Imagining
Post-COVID World:
Forestry,
Natural Resources and Pollution Control
Dr N Krishnakumar[1]
The
Post-COVID19 world will present challenges that have been compounded by
existing environmental issues as well as those that will emerge during this
phase when the world is battling to control the pandemic. Some concerns in the
mentioned dimensions are briefly mentioned below.
Shift in
Priorities: Natural Resources Management
Post
Covid19, a lot of shifts in priorities and shifts in sectoral approaches would
be needed. Natural resources management should get enough attention like
conservation of forest resources, conventional forestry, agriculture, Animal
husbandry and allied sectors. There is a need to strictly implement policies
relating to use of natural resources in the most prudent way possible.
Investments
for NRM has also to be stepped up, though finding financial resources for this
may pose challenges. Investments to natural resources management may even
shrink further as the priorities now will be in health sector and allied
services. There is no doubt that health sector has to get primary attention.
Fear looms large that mutated version of corona viruses may surface again, and
unless human beings get the herd immunity we may have to face the situation
till the situation tapers through a disciplined lockdown.
Diversion of
Forest Land for Development
We
should put a halt to diversion of forest lands for non-forestry purposes. Every
diversion of natural resources have to stop. Doing so may actually help
reordering of nature as the lockdown itself has shown recovery of Ozone layer
and other such indications.
Pollution
Control and Urban Landscape
Urban
sprawls have to be regulated. Pollution regulation through strict monitoring of
industries is a must. It is heartening to hear that water bodies like ponds, pools,
lakes and rivers are improving in the period of lockdown. Taking a leaf out of
the lessons in diminishing rate of air pollution, air traffic and road traffic
have to be regulated. Pooling of vehicles to decrease pollution have to be
encouraged.
Working
from homes have to be encouraged. Perceptive analysis of work-from-home
experience that is being gained may help in this dimension. However, this
should not adversely affect employment rate as it would affect productivity.
Zoos, Wildlife
and COVID19
One
theory on the origin of Corona suggests that it came from animals and bats to
humans. The probability that it could spread back into animal kingdom can
therefore be not discounted. Two major concerns in this aspect are:
·
Zoonotic
diseases remain a serious threat. Bronx zoo had reported corona in a tiger. This
calls for extensive screening and testing for corona in zoo and safari animals.
·
Impact
of corona on free ranging larger wildlife and their habitats required. At least
keystone species in important PAs to be covered under a rapid assessment.
Forestry and
Fishery
In
the forestry and fisheries sector, below mentioned aspects need serious
consideration:
·
An
ecosystem assessment across forest types, in forest soils, pollen and seeds, flowers
as carriers to be studied.
·
Impact
of corona virus after the lock down period, in terms of species recovery, species
fluxes and density diversity increases including invasives, due to minimal
human interference to be studied, to support management decisions. Impact of
hands off forestry in small forest patches and plantations need assessment.
·
Impact
of stray cattle as vectors ,transmitting diseases in wild life area need study
for fine tuning the grazing policy in forests
·
Research
to confirm status of urban parks ,as green lungs and health zones ,for Covid
recovery patients
·
Creation
of new knowledge base in forests for pests and diseases ,and viruses in
particular
·
Research on social issues with reference to tribal and
fringe villagers ,to asses corona impact in tribal hamlets and schools
·
Forest
road expansions and extensions to stop.
·
Research
on forest river and stream fauna,particularly fishes due to corona !!.
·
Scale
the veterinary research and support staff for management of zoonotics.
·
Regulated
tourism and ecotourism policy in PAs and forest zones
·
Research
into medicinal plant based research to support viruses controls
·
Existing
forest and wild life Acts to be strengthened to safe guard natural ecosystems
Agro, Farm and
Homestead Forests
Agroforestry,
Farm forestry, homestead forest to be given renewed impetus to prevent urban
migration. Rural youth should be discouraged from migrating to urban areas in
search of jobs. Rural youth can be engaged as fire watchers, wild life trackers
and NTFP based vale addition enterprises initiated in rural areas particularly forest
villages.
It
is hoped that these aspects will generate a healthy debate in scientific
circles to help embark upon a world that would be healthier, greener and more
sustainable than the point that we had reached before the pandemic visited the
Earth.
[1] Dr
N Krishnakumar is a former Indian Forest Service officer who headed the Forest
Force in Tamil Nadu as PCCF. The views expressed are his own.
