2. Environmental Science: Natural Resources part 7
A part of the land not in use is classified as wasteland. This includes the arid, rocky
and sandy deserts. Much of the land is being used in cities and towns as residential land.
Cities and towns must grow vertically rather than horizontally now. The land is also needed
for industry, commerce, transport and recreation. Since total land is a fixed asset, we must
make efforts for integrated land use planning. Land is an important component of the life
support system. Mrs. Indira Gandhi in 1972 said, “We can no longer afford to neglect our
most important natural resource. This is not simply an environmental problem but one
which is basic to the future of our country.” In a predominantly agricultural country like
ours, land comes first.
For proper planning we need authentic figures agreed upon by the concerned departments
viz agriculture, forestry, revenue records etc. using modern method as remote sensing. It is
observed that good agricultural land is going to industrial estates and for urban development.
Thus valuable cropland is lost to agriculture forever. This is not in national interest. The
best land use planning has been done by Japan, being hard pressed for land. A strategy
must be developed to cure past damage and to save the country from future damage to land.
A strategy must be developed to cure past damage and to save the country from future
damage to land. This can be achieved by following the methods mentioned as under:
(i) To prepare accurate land use data through remote sensing,
(ii) A time bound nation wide survey programme of micro-level land use planning
giving short and long-term scenarios,
(iii) To prepare land use classes,
(iv) To review all existing legislations and to update them and
(v) Management plans for land amelioration are to be prepared. This would lead to a
dynamic land-use policy.
2. Proper Management of Water Resources
Water is an integral part of land/soil productivity base. Its misuse can cause soil
degradation and soil erosion. Water management is necessary for crop yields and other
activities. Primary channel flow originates in upper catchments and these watersheds are
very important for future.
3. Watershed Management
In India floods bring much havoc causing loss of life and property each year. Due to
floods, the plains have become silted with mud and sand, thus affecting the cultivable land
areas. Extinction of civilisation in some coastal areas is mainly due to such natural calamites
as flood. Flood damage cost the country Rs. 21 crore in 1951, which increased to Rs. 1,130
crore in 1977. the worst suffering states are Assam, Bihar, Orissa, U.P. and West Bengal.
Through modern technology and scientific knowledge steps are to be taken. There is need
of a proper understanding of the ecosystem so that changes could be forecast well in time.
Thus management of rainfall and resultant runoff, which is essential, can be best based on
a natural unit called watershed. A watershed is an area bounded by the divide line of water
flow. Thus it may be drainage basin or stream. The Himalayas are one of the most critical
watersheds in the world. The cast hydroelectric power potential can be harnessed from
Himalayan watersheds if proper control measures are taken. They are inclusive of soil and
land use survey, soil conservation in catchments of River Valley Projects and flood prone
rivers, afforestation or social forestry programmes, Drought Prone Area Development
Programmes and Desert Development and Control of Shifting Cultivation.
4. Afforestation
Top priority should be given to the forestry. Forests occupy central position in nature.
They restore ecological balance of all ecosystems (including desert), maintain biological
diversity, act as catchments for soil and water conservation, prevent floods and safeguard
future of tribals. We should develop massive afforestation programmes of indigenous and
exotic fast growing species for production and protection forestry on suitable land including
wasteland. A massive social forestry programme is needed to meet demands of local people
for fuel, fodder, timber etc. the two major goals for forestry are:
(i) Supply of goods and services to people and industry by a well thought out plan of
production,
(ii) Long term ecological security through conservation of forests cover and its
restoration.
The areas where our water regimes are located i.e. Himalayas and Western and Eastern
ghats together with catchment areas; National Parks; Sanctuaries, Sacred Groves; Biosphere
Reserves and all ecologically fragile areas should be protected from fuel-starved villagers and
fodder-starved cattle. For this, public support must be generated in order to fulfil the real goal
of eco-development. Such awareness will be very helpful for supply of goods and services to
meet the local villager’s needs. One very good example of public support is the Chipko
Movement of Bishnoi Women in U.P. We, have only about 14% forest cover, and thus need to
plant nearly 70 million hectares of additional land. This can be done by:
(i) Intensive plantations,
(ii) Production/captive plantations.
These are explained as under:
(I) Intensive plantations: Intensive plantation is planting all the available land from
villagers’ fields, to community land, to road/rail sides every available space. Indigenous
and/or exotic species can be used for plantations that remove pressure on natural
forests. Social/participative/agro-forestry programmes are included in this category.
(II) Production/Captive plantations: Plantations are to be done on fallow land not being
used for agriculture; mostly on free grazing lands. A part of such plantations may
be used to generate fodder for cattle. Moreover short rotations of indigenous or
exotic species are to be preferred over long duration sal or teak.
The productivity in USA could be enhanced by:
(i) Proper manipulation of silvicultural and nutritional requirements that is use of
fertilizers, irrigation, bacterial and mycorrhizal inoculations,
(ii) Disease and pest management,
(iii) Weed control,
(iv) Advanced techniques in forest tree breeding for superior genetic strains,
(v) Judicious use of tissue culture methods.
rivers, afforestation or social forestry programmes, Drought Prone Area Development
Programmes and Desert Development and Control of Shifting Cultivation.
4. Afforestation
Top priority should be given to the forestry. Forests occupy central position in nature.
They restore ecological balance of all ecosystems (including desert), maintain biological
diversity, act as catchments for soil and water conservation, prevent floods and safeguard
future of tribals. We should develop massive afforestation programmes of indigenous and
exotic fast growing species for production and protection forestry on suitable land including
wasteland. A massive social forestry programme is needed to meet demands of local people
for fuel, fodder, timber etc. the two major goals for forestry are:
(i) Supply of goods and services to people and industry by a well thought out plan of
production,
(ii) Long term ecological security through conservation of forests cover and its
restoration.
The areas where our water regimes are located i.e. Himalayas and Western and Eastern
ghats together with catchment areas; National Parks; Sanctuaries, Sacred Groves; Biosphere
Reserves and all ecologically fragile areas should be protected from fuel-starved villagers and
fodder-starved cattle. For this, public support must be generated in order to fulfil the real goal
of eco-development. Such awareness will be very helpful for supply of goods and services to
meet the local villager’s needs. One very good example of public support is the Chipko
Movement of Bishnoi Women in U.P. We, have only about 14% forest cover, and thus need to
plant nearly 70 million hectares of additional land. This can be done by:
(i) Intensive plantations,
(ii) Production/captive plantations.
These are explained as under:
(I) Intensive plantations: Intensive plantation is planting all the available land from
villagers’ fields, to community land, to road/rail sides every available space. Indigenous
and/or exotic species can be used for plantations that remove pressure on natural
forests. Social/participative/agro-forestry programmes are included in this category.
(II) Production/Captive plantations: Plantations are to be done on fallow land not being
used for agriculture; mostly on free grazing lands. A part of such plantations may
be used to generate fodder for cattle. Moreover short rotations of indigenous or
exotic species are to be preferred over long duration sal or teak.
The productivity in USA could be enhanced by:
(i) Proper manipulation of silvicultural and nutritional requirements that is use of
fertilizers, irrigation, bacterial and mycorrhizal inoculations,
(ii) Disease and pest management,
(iii) Weed control,
(iv) Advanced techniques in forest tree breeding for superior genetic strains,
(v) Judicious use of tissue culture methods.
Social forestry: This forestry, is for private land. There are two main objectives of
social forestry:
(i) Use of public and common land to produce in a decentralized way firewood, fodder
and small timber for the local poor men and also to manage soil and water
conservation,
(ii) To relieve pressure on conservation forests. This programme is in fact for poor.
Agroforestry: Agroforestry is a system of land use where woody perennials are
deliberately used on the same land management units as annual agricultural crops and/or
animals, either sequentially or simultaneously, with the aim of obtaining greater outputs on
a sustained basis. “Here land is used for agriculture, forestry and animal husbandry.
Depending upon the situation we may also have a mix of three basic elements i.e., agriculture,
forestry and animal husbandry.
There should be massive afforestation arm/agroforestry programmes. Every village/
town/city must be able to meet firewood, fodder and small timber needs by growing trees
and shrubs in the land available in a cooperative system.
5. Proper Management of Drinking Water
This Resource (water) is renewable. However, it is subject to abuse and misuse. Infact,
most of our water problems, are not those of quantity or even necessarily of quality, but are
rather caused by our way of thinking and attitudes. If man learns to live with man on a
cooperative basis, the water problem, like many other ecological problems, could be solved.
The replenishable ground water resources in India are sufficient to provide assured irrigation
to 40 million hectares. The present level of development is estimated at 25 million hectares,
i.e. about 40 per cent of the total irrigation potential created in the country.
Drinking water becomes more significant in a developing country because it serves as
a source of micronutrients that are so essential for good health. Deficiency or excess of the
essential trace elements can cause disorders. Drinking water is an important source of
intake of trace elements.
QUESTIONS
1. What is meant by Natural Resources? Explain Renewable and Non-renewable Natural
resources.
2. Discuss the use and importance of Forest Resources in India.
3. Describe the main causes that are responsible for over consumption of forest.
4. Define Deforestation. What are the chief effects of Deforestation?
5. Give an account of the effects of timber extraction, mining dams on forests and tribal people.
6. Write a note on Water resources.
Describe the main resources of water.
Discuss the use and over-utilization of surface and ground water.
7. Discuss the measures adopted to regulate the utilization of surface water and check its
over-utilization.
8. Discuss the measures adopted to regulate the utilization of underground water and check
it over-utilization.
social forestry:
(i) Use of public and common land to produce in a decentralized way firewood, fodder
and small timber for the local poor men and also to manage soil and water
conservation,
(ii) To relieve pressure on conservation forests. This programme is in fact for poor.
Agroforestry: Agroforestry is a system of land use where woody perennials are
deliberately used on the same land management units as annual agricultural crops and/or
animals, either sequentially or simultaneously, with the aim of obtaining greater outputs on
a sustained basis. “Here land is used for agriculture, forestry and animal husbandry.
Depending upon the situation we may also have a mix of three basic elements i.e., agriculture,
forestry and animal husbandry.
There should be massive afforestation arm/agroforestry programmes. Every village/
town/city must be able to meet firewood, fodder and small timber needs by growing trees
and shrubs in the land available in a cooperative system.
5. Proper Management of Drinking Water
This Resource (water) is renewable. However, it is subject to abuse and misuse. Infact,
most of our water problems, are not those of quantity or even necessarily of quality, but are
rather caused by our way of thinking and attitudes. If man learns to live with man on a
cooperative basis, the water problem, like many other ecological problems, could be solved.
The replenishable ground water resources in India are sufficient to provide assured irrigation
to 40 million hectares. The present level of development is estimated at 25 million hectares,
i.e. about 40 per cent of the total irrigation potential created in the country.
Drinking water becomes more significant in a developing country because it serves as
a source of micronutrients that are so essential for good health. Deficiency or excess of the
essential trace elements can cause disorders. Drinking water is an important source of
intake of trace elements.
QUESTIONS
1. What is meant by Natural Resources? Explain Renewable and Non-renewable Natural
resources.
2. Discuss the use and importance of Forest Resources in India.
3. Describe the main causes that are responsible for over consumption of forest.
4. Define Deforestation. What are the chief effects of Deforestation?
5. Give an account of the effects of timber extraction, mining dams on forests and tribal people.
6. Write a note on Water resources.
Describe the main resources of water.
Discuss the use and over-utilization of surface and ground water.
7. Discuss the measures adopted to regulate the utilization of surface water and check its
over-utilization.
8. Discuss the measures adopted to regulate the utilization of underground water and check
it over-utilization.
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