World Environment Day: Govt officials, experts call for immediate steps for 'ecosystem restoration'

PATNA: With Covid-19 pandemic having showed the adverse impact of rampant intervention of human beings with nature as Covid has been found to be a zoonotic disease (diseases passed on from animals to humans), senior officials and environmental experts have called on for immediate steps for ‘Ecosystem Restoration’, which is the theme for this year’s World Environment Day to be celebrated on Saturday.
The World Environment Day is celebrated every year on June 5 and the ‘United Nations (UN) Decade on Ecosystem Restoration’ will be launched this year on Saturday.
UN’s secretary general Antonio Guterres in his message on the eve of World Environment Day said: “We are rapidly reaching the point of no return for the planet. We face triple environmental emergency- biodiversity loss, climate disruption and escalating pollution...Science tells us the next 10 years are our final chance to avert a climate catastrophe, turn the deadly tide of pollution and end species loss...We still have time to reverse the damage we have done, that is why UN Ecosystem Restoration is being launched.”
As per United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), ecosystem restoration can take many forms, including growing trees, greening cities, rewilding gardens, changing diets or cleaning up rivers and coasts.
Dipak Kumar Singh, principal secretary (environment, forest and climate change department) pointed out that taking pledge for protection of environment every year should not be “a mere lip service but should be reflected in all development strategies.”
“The 2021 is the centenary birth year of the great writer Faneeshwar Nath Renu from Bihar, whose creations are unparalleled in terms of the connect to nature and the blissful pleasure felt by his protagonists in being one with the creation of nature. The day we feel the silent cry of birds, insects and animals affected by felling trees and vanishing forests, and give up the pursuit of self destructive path of development, that day will be the true celebration of World Environment Day,” Singh said.
Environmentalist and chairman of Bihar State Pollution Control Board Ashok Kumar Ghosh called on for extensive public participation to achieve the goals set for ecosystem restoration.
“Covid-19 pandemic has shown us that people’s involvement is crucial to tide over severe challenges faced by mankind. Government alone can’t address environmental issues. People’s participation in terms of introducing behavioural changes is a must along with appropriate changes in development strategies of governments,” he said.
Zoological Survey of India’s regional in-charge and senior scientist Gopal Sharma pointed out the ‘destruction of terrestrial and river ecosystem in and around Patna’.
“The capital city is densely populated and encroachment has happened in the agriculture, grassland as well as riverine areas. It has led to destruction of flora and fauna of the region. Similarly, the river ecosystem is facing much pressure as it has been adversely affected due to illegal mining and construction of dams and bridges among other activities,” he said, adding that public awareness and education is key for ecosystem restoration.
On its part, Bihar government has claimed that forest cover in the state is 15% at present and efforts our being made to raise it up to 17%. CM Nitish Kumar said in a statement issued on June 1 that the government is working on 11- point programme under the flagship scheme of Jal Jivan Hariyali. “Environment conservation is our collective fundamental duty in order to protect the future generations,” he said.