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Ecodevelopment in the
Context of Environmental Concerns
By: P. K.
K. Nair, P. K.
Shaji and T. Alexander
The painful tsunami
episode of 26 December 2004 was the beginning of an awakening of
people to protect the coasts all over the South East Asia, including
India. The havoc brought about large scale destruction of lives and
properties as a result of which a Disaster Management Authority has
been set up by Government of India, to deal with both natural and
accidental disasters and other unforeseen human sufferings, which we
hope, will attend to future national calamities. However, looking at
the disaster prone areas there is much to learn from the ecological
settings, which are inbuilt mechanisms for protection and safety of
the coastal ecosystems. The mangrove vegetation found along the
estuarine regions of the coastal belt is characterised by salinity
friendly life serving to arrest the force of sea waves to a great
extent at the same time as its proliferous root system providing a
protective zone for diverse aquatic life forms including prawns and
fishes. These natural ecosystems when destroyed do affect the coastal
stability, and it is contended that the total demolition of the
mangrove vegetation to develop the Paradweep Port in Orissa left the
port open to sea hazards. In fact, the rich mangrove vegetation of
the western coast of India has been decimated due the pressure of
habitation and incompatible developmental activities, coupled with
uncontrolled use of the resource by the coastal inhabitants as
firewood leaving the coast open to such natural hazards as tsunami
and coastal erosion.
A study of the tsunami
affected coastal strips of Arattupuzha and Alappad on the west coast
of Kerala provided information on what survived and what did not
survive the event. For example, the coconut palm is a survivor
because of its spreading adventitious roots and tolerance to salinity
while mango and jack fruit trees have dried out, apart from crops
like plantain and minor vegetable crops of the homesteads. However,
the overall destruction of life and properties has been very painful
in terms of biodiversity loss and livelihood disturbances. The
coastal area in this region was once rich in mangroves and mangrove
associates like Calophyllum inophyllum (a potential
species to
yield biodiesel), which have been lost due to anthropogenic
activities, and that needs to be restored and sustainably utilised.
Over a period of time of 6 years since 2004 a natural revival has
been building up, which can be fortified with green/shelter belt
development not only for coastal protection and conservation but also
for providing the local inhabitants with better livelihood support
through sustainable management of plant resources and improvement of
their living environment and occupation, with thrust on fishing.
The above sketch
enhances the need for a thematic approach to eco-development
conforming to the ecosystem settings, its resources/components and
people’s aspirations. The living habitats are continuously changing
in line with the agenda of national development. With the expanding
urbanization process, there is a manifold increase in public and
private amenities, leading to the increase in vehicular traffic,
proliferation of habitations of all kinds and changing lifestyle, all
contributing to increasing pollution and environmental degradation.
India with its multiplicity of agro-climatic zones needs to be given
a focal attention with regard to the local environmental resources
and the pattern of occupation of people with a single minded approach
for improving the local livelihood security.
It is, therefore,
imperative that eco-development ought to be ecosystem specific with
the aim of evolving solutions to overcome the local problems of
livelihood on the one hand and to develop clean environment on the
other hand. Tree planting and greenery development should be preceded
by development of a data bank on indigenous and acclimatized species
of locality, edaphic and climatic conditions, atmospheric pollution,
lifestyle pattern and other aspects of human benefits followed by
appropriate selection and planting of trees and other plants, which
possess the desired attribute for pollution abatement, ecosystem
protection, clean air development, aesthetics and socio-economic
benefits.
Along with the existing
technologies in the development agenda, the green belt/shelter belt
development should be an integral component of industrial estates
with thrust on pollution abatement, landscape improvement and income
generation. The climate change, being perceived as the most
challenging problem of hazards that may strike humanity, deserves an
integrated approach in eco-development alone. The people should be
educated to identify local environmental problems and to formulate
appropriate solutions; in all of which an ecosystem approach is what
is decisive. This information is of value to the scientists and
policy makers to plan and implement appropriate programmes to the
benefit of the nation. In fact, eco-development should evolve into a
dedicated people’s movement, in the agenda of development.
Environmental
Resources Research Centre (ERRC), P. B. No: 1230, P. O. Peroorkada,
Thiruvananthapuram-695 005, E-mail: [email protected]
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