Article on: Roots and Remedies, Addressing Deforestation, Waste and the future of sustainability. Sub Theme: Why green space matters, The importance of an ecological concious

Article on:
Roots and Remedies, Addressing Deforestation, Waste and the future of sustainability.

Sub Theme: Why green space matters, The importance of an ecological concious

Abstract

In recent years, deforestation has emerged as a critical environmental concern. Defined as the large scale removal of forest cover, deforestation leads to habitat destruction and severe loss of biodiversity. Many trees have been cut down. Recently, there was an alarming incident, where there was an attempt to burn 400 acres of forest land in Telangana, fortunately halted by the Supreme Court. Although, most of the areas that have been cleared for crops and grazing represent permanent and continuing deforestation. Deforestation can be transient. The extent to which forests have become Earth’s grazing land is much more difficult to assess. Almost 2 million square kms have been cleared up for cattle grazing. Slash and Burn agriculture also have a major contribution to tropical deforestation, where small scale farmers burn up and clear the forests and grow crops that are fertilized by ashes. 

Waste is another major concern. Waste is defined as that unusable and unwanted material that is no longer of any use, waste is seen in the form of garbage which arises from various places such as domestic household, offices, schools, industries etc. Wastes that are created by factories and other dangerous places, when exposed to the air cause pollution and various health concerns to individuals that are exposed to such pollution. Dry waste such as vegetable peels, fruit peels etc. are biodegradable, but materials such as plastic, polythene etc. when not properly disposed, lead to environmental pollution and damage. Mismanagement of waste can further lead to climatic changes, threat to wildlife and biodiversity loss. In countries like India, public indifference towards responsible waste disposal remains a significant challenge. 

Historically, the lack of awareness regarding sustainability contributed to reckless environmental practices such as deforestation and poor waste management. However, awareness and sustainable living has grown. Eco – Conscious practices such as reducing plastic use, promoting green transportation, cutting energy consumption and adopting to carbon – neutral infrastructure are gaining attraction. The movement towards sustainability is no longer a passing trend but a necessity driven by climatic change and resource depletion.

Introduction

Deforestation and waste are the two of the most pressing environmental challenges, while the statistical levels in these scenarios are negative, to identify the root cause of the issue, one must look back across centuries, where trees and forests were cut down and animals were losing their livelihood. Whereas, wastes which are supposed to be disposed of carefully are being thrown in the open, creating a legacy of environmental degradations. Lack of knowledge and 

irresponsible behaviour towards the environment and its various species is the root cause of the problem. Now, we must seek remedies and sustainable sources to protect the environment. Let us first know the root cause of the problems and the remedies available.

Deforestation has caused a lot of biodiversity loss in the recent years. Between 2010 and 2020, the net loss of forests was 4.7 million hectares per year and the deforestation rate was much higher. Since the end of Ice age, the world has lost one – third of its forest that is two billion hectares, which is twice the size of United nations. Unfortunately, no single source provides the exact and transparent data regarding deforestation rates over the period of time. There are a lot of known and unknown sources that lead to deforestation. One of them are dams, even though they provide renewable energy, dams are the most controversial of all because they lead to floods in forest land. The risk of floods is even higher when the dams are poorly sited.

The next largest driver of deforestation is Cattle ranching, that is most prominently practiced in Brazil. Ranchers set illegal fires to clear the forests, then gain title over the land by bringing in cattle. As per the warnings given by the indigenous elders, cattle ranches and plantations fragment the forest and block the natural connectivity between the ecosystems. In the light of various occurrences of deforestation, the reality of climate changes especially in the future is uncertain. What can be estimated is that 10-15% of the of the yearly greenhouse emissions drive global warming. 

Waste management too remains a global challenge, there were no reliable sources of information regarding waste until a report was issued by the Secretarial of the Basel Convention (1999), which was a tatistical data regarding the total amount of hazardous wastes. With rising urbanization and consumption levels, the global scale of solid waste generation has reached staggering proportions. The world generates 2 billion tons of waste annually and it is expected to increase by 70%. Proliferation of plastic waste is responsible for the majority of debris found in water bodies and it poses a significant threat to Marine life.

The remedy for the above issues is increasing sustainability. If we consider a typical home 30 years ago, we do not find any solar panels, energy efficient light bulbs and water – saving technologies. Very few persons knew the ill effects the mismanagement could cause to the environment. Now, thirty years later, people’s awareness has increased, and sectors of sustainable innovation have been developing. This is the best remedy that any individual on the planet could find for developing a clean, healthy environment with greenery and reduced waste. Recycling waste such as plastic, polythene, paper and other harmful material that are irresponsibly been thrown into the soil, water and various other important resources of the environment could help the environment sustain, leading to reduced pollution. A current part of sustainability is seeing an immense development in cleantech. Cleantech is a process that reduces negative environmental impact through significant improvement in energy. It further involves companies and technologies that lead to improved environmental sustainability.                                                                                                                                

 

Why Green Spaces Matters? The Importance of Having an Ecological Conscious

 

Trees and green spaces play a crucial role in the urban ecosystem. The greenery around us, the trees in our houses, in our backyard all of them play an important role in our well-being. As per the research conducted by the RIVM and Wageningen University and research (WUR), greenery contributes to both physical and mental health. Natural environment such as trees reduce a lot of stress. This is not only because of the calming effect of nature, but environment can also encourage social interactions and their soothing sounds can relax a person. Children, especially the present generation kids spend a lot of time on computers and screens and are not exposed to more social interactions and outdoor activities. Therefore, there have been various researches conducted where it has been evident that greenery and soothing environment can improve concentration in kids, improve memory and learning. Therefore, in an era where digitalization and mobile devices have increased, green spaces always play an important role to shape kids of the present generation for a secure and harmless future.

Both private and public green spaces are important. Public green spaces provide exercise, relaxation and also encourage community interactions, whereas private green spaces relax the person on a more individual basis. Presence of greenery in a living environment with proven benefits of mental and physical health is invaluable. Therefore, it is vital that more of green spaces and trees develop for the benefit of human kind. 

In Japan, a practice named the ‘shinrin – yoku’ when translated is called as ‘forest bathing’ is practiced, which is a simple remedy for modern life stress and anxiety. It is just not about walking in the woods, it is an immersive experience that is soaking into the atmosphere, this establishes the importance of trees and green space in both the rural and urban setting. As per the Egyptians, trees were not just physical entities, they were symbols of power and healing. Further, trees play a very important role in uplifting spirits. Exposure to greenery increases dopamine production.  Some of our greenery are life savers as well, as they contain medicinal values. 25% of all medications can be found in abundance in the forests. Trees contain those types of medicinal values that can stop bleeding, help in sterilizing wounds and boosting immune systems, and can further calm neurological systems and many more. 

In an analysis, it has been found that 43,000 premature deaths could have been avoided each year if the WHO (World health Organisation) could have recommended residential proximity to green space. There must be green space of at least 0.5 hectares at a linear distance of 300 meters from every home. Green Space helps mitigate air pollution, heat and noise levels and improves social interaction. 

Further, trees invite us to nourish the soul through Eco therapy, that is a guided interaction with nature, that is used to treat everything like depression and post - traumatic stress disorders. If a person is mentally healthy, then it promotes reduced health costs and increased productivity. 

The puranas, a genre of ancient Indian literature, encapsulate the spiritual and cultural ethos of the Indian Subcontinent. These texts subtly convey a deep reverence for the environment, reflecting a symbolic relationship between humanity and nature. 

 

 

 

Green Space and its Ecological Benefits:

 

Apart from the health factors, green space does potentially have a good impact on the environment. Urban greenery has become of at most importance for improving the environment. Urban greenery refers to open space zones designated for Parkland as well as additional green spaces such as vegetation, wetlands and other type of ecosystems. Developing green spaces enhances city life. Thoughtfully planned parks, community gardens neighbourly awareness is an important aspect of developing green spaces in city life. Advantages of an enhanced environment are regulating extreme conditions, freshening the air, reducing runoff as well as improving water integrity. Cement construction supply unlike vegetation and grass are unable to absorb heat from sunlight because there is less flora and fauna in the atmosphere. Another important aspect that can make the environment eco-friendly is green roofs. Green roofs are vegetative strata that lie over a building top and lie on extremely water resistant roof slabs. Green roofs conserve energy, reduces water damage and provides habitat for wildlife, reduces noise and mitigates global warming. Global warming as in another enormous challenge, as rising temperatures change precipitation leading to extreme weather events. Following global warming, enormous efforts to preserve green spaces in cities has to be done as the rise in temperature and the extreme effects can lead to green spaces losing their functions. Developing trends, new technology and a stronger dedication in developing the environment for the people and environment first is required. The value of ecosystem multi functionality has rarely been addressed in the context of urban green spaces. Although some studies have discussed the ecosystem services and disservices regarding urban lawns and forests, the limited research presents side by side comparisons of a broad range of ecosystem services provided by lawns and meadows. 

The supply of fresh water is one of the best provisioning services of urban green space. The significant effects of fresh water supply lie on groundwater recharge. A large portion of urban and suburban population use groundwater as drinking water soars, therefore, well maintained green spaces often have a benefit and impact on the urban water system. 

Another important aspect is that, the foundation for the most terrestrial eco systems is soil, which can happen by providing stability to urban soil structure and composition such as soil organic matter, accumulation and maintenance of soil processes, health and groundwater. Urban soil structure is a hydrological process determined by green space features. 

Further, increasing human development and infrastructure such as buildings in various areas can increase air pollution and also have a significant effect on human health and most of the toxic material can destroy the ecosystem. Having green spaces especially urban greening can reduce air pollutants and greenhouse gases as they would have the ability to trap dust and smoke particles from the atmosphere. A study in France also shows that synthetic grass could trap micro particles 30 times higher than bare ground.

Noise pollution always continues to threaten ecosystem due to increased urbanization. Vegetation has been a long proposed aspect to reduce noise pollution as well, if lawns are established, they could absorb some sound and reduce noise pollution.

Ecological Consciousness is long integrated in the Puranas. It is a category of our Ancient Literature. The puranas depict the nature as divine. The Padma Puran and the Matsya Puran, the theme of the nature divine reflects a profound spiritual and ecological perspective. In the Padma puran, the sacredness of nature is intricately woven into the fabric of the cosmic narrative. Whereas, the Matsya puran further emphasizes the Nature as Divine. 

Several Puranas narrate tales of environmental crisis caused by human actions, echoing the consequences of ecological imbalance. The Markandeya Purana for instance, narrates the devastating effects of deforestation and the subsequent efforts to restore the balance. These narrative serve as cautionary tales, emphasizing the need to responsible environmental stewardship. 

 

 

 

Bad Effects of disposing waste material on green space.

 

When green spaces is present in the economy, it is important that we protect the environment and avoid causing more pollution on the already existing green spaces. The major concern regarding green spaces is throwing of waste material on them. Just as green spaces can have a lot of health benefits and ecological benefits, disposing of waste from various areas can increase the scope of pollution, negative impact towards the environment and the most important aspect is hurting wildlife and becoming the main cause of climatic changes. It has been statistically proven that over 2 billion metric tonnes of unsustainable, human generated wastes are thrown away globally every year and polluting the ecosystem around the world. 62% of global waste is collected in controlled municipal facilities whereas the remaining 38% is either dumped, burned or discarded. Even though the remedy of sanitary landfill has come into existence, there are certain people who still pollute green space due to lack of knowledge, which means that even though there are certain innovative climatic mitigation strategies in the form of policies or awareness, improper waste management is always undermining these efforts. Recent study in the Harvard University showed that greenhouse gas emissions are 77% higher than estimates by the Environmental Protection Agency. 

Further, we are treating our ocean as a dumping ground. Researchers have found that 19 to 23,000,000 tonnes of plastic waste are dumped in oceans annually and 1500 different species have been found to eat those plastics such as whales, see turtles, see birds etc. Due to which, ocean plastic is entering into the human food chain.

There is also a huge impact on human health, over 1000 chemicals used in the manufacturing of millions of different plastic products in the market today transpires endocrine disrupting in carcinogenic, that is they have been associated with certain cancers, Alzheimer's, miscarriages and many more development issues. Bad trash management could be a downfall of humanity. Therefore, a person must be extremely thoughtful before disposing of waste on Greenland. 

 

 

Remedies to improve green space, curb waste and deforestation

 

When the root cause of the issue is understood, it is high time that remedies are implemented and green space is protected before we become the main reason for the sufferance of our next generations. To curb deforestation and reduce waste, a multifaceted approach is required. Reforestation efforts must be taken such as planting more trees in deforested areas, increase forest cover and prevent cutting down of trees. This can help in restoring the ecosystem and increase forest cover. Farming methods such as sustainable farming does not harm the environment and reduce the need for deforestation. To minimize waste, minimizing single – use plastics, recycling plastics and promoting sustainable consumption patterns can help reduce waste. Further, strict laws must be imposed against illegal logging for the protection of areas that have more green space. 

There are other ways to curb deforestation such as ‘Looking for the FSC label.’ It stands against deforestation and is the most trusted symbol for forestry. It supports fair wages and working conditions. For 100% certified products, it ensures sustainable sourcing from the forest to the store. 

‘Advocating for indigenous rights’ is a matter of social responsibility. Where indigenous people maintain rights over their homelands, their forests remain strong and healthy for the generations to come. Their thoughtful stewardship provides lasting benefits for citizens, plants and animals across the globe. 

Addressing waste, understanding the necessity for waste reduction is important. Reducing waste reduces strain on natural resources leads to decreased pollution. There are various ways of waste reduction such as ‘Recycling and Reusing’. Turning waste products into new ones gives a usage to those products and avoids waste. ‘Composting’ can help in creating nutrient – rich soil for gardens, reduce landfill contributions and provide natural fertilizers. 

‘Educating Communities’ in the form of awareness campaigns about proper waste disposal and waste reduction strategies inspire communities to be more responsible towards the environment and be more cautious in waste management. 

 

 

Conclusion

Concluding, the challenges under deforestation and improper waste management are deeply rooted due to human negligence, lack of awareness and unsustainable development practices. These issues are all interconnected with each other and is impacting the overall well – being of the planet and is causing harm to the environment and other factors associated with the environment. 

Protecting forests and increasing sustainable development practices and appropriate waste management practices is no longer an option for us. Sustainability is not a passing trend, it is the way we live which shall begin with individual responsibility and should convert into collective responsibility. It is time that a cleaner, greener and a resilient world is built through our stewardship.