There was a time when, without using jargon, we handled biodiversity sensibly enough even as we sought to increase food production. Trees were planted for each that was cut down, enough cattle was retained as others were sold for consumption and home grown poultry was the only species consumed and protected. But as more mouths were added to the population train it all went awry leaving us today dependent on poultry farms that are artificially multiplied. The situation is exacerbated by the mindless felling of rainforests around the world, more specifically in Africa and South America and indeed lack of care in our own Sunderbans.
And so the latest sobering report commissioned by the United Nations informs us that world biodiversity is at grave danger by which up to a million species could become extinct in the next decade both plant and animals. This is coming about as a result of destruction of ecosystems thanks to the continued use of fossil fuels. At risk are the coral reefs and mangrove forests because of our unsustainable focus on food and water requirements without thinking of the damage to biodiversity. Nature has its own way of sustaining its resources even in the jungle.
Survival of the fittest does not extend to unplanned killing of species and only when required. That's a far cry from mankind where gluttony is advertised beyond requirements and preposterous wastage of food an everyday affair. This added to the wastage each day of water and energy resources without proper methods of recycling and looking away from the pollution of water resources.
Basra in Iraq is now considered to be the city of the poisoned river. We need look no further than the Buriganga for such epithets closer to home. Yet there's a large proportion of the world's population that goes without food each day. They in turn look to salvage what they can, thereby furthering the assault on biodiversity.
The recent report that suggests piped WASA water is unfit for consumption till boiled is something the city dwellers have known for many years now. A recent advertisement for a domestic water filtration device suggests impurities in even boiled water and has not been contested by WASA. So when the Managing Director of the organisation defended WASA's water quality no one batted an eyelid. Purification plants at Syedabad and other places are yet to become operational but more importantly there have been no steps for recycling the water that we consume and waste. Given the perilous situation of drainage maybe that's not a bad idea after all.
As per present day requirements there is expected to be a 70 per cent rise in require of meat resources by 2050. Artificially inseminated and harvested cattle will form the bulk of the requirements and the process further disturbs eco system through created animal feed and grasslands. It all boils down to an impact that's economic, social, development and environmental. The main culprits are the developed west in terms of eating habits resulting in vegan or vegetarian diets becoming increasingly popular but no one is pointing out that it's a balance that is required to manage the issue instead of scaremongering that might further lead the assault on flora. After all, the greens that are prescribed for healthy diets aren't readily in over abundant supply either.
The writer may be reached at [email protected]
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