Our ecological balance under threat

[source] (https://libreshot.com/forest-background/)

Wayanad, a district in the Indian state of Kerela, has witnessed rising human-animal conflict in recent months. According to experts, the cause of this is ecological imbalance. If this issue isn't addressed at the earliest, tragic instances of animal and human beings causing harm to each other will continue to occur.

According to a study conducted by the Wildlife, 88 elephant corridors were identified in 2005. About 24% of these corridors were under "reserve forest" and the remaining 76% under forests, agricultural land, tea gardens and human settlements. Today, due to the ever increasing human population, tea estates, agricultural fields, human habitations, highways etc have been rendered open sites for wildlife movement. This tells us that there has been significant reduction in ecological connectivity and loss of habitat.

The district of Wayanad has witnessed 51 human casualties in the last 10 years. These attacks have also inflicted considerable damage on the agricultural sector leading to crop loss and death of domestic animals, mainly cattle.

Among the many crises that ail ecosystem services are clearing of forest land for non-forest use, contract farming agreements to claim uncultivated land, monoculture plantations, use of pesticides and insecticides that adversely affect the quality of the soil. All this has led to drastic changes in the atmosphere and landscape. Along with loss of greenery, there is diminished yield of cash crops and loss of water bodies. Thereby causing both environmental and economic damage.

Mushrooming of resorts and other tourist destinations around forests and elephant corridors has added to the problem. While eco-tourism is good for the economy, if left unchecked it can turn into an ecological hassle. Resorts operating without stringent regulations can do irreversible damage to the area's flora and fauna. Invasive trees and plants are also introduced. Today over 36000 hectares of Wayanad forests are under monoculture plantations such as eucalyptus. This has resulted in evacuation of animals from the forest. Eucalyptus trees also consume a lot of water and can disrupt the areas water table.

One of the most important steps that the Forest Department can take is to spread awareness on this issue. Forest officials must engage with the public, environmentalists and wildlife enthusiasts to create a sustainable environment for wildlife and the community. The Wildlife, Tourism and Revenue departments must make concerted efforts in order to chalk out an effectiven strategy.

Economic development is important. But it must never come at the cost of ecological balance. Because a war against nature is one that human beings are not going to win.