Y Nuklu Phom
For generations humanity has been seized with conflicts. Be it between international, national, states, between tribes and villages, conflicts busted for ownership claim over Forest, Land and River use and till today this issue continues to frame people’s mind. However, all these conflicts could and can be reduced or solved with the intervention of the third party: the Government, civil societies, or any other negotiators.
Unfortunately, during the last two decades, humanity’s threat has derived from what we ourselves have created because of greed and excessive use. We have been experiencing a “serious environmental threat such air and water pollution, ozone layer depletion, global warming, melting of glaciers, flood, Mudslides and avalanches that are aggressively attacking humanity around the world. In the rural setting, the threat comes in terms of invasion by new alien pest and insects which continues to destroy human vegetations at an alarming rate.
While agriculture is the only life redeeming sustaining resource, farming communities are introduced to the use of chemicals for pest management and weeding purposes which has intimidated human’s sustenance resulting in the eradication of top soils, leaving the rural farmers with pathetic condition.
Weather cycle has been very inconsistent which hinders the germination and growth of farmer’s crops. It is also observed that ancestral crops are getting extinct, harvests and production are gradually declining, water level in the streams and rivers are going down, ancestral wells are drying up and water ponds in the villages are abandoned. Climate Change and Global warming is felt everywhere.
The threat against us is not beyond the borders, they are right here, and this conflict cannot involve any other third party for reconciliation. Therefore, we ourselves must stoop down, be convicted of this serious and impending danger that has come so heavily upon us. We must decide to make things right for ourselves and the ecosphere.
It is absolutely true, human’s only source for livelihood sustenance is dependency on the biodiversity. Convinced of this, our ancestors knew what to take, how much to take and what not to take. But today, humans have misused the biodiversity beyond limit, put so much pressure on her and we are the victim of our own design.
While it is important to introduce new method of farming, attempting different new or foreign crops for more economic growth and profit, it has become a necessity to diagnose whether the new alien crops are positively helpful. During the last 3 decades, we have introduced new plant species in our local soil, but have they been Conducive to our Soil, Compatible with our ancestral or existing Crops, and have they been Climate Adaptable? This three Cs: Conducive to local Soil, Compatible with existing Crops, and Climate Adaptability should have been applied, and then introduced with other prescriptive and preventive measures.
In general, has Gmelina sp (Gamari), Tectona grandis (Teak) Hevea brasiliensis (Rubber), Amomum subulatum (Black-Large Cardamom) and several foreign crops-species benefitted the Farmers? What have these foreign species done to our agricultural land? Do we continue to screen orx-ray newer species like Palm Oil with these 3 C Model.
While “Peace between human to human, between communities” is very significant, embracing Peace and living in harmony with the entire eco system must be the conviction of every individual who wish for a long and good life. Good health with long life and sound mind brings humanity happiness and peaceable existence.
While issues over forest, land and rivers between two conflicting parties need peace, peace isn’t just limited between human to human, but it encompasses the entire eco system. Peace in its literal sense is where everyone feels secure everywhere.” Peace in its complete sense is to have peace with the environment and the entire eco system where humanity and the nature nourishes and sustains each other. This will only augment humanity’s security.
In this venture of Peace with the entire ecosystem, biodiversity conservation needs to be modelled upon MissioEcology (biodiversity conservation on a mission mode). MissioEcology must aim to unite policy makers, scientists, experts, research scholars in different professions and institutions, lay people and community members who knows the conduciveness of the forest and rivers, the vegetations (Floral and Faunal species) and concertedly redefine proper land use policies and work towards Biodiversity Peace. Educational institutions, civil societies and the religious institutions must raise biodiversity ambassadors of children and young people, design curriculum and introduce with more practical activities such as exchange of knowledge based on nature and natural resources, environment and human health-and wellbeing, wildlife and natural resources.
Built upon this, social conflicts can be solved, social bonding will be more secured, flora and fauna species safeguarded and safe asylum for wild species will be created. Thus, “MissioEcology” will augment towards sustainable biodiversity, sustainable community sharing their space with wild species in order to co-exist with humans without any threat, create a Biodiversity Hotspot with an improved environment and a Conducive Biodiversity Peace Corridor.
This is a guest editorial by Y Nuklu Phom. The writer is Team Leader of Lemsachenlok Longleng Nagaland and Ph.D Research Scholar at Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Science, Prayagraj, UP.
