Recognize the ecological and socio-economic significance of the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR).
Understand the impacts of urbanization and tourism in sensitive Himalayan regions.
Identify the environmental consequences of practices like sand mining and palm oil production.
Analyze regulatory initiatives and suggest sustainable measures for environmental management.
Explore key challenges like Colony Collapse Disorder and wildlife deaths due to infrastructure.
Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) – Environmental Challenges
The IHR covers ten states entirely and two states partially, forming a vital ecological and socio-economic zone. Its diverse services include being a natural water reservoir due to permanent snow cover, acting as a carbon sink through its green cover, and being a significant biodiversity hotspot. However, the region is highly vulnerable due to geological and anthropogenic pressures. Sustainable management is essential for the ecological security of the sub-continent.
Urbanization in the Himalayas – Impact and Sustainability
Solid Waste: Increasing urban settlements, tourism, and lack of proper waste management in the IHR have led to pollution, affecting water sources and air quality.
Town Planning: Unplanned urban expansion and construction activities cause ecological damage, slope instability, deforestation, and sociocultural changes.
Initiatives:
Ban on Plastic in Himachal Pradesh: Enacted the Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act, 1995 to curb plastic waste and later banned plastic bags in 2009.
Participatory Conservation of Lakes: Efforts like Mission Butterfly in Nainital for scientific garbage disposal, involving community participation.
Dal Lake Conservation: Involves LAWDA and NGOs for preservation, with bans on polythene carry bags.
Assam Hill Land Act, 2006: Prevents indiscriminate cutting of hills, offering ecological protection.
JNNURM: Focuses on urban infrastructure, service delivery, and community participation.
Recommendations for Solid Waste Management:
Enforce guidelines to prevent indiscriminate garbage disposal.
Implement waste management at the source.
Document waste composition across various zones.
Promote conversion of biodegradable waste into compost.
Follow the four ‘R’s: Refuse, Reuse, Reduce, and Recycle.
Provide accessible potable water to reduce bottled waste.
Increase awareness and capacity building among stakeholders.
Adopt international best practices for eco-sensitive areas.
Encourage innovative methods in architectural practices and sewage management.
Motivate residents for scientific waste disposal systems.
Recommendations for Hill Town Planning:
Prevent habitat fragmentation.
Designate areas for development.
Avoid construction in hazard zones and around water sources.
Enforce architectural norms for hill areas.
Conduct integrated development planning considering environmental factors.
Incorporate earthquake-resistant features in construction.
Promote “green roads” for water collection.
Tourism in the Himalayas – Regulation and Management
The Himalayas are sacred pilgrimage sites but lack infrastructure and regulatory mechanisms, resulting in ecosystem pressures.
Impact of Commercial Tourism: Tourism threatens high biodiversity and cultural diversity. Community-based ecotourism is a sustainable alternative in over-saturated towns.
Initiatives:
Harnessing Religious Sentiments: Projects like Badrivan encourage plantation and eco-cultural landscapes.
Ladakh Himalayan Homestays: Promotes community-managed tourism balancing host and visitor expectations with conservation.
Sikkim’s Ecotourism Policy: Encourages village tourism and institutional management at the community level.
Recommendations for Pilgrimage Tourism:
Develop and regulate tourism to reduce congestion and pollution.
Improve accommodation and transport infrastructure.
Provide suitable facilities for “economy class” tourism.
Implement garbage disposal mechanisms.
Limit vehicle access to sensitive areas.
Recommendations for Ecotourism:
Identify eco-tourism sites to establish a primary base.
Involve village communities and youth in tourism.
Restrict daily visitor numbers in ecological sites.
Promote local art, crafts, and cuisines.
Enforce commercial trekking best practices.
Sand Mining in India – Environmental Issues
Sand mining serves multiple purposes but causes extensive environmental damage. Illegal mining changes river courses, reduces groundwater, affects micro-organisms, and increases erosion.
Economic and Environmental Consequences:
Loss to the exchequer due to illegal mining.
Groundwater depletion impacts agriculture.
Adverse effects on ecosystems, including coastal areas.
Habitat destruction and threat to livelihoods.
Policies and Measures:
Kerala’s River Protection Act, 2001: Regulates mining through local committees.
Maharashtra’s 2010 Policy: Compulsory Gramsabha permission for sand mining.
Suggestions:
Use manufactured sand as an alternative.
Promote fly ash for construction.
Carefully lease riverbeds and monitor mining.
Periodically assess sustainable mining levels.
Enforce guidelines for sustainable sand mining.
Palm Oil – Environmental Impacts and India’s Role
Palm oil production contributes to deforestation, biodiversity loss, climate change, and habitat fragmentation. India, as the largest importer, significantly impacts Indonesian forests.
Environmental Impacts:
Deforestation: Causes loss of biodiversity, especially in areas like Borneo and Sumatra.
Biodiversity Loss: Threatens species such as orangutans.
Climate Change: Emissions from deforestation and peatland clearing.
Pesticides and Fertilizers: Pose risks to the environment.
Policies:
Subsidies: Support palm oil cultivation in 12 Indian states.
Imports the largest share of palm oil, contributing to deforestation.
Promotes domestic cultivation under the Oil Palm Development Programme.
Comparison of Palm Oil Production:
Aspect
Indonesia/Malaysia
India
Contribution to global production
87%
0.2%
Use of Palm Oil
Edible (75%)
Mostly edible (90%)
Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD)
CCD leads to the unexplained rapid loss of bee populations, affecting global food security.
Causes:
Global Warming: Alters flowering seasons, affecting pollinators.
Pesticides: Interfere with bee navigation.
Parasites: Varroa mites and fungi.
Malnutrition: Bees deprived of natural nutrients.
Habitat Loss: Urbanization and loss of bee-friendly flora.
Protection Measures:
Support farmers promoting bee-friendly practices.
Strengthen bee research and broader pollinator studies.
Encourage Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to reduce pesticide use.
Important Note: Neonicotinoids are insecticides causing harm to bees, prompting a temporary ban in the EU due to their impact on pollinator health.
Wildlife Deaths Due to Train Collisions
Collisions with trains result in significant wildlife deaths. The Constitution of India emphasizes the need to protect wildlife under Articles 48A and 51A.
Preventive Measures:
Identify wildlife crossing spots and install signage.
Use electronic tagging for tracking animal movements.
Improve coordination between forest departments and railways.
Radiation from Mobile Towers
The surge in mobile tower installations raises concerns over potential effects on wildlife and human health due to electromagnetic radiation (EMR).
Impacts:
Birds absorb more radiation due to their body size, disrupting navigation.
EMR affects human cellular and psychological health.
Responsibilities:
MoEF: Notify agencies about the impact of EMR.
State Bodies: Conduct ecological impact assessments before tower construction.
Telecommunications: Avoid overlapping high radiation fields and map tower locations using GIS.
Important Note: Policies need to regulate EMR exposure limits and protect wildlife habitats.
MCQ
Which of the following is a significant contributor to Colony Collapse Disorder in bees?
Overpopulation of bee colonies.
Increased global warming leading to altered flowering seasons.
Lack of sufficient human intervention in hive management.