SAVE TIGERS FOR A GOOD FUTURE

Losing Tigers is the biggest pain of this time. Tiger is our national animal and we want to conserve it but efforts become too late... Get closer to the natural life and feel the pain of the ecosystem which slowly losing its favorite and the first child. Ecosystem loves all the members of its family but Tiger is on the Top! Ecosystem starts with the name of Tiger and life in jungle flourish under the supervision of the King Tiger. But these days the life of the king itself is in trouble. And this king cannot even ask for help….

Now it’s time to pull your socks for the revolution. We must understand the importance of each and every member of our Ecology. Many people think that Tiger is just an individual animal and it is all about to protect its life only! But it is not true. Tiger is not only responsible for life of its own but it’s also necessary to maintain the balance of the whole ecosystem. Tiger is at the top of the food chain and if tiger got extinct it brings to a drastic change on the Earth. Climate change, global warming, extinction of other species of birds and animals are other big issues of this era and these entire phenomenon are interrelated. When we become more aware of the effect we have on our environment, our understanding of the relationship with the big cat get changed.

Let us know something about one of the most precious family member of our ecosystem. Tiger belongs to the Tiger-Cat family and it is the second elder member. Its native place is Siberia and found only in Asia. There are nine subspecies of Panthera Tigris out of which Caspion, Java and Bali tiger became extinct. Today only a few Siberian tigers surviving in the world and Chinese tigers are on the brink of extinction.

There were plenty of tigers across the Asia till 18th century. Until the middle of 18th century whenever there is a battle between men and Tigers. Tiger usually won because the weapon used by men was not so advanced. But by the 1750, firearms become more efficient and hunting of animals become a sport. And it’s become a big cause of a huge destruction of not only Tigers but other precious lives also.A large area of forest cleared by the greedy men. This deforestation led to a big loss of herbivores animals. So automatically it declined the carnivores like Tiger. Deforestation also means the loss of biggest supplier of oxygen filled fresh air which is not good for other living being also.

The concept of Biodiversity is vital for our life support system, it regulate our ecosystem and energize the surface of earth. India itself is under 12 identified mega biodiversity countries of the world. But still several habitat and species are facing trouble of extinction in our country. Tiger is an indicator of the richness of our country’s biodiversity and it’s our responsibility to protect it.
By the turn of the 20th century there were 40,000 tigers lived in India but due to excessive poaching for the greed of tiger skin, tooth etc. this figure falls down to 2,000 till 1970. Before the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 a national ban on hunting of tigers was clamped in 1970. The first ever ‘All India Tiger Census’ in 1972 revealed that only 1,827 tigers survived. On first April 1973 “Project Tiger” was launched by the Government of India on recommendation of Special Task Force of the Indian Board of Wildlife. The main objectives were to maintain the viable population of tigers in India for scientific, economic, aesthetic, cultural and ecological values and also to preserve the areas of such biological importance as national heritage, for the benefit, education and employment of the people. An amendment is done in Wildlife (Protection) Act in 2006 which paves the way for creating of National Tiger Conservation Authority and a separate statutory body for the investigation of Wildlife crimes.

It is surely a matter of proud for us that due to its contribution towards tiger conservation Madhya Pradesh is known as Tiger State. Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of tiger reserves including Kanha extended to a core area of 940 sq. km and a buffer area of 1005 sq. km in 1976, making it the largest original tiger reserve. But then also we are not in a safe zone because Experts believe that the population of tigers is not enough to have a viable future. There is still the potential of increment and extension of wild life reserves in State.

Government, NGO’s, Individual Ecologists and Environmentalist contributing to save tigers according to their capacity but success of conservation efforts largely depends on the public participation, because only mass could bring the revolution! If anyone of you thinks that it’s really a social responsibility to protect our Ecosystem and Biodiversity for our own future, the time is now to take a step forward to save wild life to save tigers.

The Constitution of India- Directive Principle Policy Article 48-A explains “The State shall endeavor to protect and improve the environment and safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country”
It shall be the duty of every citizen of India “to protect and improves the natural environment including forests, Lakes, rivers and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures” Article 51-A (g) of the Constitution of India- Fundamental Duties

By Naushin Fatima Khan
(published on 11th May in "Central Chronicle")

ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION: A fatal Disaster

Melting polar ice, increasing sea levels, rising temperature; all are the changes of nature. Change is a rule of life. It’s all about a moving cycle. A cycle can take us to our destination but only when it moves in the right direction. It means changes are good when they are beneficial for our life and for the complete ecosystem, otherwise it may be disastrous. Environmental change now becomes a very big challenge to the whole biodiversity. Researchers led many research projects that address climate change and it’s direct and in direct impacts on living resources. Environmental change involves long periodical alterations in weather conditions of a particular region; it not only has its own particular impact, but also creates disturbances like air pollution, drought, or habitat loss etc.

This change is reducing the livelihood options of rural people. The climate and weather change is likely to have immediate and direct effects on the health and life of millions of people who depends on various kinds of natural resources. Environmental change directly shows high temperature, reduced sources of drinking water and effect on trees and crops. Climate change has the potential for tremendous social change since this can affect settlement and migration patterns. Drought and climate change are causing extensive forest dieback on earth. The interplay of agriculturally driven environmental change and global warming modifies conditions and habitats for breeding of animals and birds. Migratory birds find difficulties when they migrate from one place to another and did not find favorable conditions of climate for their reproduction activities.

Nature is composed of two parts, i.e. physical and biological. Since the urbanization of societies, nature is being disturbed by man and his activities. Now it has been realized that man is the cause of destruction of its own habitat. Human beings share a large space of natural world with flora and fauna, but sometimes they become careless for their neighbors like birds, trees, lakes etc. They too are the essential part of our ecosystem, they complete our environment. Although we don’t know accurately how many plants and animals have extinct by the activities of man since the origin of civilization but now it has been found that at least one species of plants and animals are being extinct every year by the atrocities of man.

This is the century of urban revolution and man is running for hi-tech development. Cities have grown far beyond imagination. Things like transport, communication, sanitation and other facilities for easy life require more technical devices for improved efficiency. These not only demands huge resources but also create massive problems of waste disposal.
The satisfaction of human needs and ambitions for improved quality of life is a major reason of development and also it leads degradation. These all are contributing to climate and environmental change. Not only the problems of living condition rouse due to the environmental degradation but also it comes with the significant impact on social and economic system.
The vegetation changes in many areas are associated with decreased level of water bodies and rising average temperature. When some areas get increased rainfall, the other suffers with draught like conditions. Climate change and development are linked in complex ways. Economic development generates resources that can be used to improve education, health and vegetation along with associated social changes these reduce both fertility and favorable conditions.
Now the Environmental degradation and pollution is becoming a problem for man’s survival that’s why it’s a wake up call for all the people living near and far from the forest, educated and uneducated do not know the value of nature conservation in their own lives. Forests are disappearing very fast due to the demands of land for housing, industries and other types of commercial purposes. Constructions of dams are also a major cause of disturbances. Bhakranagal dam of Punjab, Dams of the Damodar Valley Corporation, Raman hydroelectric projects of Darjeeling district and reclamation of salt lake on the eastern fringe of Calcutta are some of the examples. These types of projects destroyed the wildlife on these land also the tourism disturbed nature at places like Darjeeling.

These problems are not only in India but developed countries of east too are facing them badly. It is said that hundred pounds have to be spent to get fresh air in the cities like London. Same problem is arising with developing countries like India, China etc. Now it should be realized that proper management and intelligent consumption of natural world and renewable resources could help us to sustain the environment easily. We cannot manage the biosphere but we can conserve the biological diversity. The goal of conservation must be to maintain the continuity of natural evolution. Due to the life clamming effects of environmental change, it now became a priority for scientific researches too. The scenarios are all worrisome and require urgent attention. The complexity of earth’s climate system is very high so the efforts should also be very high. We know that the Nature always played a role of an over-indulgent mother for us but then also we should check our activities not to behave as a spoilt child….
“SAVE ENVIRONMENT SAVE YOURSELF”

Naushin Fatima Khan
(published on 26th july in "Central Chronicle")