Spare natural forests and sanctuaries appeals environmentalist in Ahmedabad

In its 42nd lecture, ‘Why should we conserve biodiversity?’ the NGO invited Yatri Baxi, environmental communicator and editor of Paryavaran Santri, a Gujarati magazine on conserving biodiversity in Ahmedabad.

Explaining the reasons behind conserving biodiversity, Mahesh Pandya, founder Paryavaran Mitra said, “Wiping out forests and planting saplings are two different things.

On the one hand corporations and government are wiping out naturally existing forests and on the other, they are planting saplings which will take many number of years to grow. It is good but the process is not fast enough to protect the human race from devastation.”

Baxi listed the reasons for conserving biodiversity, along with certain figures. She said, “Today, whatever exists on earth has taken 3.5 billion years to evolve. Hence, the claim by humans of saving what exists today is false.

According to some findings there are about 14 billion species existing on earth wherein humans are identified as merely 1.7 million. Coastlines, mangroves, deep sea and deep forests are areas where most of the types of species exist.”

While she spoke about the percentage of forests and animals getting raised and extinct, respectively, coming to Gujarat, Baxi spoke about the famous Mahuva case and Gir forest.

She said, “Talking about Mahuva, a district of Bhavnagar is getting adversely affected with two cement plants, owing to which there is loss of biodiversity in the form of regular and agriculture lands. Under the proposed nuclear energy plant scheme, which has been facing a lot of opposition, 42 villages consisting of 1,75,000 farmers, are likely to lose their fields and homes.

With reference to the Nirma plant, 10 villages comprising of 50,000 people and 40,000 bigha land will get affected and 27,000 bigha land will be lost. In 40,000 bigha land, there are nearly 45,000 fruit-bearing trees, which are also going to get shaved off.”

Highlighting the plight of Gir,  Baxi pointed that although the Asiatic lion numbers have gone up from 250 to 550, following competition against Madhya Pradesh, under the name of ‘Khushboo Gujarat Ki’, none are allowed to go out of the sanctuary.

“I haven’t gone deep into learning the ‘technical reasons’ as it’s a different topic. But if the numbers have been raised from 250 to 550, shouldn’t government take responsibility now of maintaining the wildlife sanctuary?”

According to Baxi, under the ‘Khushboo Gujarat Ki’ plate, the number of carnivorous animals -- Asiatic lions - has been increased which feeds only on fresh and not stale, flesh.

 “Although Gir is been conserved by its people, initially there were only 45 trips taken into sanctuary. Now this number has also been increased to 120 trips, adding ‘human problems’ to the sanctuary.

This is causing habitat loss, owing to which there will be along with loss of lions, loss of 2000 types of insects, 600 types of unique plants, 36 types of mammals and more. Although the government of Gujarat is proud of Gir, when it comes to taking care of it, it falls short.”