CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Natural resources are materials and components (something that can be used) that can be found within
the environment. Every man-made product is composed of natural resources (at its fundamental
level). A natural resource may exist as a separate entity such as fresh water, and air, as well as a
living organism such as a fish, or it may exist in an alternate form which must be processed to obtain
the resource such as metal ores, oil, and most forms of energy. Even the forests form the important
part of natural resources.

Our natural resources in India are under great threat from Urbanization and Industrialization,
Overpopulation, overconsumption and irresponsible use, deforestation, erosion and habitat destruction
and natural hazards.Natural resources are actually nature's gift to mankind to help us live a
comfortable and peaceful life. But, at the same time, we as human beings have the responsibility of
conserving natural resources by taking the right steps. This will help us maintain the environmental
balance and satisfy our needs to the maximum. A planned and prudent use of the resources alone can
protect from getting extinct. Few conservation programmes carried out involve Appiko movement
and conservation of Great Indian Bustard.

Appiko Movement
Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the
web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect.

Uttar Kannada is a heavily forested district in the state of Karnataka in the western part of the
country. The district is unique in that it traverses five important terrestrial ecozones. From the west
to the east there is the narrow coastal plain, the evergreen and moist deciduous forests of the
Western Ghats, the dry deciduous forests and further east the scrublands, making it one of the
important centres of biodiversity in the Western Ghats. People have traditionally been involved in
agro forestry and have maintained unique multi-tiered spice orchards dominated by betel nut (Areca
catechu).

The Western Ghats rise up behind the coastal belt of northern Karnataka in South India. The
sunlight has a purity and density in this upland area that you can almost touch. It etches shadows on
the dry dark earth. Here the meaning of biodiversity is immediately visible over 80 species of
trees are easily identifiable, traditionally used for medicine, fodder, fruit, fuel and construction. With
the felling and commercialization of this natural forest, the Appiko movement rose: a popular
peoples response against deforestation and the ruin of ancient livelihoods. At the same time the
forest department was involved in clearing of natural ever green forest and plantation of
monoculture of Teak and Eucalyptus. This destruction of tropical natural forests and the raising of
monoculture plantations of Teak and Eucalyptus caused irreversible changes in the forest
ecosystem. The destruction of mixed species denied people access to biomass for fodder, fertiliser,
etc. The clear felling of natural forests has led to severe soil erosion and drying up of perennial water
resources.

Moved by the destruction of essential ecological processes, the youth of Salkani village in Sirsi
launched a Chipko movement which was locally known as Appiko Chaluvali. They embraced the
trees to be felled by contractors of the forest department. The protest within the forest continued
for thirty eight days and finally the felling orders were withdrawn.
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The success of this agitation spread to other places and the movement has now been launched in
eight areas covering the entire Sirsi forest division in Uttara Kannada and Shimoga districts. These
areas included Mathghatta, Salkani, Balegadde, Husei, Nedgod, Kelgin Jaddi, Vanalli and Andagi, The
rapid spread of the movement was based on evidence provided by villagers that the forest
department was over-exploiting the forests. Appiko Andolan gave birth to a new awareness all over
southern India.

Reason for arising of Appiko Andolan

In 1950, Uttara Kannada district forest covered more than 81 percent of its geographical area. The
government, declaring this forest district a backward area, then initiated the process of
development. There major industries a pulp and paper mill, a plywood factory and a chain of
hydroelectric dams constructed to harness the rivers sprouted in these areas. These industries
have overexploited the forest resource, and the dams have submerged huge-forest and agricultural
areas. The forest had shrunk to nearly 25 percent of the districts area by 1980. The local population,
especially the poorest groups, were displaced by the dams. The conversion of the natural mixed
forests into teak and eucalyptus plantations dried up the water sources, directly affecting forest
dwellers.

The steady come down of forest cover in the district is due to many reasons. The major causes have
been many developmental projects like the paper industry, hydro projects and even a nuclear power
plant. The West Coast paper mill has been responsible for the disappearance of a large chunk of
forests. The mills have unfairly high subsidies and have been allowed to go on in spite of not having
adequate effluent treatment facilities. They have even managed to get portions of the Dandeli
Wildlife Sanctuary denotified for the purpose of bamboo extraction and continue to press for more
denotifications of the protected areas.

The Supa dam was built over the river Kali in 1976. Large tracts of forests were submerged in the
reservoir. The townships that were created for the government employees and for the dam also
resulted in further destruction There is a proposal for a similar project over the river Sharawati but it
has met with stiff opposition from the local communities. The forest department too has played a
major role in forest decimation, particularly with large-scale commercial forestry operations, which
are among the largest in the state. In a nutshell, the three major ps paper, plywood and power
which were intended for the development of the people, have resulted in a fourth p:poverty.This
ongoing development policy of exploiting the resources mainly forest and mineral resources in
the Western Ghats for the benefit of the elite have deprived the poor of their self-supporting
systems. This kind of indiscriminate destruction of the forests which had been relatively intact over
centuries & loss of local economy to the hands of private contractors had provoked the local
communities to protest against this. Thus the Appiko movement come on the ground.

Conclusion:
Apart from blaming government authorities the people should instead cultivate awareness
among themselves so that proper utilisation and effective usage of resources would be possible.
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Conservation of Great Indian Bustard (GIB)

Status of the GIB

The Great Indian Bustard lives in short-grass plains and deserts in large arid landscapes. It is
now confined to only eight pockets in 6 Indian states - Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra,
Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The largest population of about 100 birds
(>50%) can be found in Jaisalmer, Barmer, and Bikaner districts of Rajasthan where it is the
State Bird. Remaining populations number less than 30 birds each. It may be already extinct
in Madhya Pradesh there are no reliable current estimates from the state.

Significant threats to the GIB

Reduction in the extent of undisturbed arid grassland habitat.

Degradation and disturbance in existing grassland habitat.
Hunting.
Lack of importance for natural grassland conservation in policy, law and PA network
due to incorrect perception on ecological value vis-a-vis forests.
Lack of protection for many lekking and nesting sites.
Lack of cooperation between different departments/stakeholders in GIB habitats.
Lack of awareness and support from local communities.
Livestock overgrazing and feral dogs.
Disturbance by photographers there is now enough anecdotal evidence to show
that photography of the species causes significant disturbance.
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Steps to be taken for conservation of GIB

State Governments must secure and fully protect all lekking sites. This may be the single
most important step in saving the species. A lekking site is a traditional place where males
gather to display and attract females. If these sites are subjected to disturbance or
degradation, GIBs may not be able to breed. Even if large areas of potential GIB habitat are
protected, but specific lekking sites are not, GIB numbers will continue to be slide. Since
there are multiple threats to these sites, such as industrial development, agriculture, irrigation
and highways, this step needs political will and cooperation by multiple government
departments and local communities.

State Governments must constitute a GIB task force in every GIB state, with a handpicked
membership that includes dynamic and committed government officials from different
departments, biologists, conservationists, and local community leaders.

MoEF must launch a full-scale Project Bustard based on a sound scientific plan, and
developed in consultation with national and international experts, as well as key people from
each GIB state.

Examine the feasibility of captive breeding by constituting a core group of experts that
includes international experts with experience in breeding bustards or similar endangered
birds in captivity (the recovery of the California condor, a large-sized, slow breeding bird that
was on the verge of extinction, was a result of captive breeding. From 22 birds left in the
wild, their numbers have increased to 405, with 226 living in the wild).

Send out annual advisories from MoEF to Chief wildlife Wardens of GIB States to prohibit
entry and photography during the breeding season (Apr 1- Oct 31) at all known bustard
habitats.
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In general for proper utilisation and effective usage of resources some other steps that can be taken in
lieu of conservation of natural resources are mentioned below:

First, water is the most important natural resource which should be conserved by adopting strict rules
and measurements. Often, we see wastage of water on a large-scale which can be avoided by
conducting training and information sessions to educate people. People should use minimum water for
daily needs such as washing cars and utensils. Whenever you see open taps, you should immediately
go and close them properly to save water.

Second, apart from water, steps must also be taken to save natural gas. There are several households
which make use of natural gas for heating water in their homes. Instead, if you can have a water
heater empty out of a tank, then you will be successful in minimizing excessive use of natural gas.
Developing and using solar and hydro power can be a great way of saving natural resources. While
the rays of the sun can be used for producing solar energy

Third, forests are also a precious gift for humans from nature as they provide us protection from the
harmful rays of the sun and also with products such as gums and resins. But, over the years,
deforestation has affected several regions of the world in a negative way. So, we should participate in
campaigns for preserving forests and also take up tasks of planting new trees for our protected future.

Conclusion:
Thus it becomes essential to understand the conservation of natural resources because it is said
that Todays wastage is Tomorrows shortage.