June 8, 2014
World Environment Day or Eco Day ('WED') is celebrated every year on June 5. It serves as the ‘people’s day’ to galvanize individual actions into a collective power that has a direct impact in protecting our unique and life nurturing Planet Earth. The theme of the year 2014 is 'small island developing states' or 'SIDS'.
This article highlights two important aspects. First to help nature loving citizens to prepare for world Environment day by doing something positive for the environment and second to introspect on the recently concluded Parliamentary Elections and question our inner conscience if Environment policy was ever debated by leaders both from the National and Regional parties. We also need to ask ourselves, as responsible Citizens, did we have the courage to ask our political leaders to put Environment policy on top of their agenda. The moot question is; do our leaders have a vision and blue print to safe guard our National resources for the future. In short every individual is responsible for saving the environment and has to play a pro active role in influencing Government Policy, implement green policies.
The burning issues that need to be addressed include Carbon mitigation, Loss of forest cover, reduction in green house gas emissions and most importantly issues like wastage of food. The future policy should include biofuels and introduction of shale gas to power Industries such that in a few years time we become energy independent from expensive carbon intensive fossil fuels.
Global warming is by far the greatest threat to birds and wildlife. It impacts all kinds of wildlife in many different ways. Habitat loss due to sea level rise, flooding, wildfires, washing away nesting sites due to cloud bursts and torrential rains, extended period of droughts with increased daytime temperatures resulting in delayed fruit set in wild fruit trees, and build up of invasive species and loss in desired vegetation. Bird migrations are severely impacted and the ripple effects are seen in terms of significant loss in reproduction, breeding, nesting and hatching. In no time birds can become extinct.
We have posted a few pictures of the red naped Ibis which migrates into the Western Ghats of Karnataka during the months of December to January. The Red-naped Ibis also known as the Indian Black Ibis or just the Black Ibis is a species of ibis found in parts of the Indian Subcontinent. The sexes are alike. These birds are found either in pairs or in groups numbering six to seven.
The interesting aspect of these birds is that they easily adapt to human habitation and also live harmoniously with both aquatic and other land based birds. Our observations also point out that these birds spend equal amount of time foraging on dry land as well as aquatic habitats. These magnificent birds hardly spend two to three months in Karnataka on their onward migration and we as responsible citizens should provide a safe passage for these winged guests.
Dr Anand & Geeta Pereira - Archives