December 28, 2016 at 11:09 pm

As the year 2016 draws to an end we are faced with the issue of killings and destruction of forests and wildlife on a large scale. This is not to say that previous years were any better. But this year is ending on a very sad note with a number of tigers, elephants, panthers, leopards, bears, snakes, marine animals, fresh water dolphins, turtles, monitor lizards and others getting trapped, electrocuted, caged, fished, dynamited, hunted down or accidents on roads and railway tracks and also  being killed by mobs of humans.

Deaths are also being reported due to wildlife ingesting plastics and garbage being thrown in wildlife reserves, parks, biological parks, zoos and other homes of these wildlife. Tonnes of garbage, bottles etc.  are strewn callously by visitors and people staying in the vicinity  of  these areas. Recently a conservation group had gone on a mission to collect garbage and plastics and was shocked to see the amount of rubbish which they could collect.

One more reason is the delay in rescue, in case these animals are struck in some place. Help reaches too late. This is not the case only with India but in many other parts of the world. There is no end to the deaths as it has become difficult to keep a count of them. Cheetahs are also on the verge of extinction as per new reports. What are the environment protection activists and other such nature groups supposed to do which will at least reduce if not reverse this trend is the point we have to mull about.

Here are a few suggestions which are being made which can be of some use.

Make the areas mentioned above as a no plastic zone and put heavy penalties on the people whosoever it may be, so that they may think ten times before carelessly throwing any waste  in these areas. Before entering these areas they can be checked by having some open check points. Thus potential waste can be removed and needs manpower so employment is generated for the unemployed.

People residing nearby these areas also need employment and are also equally responsible for this mess. Once these people are sensitized and offered jobs regarding hygiene and waste management after receiving training. They can be a good human resource which can be mobilized for this work. Waste also generates wealth and once they are taught techniques of converting waste into wealth there will be improvement. This will lead to revenue generation out of a problem at hand.

Educated people who are also part of the problem have to be given a compulsory training regarding these aspects of waste disposal before letting them to visit such places. Here self discipline and educating self and guiding others would work the best way as majority of these people genuinely want to help sort out the problem.

Create job opportunities to tribes and people relying on the forests regarding the above aspects and see that it should be a wealth creation model for them so that they earn a happy livelihood which will motivate them to keep the forests areas clean and green. As they get experience they can act as guides and this can be one more employment generation model and will be self sustaining and needs no funding or grants.

People who use roads or railway lines or others such facilities as water and electricity, cell towers and traffic or land need to pay a green tax to use these facilities. This nominal fund which is collected can be used for the purpose of cleaning up the thrash and saving the wildlife and forests. They should also be involved in this process which can be worked out.

Special incentives should be provided to forest guards and people related to protecting wildlife and forests and the same should be paid instantly without delay. But methods which are foolproof  have to be worked out before starting implementation.

People working for wildlife should be given all the protection from the state end but those who are found misusing their position have to be terminated from their duties immediately as their being there is a risk to the very concept of protecting wildlife. But there should be no harassment of any kind. The enquiry must be free and fair. There can be an ombudsman appointed who is interested in wildlife and would like to render service.

Governments and ministries and the respective ministers and minister of state both at the central and at the state level and also the concerned officers also should be held accountable. Responsibility and ownership should start from the top to bottom. The others will have to follow.

Governments should see that out of the total land area of the country a particular area worked out as per the UNEP and the countries laws should be allocated for this purpose and implemented in letter and spirit. And no one should be allowed into these forest and wildlife areas. Law and courts must pass judgement on a priority when it comes to the above issue.

Laws already made and existing  which are fine have to be enforced strictly. Any deviation must be dealt by the next higher authority sternly with stringent punishments. Without and fear or favor. There should be no conflict of interest of anyone who is appointed to the positions of power and governments offices involved in decision making and implementation. Bribe takers and givers must not be spared.

Illegal wildlife traders, poachers, their touts, their henchmen and other officials who may be hand in glove with them must be dealt with an iron fist and there has to be swift judgement and no scope for legal delays. The laws should plug this loop holes.

Wildlife, environment, nature, climate, seas, oceans, mountains, icecaps, water resources, ground water and forests have taken a severe beating at the hands of increasing human population which is exploding at an alarming and uncontrollable pace. This has to be restricted by all countries especially by India. We humans are eating away spaces meant for forest, wildlife and green cover. Shameless exploitation in the name of so called development must come to an end. Otherwise it is a recipe for disaster which we all can ill afford.

Hope somebody sensible is reading this and will pass this on to the concerned authorities who matter and who can make a difference to the way things are heading and get it back on the right track before we reach a point of no return.

Readers can also send this article to the right people who matter. Just a share will go a long way. There is no point in giving statistics of deaths which have occurred which is huge. The only thing to think is what can be done and how fast and effectively to reverse the trend. This is food for thought.

• This topic was modified 7 years, 11 months ago by  Krishna Kumar.