The Hindu : Opinion / Editorials : A STAKE IN THE FUTURE

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Tuesday, Nov 23, 2004

Opinion

Opinion - Editorials

A STAKE IN THE FUTURE

THE WORLD CONSERVATION Congress, a summit for governments and civil society, has got under way in Bangkok at a time when competitive pressures on natural resources are at a new high and biodiversity is under unprecedented threat. The conclave is held every four years by the IUCN-World Conservation Union (earlier known as the International Union for Conservation of Nature) to frame guidelines for sustainable development and protection of natural heritage. India, a state member of the world body, stands to benefit from the wealth of experience being presented by nearly 5,000 delegates at the nine-day Congress. The assembly in Bangkok could not be held at a better time for India: it can provide critical inputs for the ongoing debate on the draft National Environment Policy (NEP). The NEP, to be debated by NGOs and other stakeholders in coming weeks, has been criticised for its controversial proposals that will enable speedy environmental clearances for projects and withdrawal of full protection for endangered flora and fauna citing public or national interest.

The pointers provided by the World Conservation Union (WCU) constitute a good framework for evaluation of India's approach to environmental issues in the 21st century, as outlined in the NEP. Sustainable development envisages that economic gains and the fruits of progress are equitably distributed in society. But experience has shown that these are invariably weighted against the environment and the poor who depend on it. The use of water would clearly top such a list of priorities in this country. The case for preserving mountain systems for water security cannot be overstressed: half of all humanity depends on hill ranges to access safe water to produce electricity, sustain industry and agriculture, and for drinking. Equally significantly, half the wetlands have disappeared over the last century, which should be sufficient reason for the NEP to adopt the expert recommendations on wetlands that were submitted to the Environment Ministry after considerable field research. The Bangkok Congress, the third such event held by the WCU, also draws attention to the loss or degradation of 80 per cent of global forest cover. Again, this assessment matches the NEP estimate that India's forest cover has dwindled to a worrying 23 per cent. The only way forward would therefore be to reverse the damage from exploitative mining, logging, and unsound agriculture in the remaining forests and afford them absolute protection.

Can economic progress and environmental conservation find an acceptable median? The discussions at the WCU Congress are centred on the universal value that people's welfare should guide all environmental policies. It follows that protection of incomparable natural resources is a prerequisite for such well being. The familiar example is that of the rivers and seas: if they are polluted, fish stocks decline and water security is also lost. As the WCU has emphasised, the priorities must therefore be protection of biodiversity and endangered species, pollution control, efficient management of renewable resources, and promotion of organic agriculture. There is considerable interest among consumers and governments in some countries in products manufactured through sustainable methods. Given the intricacies of global trade agreements today, new standards to identify such goods and services may be necessary. Such green certification methods can be built into international treaties and agreements to facilitate positive action by importing countries without risk of litigation under trade laws. The withdrawal of import restrictions on timber by some European countries owing to trade obligations is an example of the distortions that are created by such pacts, which could be used to interpret environmental safeguards as unfair barriers.

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