Images of clear skies and waterways, dwindling road traffic and wildlife unfettered by human activity — the improving condition of our environment was the only silver lining amid a sea of despair and anguish induced by the pandemic. Despite these positive changes, the environment will continue to suffer once industries and travel ramp up. This World Environment Day, recognise the urgent need to restore and revive our damaged ecosystems to avert the possibility of yet another pandemic or similar disaster.
An ecosystem is formed by the interactions of a variety of individual organisms with each other and with their physical environment. As a result, ecosystem restoration is required not only to improve or maintain biological diversity but also to prevent land degradation. Considering the importance of ecosystems, restoration efforts have now found place in nature-based solutions to tackle the global challenges of climate change, natural disasters, and food and water security. In addition to this, it is also important to make sustainable efforts in developing resilient landscape that can adapt to changing conditions.
Assuming the post-Covid scenario, the visuals of pollution, huge public gatherings, contaminated water, and destruction of nature seem to obscure my vision of a healthy and green future. In such a situation, ecosystem restoration will be a strenuous task to achieve which all the more emphasises its cruciality.
Ecological restoration is one of the most important and necessary endeavours of our time. Indigenous cultures are intimately connected to the land. The erosion of ecosystems not only results in the loss of culture but also erodes the knowledge that is deep-rooted and has evolved over a thousand years. Ecological restoration is vital to the health of many ecosystems and the livelihoods of communities across the globe.
It is intrinsically linked to the restoration of human health. The pandemic is a poignant reminder of how ecological degradation can lead to a state of emergency. To combat these emerging global conditions and protect the lives of future generations, we need to protect and restore our habitats and biodiversity.
Setting up urban green spaces such as parks, gardens, riversides or lakesides, sports fields, woods is also an effective solution to mitigate the effects of pollution and reduce the urban heat island effect which refers to the heat trapped in built-up areas. These green spaces will also filter rain, reduce water pollution, protect drinking water, and decrease the rate of water-borne illnesses.
As citizens of a progressive nation, each one of us is responsible for the maintenance of such places. However, it is not feasible for the common man to get much work done without proper control and required facilities. It is for the same reason that the government should take adequate measures to preserve and protect these already established green spaces, and use their resources, time, and staff to monitor them effectively.
While we cope with yet another lockdown, this time might be prudent to ruminate over how we can protect the ecosystems that sustain us. The climate crisis needs to be tackled with innovative and sustainable solutions so that we don’t have the fear of impending disasters looming over us. We need to be aware of our ecological footprint and take active measures to reduce it to ensure a greener and healthier future.
It is also important to consider that excessive pressure on our natural resources is primarily because of the population imbalance in our country. The most important step on the journey of ecosystem restoration is understanding how we can reduce our impact on the environment. Changes in our workplace, home, and lifestyle play a key role in determining our ecological footprint.
With studies predicting a two-fold increase in the number of plastic debris by 2030, plastics have become a severe threat to natural ecosystems and human health. However, these predictions are only going to be aggravated by the excessive use of single-use plastics as a result of the pandemic. Although the use of plastics in this situation was required to meet the increasing demand for masks, it is important to shift towards sustainable products such as bio-based plastics and be conscious of our plastic usage to reduce the stress on our ecosystems.
The post-Covid world presents us with an opportunity to focus on economic growth while easing the pressure on ecosystems and environment by investing in restoration. This will help us in converting degraded land into healthy and resilient landscapes.
The United Nations has established 2021-2030 as the ‘Decade of Ecosystem Restoration.’ Rehabilitation of our ecosystems can be achieved only when we stop looking for scapegoats and understand our responsibility to do our bit for the environment. Let’s remember that the smallest actions can create the biggest impact on the environment. Carrying a water bottle from home, following ‘Reduce, Reuse & Recycle’, switching to sustainable products and materials or even discouraging people from littering the streets — these few actions might seem miniscule but have the power to transform our environment if followed religiously.
(The writer is the CEO of Grow-Trees.com)
