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The text explores the contrast between the serene rural life of the past and the chaotic reality of modern development. It describes a world where morning drives on organized expressways contrast sharply with memories of quiet, rustic villages adorned with nature. While development has facilitated faster transportation and economic growth, it has also led to severe environmental degradation, increased pollution, and the loss of traditional values. In examining the connection between environment and development, the narrative critiques the materialistic approach that prioritizes economic gain over ecological balance. It emphasizes the need for sustainable development and community involvement in conservation efforts, urging a harmonious coexistence with nature for future generations.

The morning

It was dawn. Emerging amidst morning mist, the sun was hanging like a big crimson ball in the sky. The air was crisp, cool and refreshing. An azure grey car was gliding on the broad, smooth, and fast, yet organised expressway. The vehicles of all sorts that were running testifying it being a busy expressway. The man behind the steering wheel was thoroughly enjoying the pleasant morning and the journey. Looking at the large heliacal ball, he thanked the Almighty for everything. 

Road network

A vast network of Highways and Expressways showcase the impressive growth and development. Armed with modern technology, toll plazas offer a smooth and swift passage, without wasting time. Vehicles don’t have to wait in a queue wasting time and polluting the environment.

Development vs environment

Access-controlled greenfield expressways are crucial. Road network and Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) ensure fast and secure goods transportation at a low cost. Developed infrastructure is the medium of fast economic, social and cultural development. While achieving it, though, the environment is often compromised. Increased noise and air pollution are the natural fallouts of the increased number of vehicles on roads.

Unarguably, development is necessary. It should not, nevertheless, be at the cost of human health and environmental degradation. Some argue that development and the environment can’t coexist. Loss of green cover and pollution are necessary evils. It is inevitable and has to be accepted, they say. In overenthusiasm, they forget that keeping a balance and harmony can give a win-win situation. A balance between development and way of life is necessary, but it should be in harmony with the laws of Nature.

Nostalgia

Travelling on district roads and state highways, nostalgic pictures emerge on the mental canvas. About half a century ago, the roads were calm. Scanty horse-driven vehicles like “Tonga” or “Ekka” ferried locals to limited distances. People have had enough time. Vast campestral with crops and frequent fruit orchards were the usual sight. Summers used to be harsh. Yet, people spent their afternoons in the cool shade of the orchard. They drank cane juice and had endless conversations.

Rustic life

The mango orchards were often seen. Bullocks and livestock were the pride of a farmer who used them in bullock carts to lug their produce and for journeying. Simple, rustic people seemed satisfied and happy in their small, confined lives. Their food was simple and healthy. The platter would generally contain flatbread made from barley flour and “Dal” (pulses) cooked with raw mangoes. Vegetables used to be fresh that would grow naturally on the heap of composting garbage. In the evening, after the summer sun’s flare had mellowed, people would clean and sweep their surroundings. The purpose-specific brooms consisted of a bunch of long, elastic stems of Cajanus (pigeon pea) plants. Sprinkling of water after brooming would make the simmering earth cool.

Life of the past

Women generally took up the cooking. Two women, working in tandem, used a hand-operated grinder to grind barley into flour. The grinder, called “Jaanta” in the vernacular language, was an essential apparatus of every household. Affixed on the ground, and operated by a single or two individuals, the grinder was used every other day.  Flour mills were rare in rural areas. Except for the one diesel-run flour mill owned by an influential person, none other was present. People did not consider it good to consume flour produced in mills. The unique rhythmic “Puk…Puk…” sound could be heard far away in the silent ambience. Electricity was a distant dream, and having good roads or other paraphernalia of “good life” was unknown. Despite all, the environment was pristine and salubrious. Water and air were clean and pure.

Fauna

Animals like Monitor lizard, Hare, Jaickal, Fox, Snakes, Scorpions, different birds and insects were usual. Symphonic acoustics of croaking frogs and stridulating crickets created wonder. There was an unseen barrier between humans and the animals. They kept a safe distance from each other to live a peaceful and amicable life. The animals and birds kept ecological balance by controlling the pest population. Barring some unconscious confrontations, there used to be perfect harmony.

Flora

Besides the crops grown in the fields, there used to be different varieties of vegetation. People knew their medicinal values. Paste, poultice, or decoction was an easy treatment of ailments. Some notable plants included Prickly poppy, Bringraj, and Thorney nightshade (Bhatkataiya). There were also Morning glory (Besharm), Moonj grass, Kush grass, and various types of cactus. Neem (Azadirachta indica), Mango, Indian Rosewood (Sheesham), Ficus (Peepal and Bargad) were the usual sight.

The reality

A sudden jarring sound broke the chain of nostalgic thoughts. An irritated biker was honking and making faces due to the chaotic traffic on the square. Five decades ago, the place was serene and eye-soothing verdurous. The all-weather road was comparatively wide but congested due to an excessive number of automobiles. Everybody was in a hurry and competing with others to get out of the jam. The more they tried to get out, the more they became entangled and infuriated. The paradox of environment and development is evident.

The reality of  “development” was rather harsh. A  simple and clean area had become crowded, chaotic and heavily polluted. Ludicrously built concrete culverhouse type of chambers occupied the place as shops, replacing trees.

The fable

A bush stood on the edge of a field. Mosquitoes constantly annoyed it. The mosquitoes hovered around the bush and stung it. A spider suggested that, given space to live, it could rid the bush of this nuisance. The bush agreed to the arrangement. Over time, though mosquitoes were eliminated, the bush became entangled in the spider’s web and suffocated. This is an allegory of environment and development.

Scenario changed

Glitters are luring, but the aftereffects show up later. Similar is the vicious cycle of development and environmental degradation. The superficial “development” crept in and changed the pristine atmosphere. The mango orchard started vanishing. Mahua and Java plum (Jāmun) gave way to concrete jungles. The clean and selubrious rustic life transformed into a choking chamber. Smoke-belching automated equipment eased the lives of people, but at a high cost. The otherwise calm roads are now flooded with cacophonic automobiles. The bullocks gave way to tractors. Ponds, wells and “Rehats” gave way to pump sets using diesel. The villages were in the clutches of machine giants, which robbed people of peace and health.

Deteriorating health

The new style of living brought many health issues and their ill effects. The vehicular emissions pumped smoke, poisonous and greenhouse gases, making the atmosphere vicious and severely toxic. It led to lung-related complications, loosing eye sight, burning sensation and other difficult diseases.

Shifting to cities

Material wealth took centre stage. Cupidity encouraged hoarding. Villagers started shifting from their soil to cities. The glamour of city life lured. Village people disposed of their prized ancestral land and began migrating to the city. They live in pigeon-hole type of dwellings in unhygienic conditions.

The Importance of Forest Conservation in India

Culture affected

The vanishing cosy orchards gave way to large malls and marriage halls. They lure people to splurge on unnecessary things. Once an epitome of fraternity and goodwill, villages confined themselves to shells. During a daughter’s marriage, for example, village people would collectively join in the event, considering her their own daughter. The guests treated with respect by every villager. They would rest in the orchard, dine collectively, sitting in rows. An artificial and borrowed way of life has now overshadowed the deep-rooted culture and tradition.

Habitat destruction

The fast-paced development of infrastructure and road networks needs land. Government acquire land from farmers after giving them due compensation to construct connectivity infrastructure. While this infrastructure development provides an economic boost, it is clearing trees. It causes habitat destruction and biodiversity loss. People who are concerned about environmental degradation raise voice and show resentments. The development and environment have to be complementary. Both should stay in tandem.

Important for human survival

Forests, trees, and wildlife are important components of human survival. Their roles are vital in maintaining a harmonious balance between all organisms on the globe. Besides maintaining equilibrium, trees are instrumental in the water cycle and keep water in circulation. Nature gives bounties. What trees and forests give is immeasurable that can’t be gauged by artificially set economic standards.

Materialistic approach

The human race is unique among organisms. It enjoys resources but does not bother to replenish them for the cycle to continue. As humans wanted more wealth, they began to accumulate. They started evaluating the pros and cons in terms of monetary gain or loss. Things that give direct monetary advantage became important and useful. The fundamentals of economic theory emphasise consumption and money. A thing is valuable if it gives satisfaction and/or money in return. The materialistic approach created many problems. Thus, the development can’t ignore the environment.

Consumerism

Watching through the lens of economics, a tree is useless until felled and converted into timber. Trees becoming timber are economically beneficial, which can give something they call money. Consumerism created a market and a tendency to spend more on products that were not necessary. It encourages splurging on purchases by making things important, linking them with social status or essentiality.

Resource management

In economic terms, everything that is available and used to feed the “economy” is a “resource”. According to this thinking, humans are also resources, hence a ministry called “Human Resources”. It is good to treat humans as a resource. This concept is useful to emancipate individuals, families, society, and ultimately the country. Nevertheless, for optimal gains, resource management is essential to keep harmony between development and the environment. For this, plans were needed for overall development. The situation had been that stretching one corner of the bedspread made another exposed.

Trees are not merely a commodity

Trees were considered a lifeless entity and a “commodity”. They were heartlessly mowed down to fulfil the “necessity” of economics. People easily forget the intangible economic benefits of a green tree. They offer a perennial oxygen supply and shelter to many insect-eating birds. Trees help in precipitation and keep running the hydrological cycle, check soil erosion and floods. They also act as a strong wind barrier to check desertification. The benefits are many and invaluable.

Harrowing

Results of indiscriminate tree felling, changing land use and widespread habitat destruction are harrowing. Change in weather patterns, global warming, eutrophication of lakes and water bodies are but a few harmful effects. Wanting more and giving nothing in return is an endless process that never satiates the pangs of cupidity.

Harmony of development and environment

The total geographical area of the country is 329 million hectares. Of this, agriculture (58.6%) accounts for a major share. Forest land is 23.46%. As per the Forest policy of India, 1/3 land should be under forest cover. Presently, it is about 24%, much less than the stipulated figure. (GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE)

Impediments

The antediluvian Indian society gave prime importance to forests and trees. They equated trees with “Brahma” and worshipped them. During the colonial period, invaders meticulously breached the faith and beliefs of the natives. They excessively damaged the forests for their parochial gains and to mint money. After independence, the government started many programs to restore the forests, but it was not sufficient. Trees were felled for tangible immediate gains. Later, the implementation of laws curbed tree felling to some extent.

Social forestry

People’s participation is necessary for forest and tree protection. Bridging the gap between the forest and the economy, and sensitising people to the cause of Nature conservation, forests, and the environment was the requirement. The National Commission on Agriculture recognised Social forestry in 1976 and implemented. It is a people-centric scheme which actively involves people in managing forests and trees. Basically divided into Urban Forestry, Rural Forestry and Farm Forestry, it aims at community empowerment, livelihood improvement and environmental conservation through forestry. (Social Forestry in India)

Joint Forest Management (JFM) is yet another approach for forest conservation through collaborative efforts by local communities and the forest department. The concept started in Odisha and was formalised in the National Forest Policy 1988.

Replenishment is necessary

Forest, wildlife and trees are living entities. They take time to grow and mature. The fast-paced denudation and loss of forest cover need to be replenished. It is necessary to slow down the clearing of forests and trees. More saplings should be planted which take their time to grow. The slowed-down process of tree felling would give enough time for proper replenishment. The widening gap between demand and supply causes illegal tree felling and widespread damage. To slow down the felling process, alternatives should be opted. The role of research and development is crucial, and the use of technology is the solution. This is how development and environment can be synchronised. Instead of felling, a tree should be transported to another place; the design of roads should include provision for safe passage to wild animals with minimum damage to trees and local habitat.

Government’s role

The government has has a great role to play. Government having people’s mandate have power to enact laws and rules. Steps have been taken to mitigate pollution, replenish forests, restore rivers and lakes, revive dry ponds, and increase forest cover. The results are positive. Forest cover has increased, though marginally, and the number of wild animals is also increasing.

Along with Social Forestry and JFM, eight missions were started under National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). One of the eight mission one is GIM (Green India Mission), focusing on Biodiversity, water, biomass and carbon sequestration.

For increasing green cover Nagar Van (City Forest) schemes launched in 2020. It aims to create 1000 urban forests funded by CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Management Planning Agency). The objective is to mitigate air and noise pollution, improving biodiversity and water harvesting. The forests are developed on Miyawaki pattern to grow fast and improve local conditions. The “Miyawaki” technique, developed by a Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki uses the technique of planting native saplings closely. It causes swift growth compared to conventional plantation practice.

Saving heritage

Forests and tress are vital for sustaining life. They give us aplenty but they did not get the due respect and care. Merely lip service or rules and laws on paper is not sufficient. The law should be over the system. The system functioning makes the way for proper and amicable society. It is a two-way traffic where things taken out from Nature should be equal to the returning it back. The balance and harmony is essential. It is imperative for us to handover a clean and green environment to the next generation. Lush green forests teeming with wildlife, rich biodiversity, clean waterbodies and rivers et cetera are the heritage. It must be protected and taken care of. Joining hands to participate in the cause is necessary.

Development is necessary, and saving natural heritage is equally important for the overall growth. Saving trees, forests and wildlife, planting trees and keeping the surroundings clean and green are what everyone needs.

Some more interesting reads:

• The Importance of Forest Conservation in India
• Urbanisation’s Impact on Environment and Nostalgia
• Understanding Human-Wildlife Conflict in India
• Exploring the Essence of Cultural Heritage
• The Vital Link Between Wildlife and Ecosystems

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