely planting trees every year on June 5. Protecting our environment and ensuring a sustainable future may also demand changes in our attitude, lifestyle and consumption pattern. For instance a UN panel has even suggested that eating meat causes environmental degradation. Experts believe that the greatest cause of greenhouse gas emissions is food production and the use of fossil fuels. According to the panel, energy in the form of fossil fuels and agriculture, especially the raising of livestock for meat and dairy products is “having a disproportionately high impact on people and the planet's life support systems”. And anyway meat is known for carrying a horde of health problems. People must be informed about all these issues so that we can adapt ourselves to a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. To begin with, why not we take a relook at our reserve of traditional wisdom and knowledge because our forefathers may have been better at protecting the environment and nature The Naga model for sustainable development may well be found in our tradition. And this could just be what we need to do—restoring the simple things in life and to be as normal and green as possible in our living.
