Dr. Arvind Kumar
A clean environment is integral to life and livelihood. With the World Environment Day on June 5th, 2020 with the theme ‘It’s Time for Nature’ theme, our responsibility towards nature especially in the COVID-19 world has increased and provided us an opportunity to revisit both our relationship with nature and rebuild a more environmentally friendly solution for lives and livelihoods. With the inception of the U.N. Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2020-30) in March 2019, our trajectories towards nature have paced fast towards finding answers for a sustainable environment. Leverage the strength of nature stewardship to facilitate ‘Build Back Better’
Human-induced climate change has led to extreme weather events in nearly all states in India, particularly among those in the Himalayan range, known to be an ecologically significant but fragile region. The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is known as a heat source in summers and heat sink in winters. According to the climate assessment report published by International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) last year, mountains in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region have been warming at a much faster rate than the global average. Further, a combination of climate change and rising non-military threats like floods, avalanche, cloud bursts, desertification possess an existential threat to the survival of the population living in climate risk zones leading to human migration which further transitions into Eco-social state of ‘Environmental Refugees’.
Jammu and Kashmir once known for its diverse rich topography and rich repository of biodiversity continues to lose its biodiversity at alarming rates due to habitat destruction, overgrazing, deforestation, pollution of river bodies, unsustainable management of natural resources, among others. Agriculture and its allied sectors are the mainstay of Jammu and Kashmir’s economy, providing livelihood opportunities to 70 per cent of its population and contributing to around 27 per cent to its income. A decline of food production is witnessed due to land-use changes, global warming, climate change variability, reduced availability of water for irrigation affected by shifts in the rainfall regime erratic rainfall failing good harvests.
If we want our ecosystems to take care of us, we need to take care of them. Climate change mitigation and adaptation measures through improved understanding and sharing knowledge on new initiatives, policies, and best green practices, developing strategies with special focus on water conservation, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem management. Ecosystem Restoration helps to preserve or restore environmental quality for a sustainable future and include jobs that protect ecosystems and biodiversity, reduce energy, and minimize waste and pollution. A knowledge-driven approach is required across sectors and actors need to build climate resilience on the ground.
Sustainable development and ecosystems are linked with water. Once resilience to water-induced calamities and environment-induced vagaries is enhanced, attainment of other goals will be easier because both water and climate changes are at the roots of the bulk of the calamities. Effective climate change adaptation strategies should reflect the importance of water management, especially water availability & quality in reducing vulnerability and building climate resilience. During a meet with the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Sh. Girish Chandra Murmu on 10 February 2020, it was good to hear various development endeavors of the UT and discussed addressing challenges like unemployment and job creation, migration, water and wetland management, etc.
As water is fundamental to the Union Territory’s livelihood, food security and sustainable development, an Integrated Management towards Water Resources by Creation & rejuvenation of water bodies, the revival of traditional surface and groundwater bodies, disseminating Groundwater technologies, creation and beautification of water bodies can enhance its water security status. The perusal for ‘Integrated Basin-Wise management’ instead of Integrated Basin Management’ can be acknowledged. The nexus approach’s equal priority to build water, energy, and food security will strengthen energy efficiency, mainstream climate resilience in energy systems, improve regional knowledge sharing and capacity building, and adopt green practices that will minimize climate change-induced disasters.
With growing global concern over the biodiversity and climate crises, the importance of nature-based solutions has been widely recognized. The state is home to beautiful wetlands like Wular, Gharana, Narkara wetlands, etc but our unique wetlands are facing tremendous ecological stress primarily because they are visualized only as a source of water, ignoring their recreational or cultural aspects. Wetland biodiversity holds significance because it absorbs carbon dioxide so help slow global heating and reduce pollution, hence it has often been referred to as the “Kidneys of the Earth”. Guidelines for implementing Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules 2017, by MoEF&CC, Government of India have been approved this year. Wetland management approach, taking an understanding from the rules and guidelines if envisaged, in the state can provide a wide range of ecosystem services such as groundwater recharge, water purification, flood and erosion control, landscape aesthetics, and of course, livelihood opportunities. Also, given the Super Year 2020 for Nature, Nature-based Solutions (NbS) if implemented shall ensure the conservation of biodiversity and multiple benefits to communities.
It is heartening to know that Jammu and Kashmir has seen an increase in forest cover according to the Indian State of Forests Report 2019. Forest cover is more than just planting trees and can be enhanced through massive afforestation and social forestry programs by creating a massive people’s movement towards judicious management of natural resources. Restoration approaches enhance biodiversity, improving indigenous knowledge, capacities, and community needs. An integrated ecosystem approach to conserve environmental resources must be adopted and enhanced to ensure that all ecosystems are managed in an integrated manner while also providing a range of benefits to people. The tradition of indigenous knowledge, Nature-based solutions needs to be recognized and coupled with modern Science-based approach appropriate technology interventions. Concepts like Adaptive Management, Green Economy, Rewilding, Cloud Seeding are organizing principles to understand, deal and respond to contemporary forest-related problems.
The UT stands at 20th spot in Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) index 2019 securing 53 points with the national average at60. It’s appreciative to hear its lead-in categories – ‘No Poverty’ with 58 score and gender Equality’ with 53 score. Neither categorized as a front runner or laggard, the time is right to move beyond the ‘performer category’ and secure top slot in the forthcoming SDGs index. Incorporating a ‘Transversal’ shift interlinking vertical linkages between water, energy and environment with horizontal linkages like Health, Agriculture, Entrepreneurship, etc., this offers an aspirational and ambitious vision for the future betterment of humanity and it gives strong reasoning for a fact-based understanding of the interrelationships and synergies among these linkages. ‘Localisation of SDGs’ where knowledge, best practices, policies become grounded in work with local communities is the key to improving development indicators and strongly commit to ‘Last Decade of Action 2020-30’.
According to the ‘Unemployment in India’ report by Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) 2019, the average unemployment rate among men stood at 9.4% and 59.5% in the valley with growing concern over job concerns. ‘Putting People First’ and strengthening capacity building’ endeavors is a sine qua non for adaptation & mitigation of environment-related woes. MSMEs can serve as a magic bullet to explore job opportunities and livelihoods for people, especially the youth. Restoration linked livelihoods can aid in building a pool of quality skills, micro-skill development and capacity building, access to opportunities to the disadvantaged sections, and catering to the skill requirements in sectors like tourism, horticulture, floriculture, handicrafts. Being a home to one of the best biodiversity, the ‘Green Skilled’ workforce is an opportunity to think upon.
As biodiversity & ecosystem health are mutually reinforcing, investing in nature is a road to fast track resilience, sustainability, and ecosystem services. If a blueprint is chartered along with integrated prospects, Jammu and Kashmir shall witness significant milestones regaining its scenic beauty, picturesque landscape, and pristine glory like the erstwhile times.
About The Author:
Dr. Arvind Kumar, a renowned environmentalist is a President, India Water Foundation & Governor at the World Water Council.
