“Our Land, Our Future”: A Challenging call for Environmental Stewardship

 

“Our Land, Our Future”: A Challenging call for Environmental Stewardship

Bruhaspati Samal

General Secretary

Confederation of Central Govt. Employees and Workers

Odisha State Coordination Committee, Bhubaneswar

eMail: samalbruhaspati@gmail.com, Mobile:9437022669

World Environment Day, celebrated annually on June 5th, is a global platform for raising awareness and taking action on pressing environmental issues. Established by the United Nations in 1972, this day serves as a reminder of our responsibility to protect and preserve our planet for future generations. It fosters a sense of global solidarity and collective responsibility for environmental stewardship. It brings together people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and regions, uniting them in a common cause to protect and preserve our planet. Through community engagement, education, and advocacy, World Environment Day empowers individuals to become agents of change in their communities and beyond. By raising awareness about pressing environmental issues, such as climate change, deforestation, pollution and biodiversity loss etc, this day empowers people to become stewards of the environment and advocates for change.

Each year, World Environment Day adopts a specific theme to focus attention on a particular environmental concern, rallying individuals, communities, and governments worldwide to take collective action. For example, in 2021, the theme for World Environment Day was "Ecosystem Restoration," emphasizing the urgent need to revive and protect degraded ecosystems. In 2022, World Environment Day focused on "Eco-Conscious Consumption," urging individuals to reduce their ecological footprint by making sustainable choices in their daily lives. The theme for World Environment Day 2023 was solutions to plastic pollution under the campaign ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’. While the toxic smoke produced by the plastic due to combustion is one of the gravest threats to the planet, the micro-plastics find their way into the food we eat, the water we drink and even the air we breathe posing a threat to our health. Realising this threat from plastic pollution, a concerted effort is needed from governments, companies and other stakeholders to manage and solve this crisis.  And now in 2024, World Environment Day campaign focuses on land restoration, desertification and under the slogan “Our land. Our future”. According to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, up to 40 per cent of the planet’s land is degraded, directly affecting half of the world’s population and threatening roughly half of global GDP. The number and duration of droughts have increased by 29 per cent since 2000. Expressing serious concern on the issue, the environmentalists opine that without urgent action, droughts may affect over three-quarters of the world's population by 2050. Land restoration is a key pillar of the U N Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), a rallying call for the protection and revival of ecosystems all around the world, which is critical to achieve the Sustainable Developments Goals. 

While land restoration can reverse the creeping tide of land degradation, drought and desertification by boosting livelihoods, lowering poverty, building resilience to extreme weather on one hand, it can increase carbon shortage and slow climate change on the other. Restoring just 15 per cent of land and halting further conversion could avoid up to 60 per cent of expected species extinctions.  But we must also end the drivers of land degradation, drought and desertification, such as climate change. Last year, temperatures records were shattered. Much of the world felt the impacts, not just in heat but in storms, floods and drought. Animals and plants are becoming extinct thousands of times faster than they have done in the last 500 million years. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), if we don't do something about it now, within a century we will have lost 67% of the currently endangered fauna and 99.9% will be in serious danger of extinction. According to a study conducted by the University of Aarhus in Denmark in 2018, the damage will be so devastating that the planet will need 3 to 5 million years to recover. The effects of development, agriculture and industrial livestock farming, forest destruction and CO2 emissions, among other actions, are speeding up the loss of biodiversity due to global warming, desertification and the pollution of oceans and rivers. Restoring land without tackling climate change would be like giving with one hand and taking away with the other. So G20 nations must show leadership across the whole climate agenda – as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the host country of the 2024 World Environment Day global celebrations has done and continues to do on land restoration. There is real hope. Countries have promised to restore one billion hectares, an area larger than China. If they deliver, this will be huge. Through World Environment Day and through hosting the UN Convention to Combat Desertification’s conference of the parties this December, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia can build momentum and action towards these restoration goals, slow climate change, protect nature and boost the livelihoods and food security of billions of people around the world.

In the tapestry of our planet's natural beauty, the land holds a sacred place. It is not merely soil beneath our feet but the foundation upon which life flourishes. From the towering forests to the vast plains, the land sustains us, providing resources for our survival and habitats for countless species. The land provides essential resources for human survival, including food, water, and shelter. Healthy soils support agricultural productivity, ensuring food security for billions of people worldwide. Freshwater sources, vital for drinking, irrigation, and sanitation, are sustained by healthy watersheds and wetlands. Moreover, forests and other ecosystems provide timber, medicine, and a multitude of ecosystem services that underpin human well-being. Landscapes are home to an incredible diversity of plant and animal species, each playing a unique role in ecosystem functioning. Biodiversity not only enriches our lives aesthetically but also contributes to ecosystem resilience, providing buffers against environmental disturbances and supporting ecosystem services such as pollination, pest control, and nutrient cycling. Preserving biodiversity is essential for maintaining the stability and productivity of ecosystems. Landscapes also play a crucial role in regulating the Earth's climate. Forests, grasslands, and other vegetated areas act as carbon sinks, absorbing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Additionally, healthy soils store significant amounts of carbon, helping to mitigate climate change. By protecting and restoring natural habitats, we can enhance their capacity to sequester carbon and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Landscapes hold profound cultural and spiritual significance for communities around the world. They are repositories of traditional knowledge, cultural practices, and spiritual beliefs passed down through generations. Indigenous peoples and local communities have deep connections to the land, which forms the basis of their identities, livelihoods, and cultural heritage. Preserving land and respecting indigenous rights are essential for maintaining cultural diversity and promoting social cohesion. Sustainable land management practices are essential for promoting economic prosperity and reducing poverty. Healthy ecosystems support livelihoods through agriculture, forestry, tourism, and other industries, providing employment opportunities and economic benefits to local communities. Investing in sustainable land management can enhance productivity, resilience, and long-term economic growth while safeguarding natural resources for future generations. Healthy landscapes are more resilient to environmental challenges such as climate change, natural disasters, and disease outbreaks. Ecosystems with high biodiversity and intact habitats are better able to adapt to changing conditions and recover from disturbances. By conserving and restoring natural landscapes, we can enhance the resilience of ecosystems and communities, reducing vulnerability to environmental risks.

The Vedas and Puranas also do teach us how to regard the environment and use conservation ethics in routine life. The Atharba Veda says, “Mata Bhumih Putroham Prithivya” which means the earth is our mother and we are her children. In Ramacharitamanas, it is said, “Kshiti jal pawak gagan sameera, Panch rachit ati adham shareera” It means adham shareera (our body) comprises panch (five) tatva (elements) namely, the earth, water, fire, sky and wind.  Moreover, ancient Hindu mythology believes that the Shrusti, means the whole Universe is made up of Panchmahabhutas (five great elements) composed of Prithvi (Earth), Jala (Water), Agni (Fire), Vayu (Air) and Ether (Aakash). Expressing the earth, water, fire, air and ether as the visible form of nature, Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 7: 4-10) says that He is the taste of living waters, the light of the sun and the moon, Pranab(Om), the sacred word of the Vedas, sound in silence, heroism in men, pure fragrance of the earth, brightness of the fire, intelligence of the intelligent and beauty of the beautiful. Since all these abiotic factors are responsible for making our body and the Universe where the Lord exists, it is our responsibility to preserve these factors which may make both our body and environment clean and healthy. 

 As stewards of this precious inheritance, we bear the responsibility of ensuring its preservation for future generations. "Our Land, Our Future" encapsulates the essence of environmental stewardship. World Environment Day serves as a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness between humanity and nature. It calls upon us to recognize the intrinsic value of our planet's ecosystems and to take meaningful action to safeguard them for future generations. By celebrating World Environment Day and embracing its themes of awareness, action, and solidarity, we can work together to build a more sustainable and resilient world for all living beings. Let us seize this opportunity to make a positive impact and leave a legacy of environmental stewardship for generations to come.

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