The Photo-Journalist recieves Cannon Wild Clicks award

 

 

 

Nature Wanderers recently organised an on- the -spot Wildlife Photography Contest at Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India from January 26 to 29, 2012.

As many as 36 Photographers participated in the contest. The picture by K. R. Deepak, Special News Photographer of The Hindu, English News Paper won the “Cannon Wild Clicks” award for his on the spot photography of the “Marching Ants”. Here is the photograph which was published in the January 30, 2012 issue of The Hindu. Let us congratulate the Great Photographer. 


Nature Wanderers is India’s pioneering organisation of young nature enthusiasts that aims to spread awareness about environmental conservation through innovative means - primarily Photography. 

Image : The Marching Ants

Key Words:Cannon, Wild, Clicks,deepak

Photo Credit : The Hindu (30.01.2012)

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The concept of sustainability and the sustainable environment

The World Commission on Environment and Development (WECD) reported in 1987 –‘the present decade (1980s) has been marked by a retreat from social concerns. Scientists bring to our attention urgent but complex problems bearing on our survival: a warming globe, threats to the earth’s ozone layer, deserts consuming agricultural land. We respond by demanding more details, and by assigning the problems to institutions ill equipped to cope with them.’

The decade of 1980s observed a number of new discoveries like-

(i) Measurement of the size of ozone hole by British Researchers in 1985,

(ii)The U.S. Government’s Report entitled Global-2000, recognized that species extinction was threatening biodiversity,

(iii) Adoption of World Charter for Nature by the General Assembly of United Nations (1982) ,made clear that environment and development were interdependent, and

(iv) The realization of intrinsic values of Species and Ecosystems through the World Charter for Nature (1982).

In spite of these developments the decade of 1980s experienced severe industrial accidents that left permanent marks on environment and human health.

Some examples are mentioned below-
A. The leakage of the Methyl Iso Cynate (MIC) in 1984 from one of the Union Carbide’s plants located in Bhopal, India killed 3000 people and 2000 injured .

B. Up to one million people died of hunger in Ethiopia during the same year.

C.The world’s worst nuclear accident occurred when a reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, exploded in the Ukrainian Republic of Soviet Union.

D. The spill of 50 million Litres of oil from Exxon Valdez super tanker into Alaska’s Prince William in 1989 reflected that even the remotest areas on the globe are unsafe due to human activities.

A World Industry Conference was organized in 1984 by United Nations in Canada. It was the first attempt to provide a code of conduct for sound management in the business sector. As a result of this the concept of Sustainable Development and Eco- friendly Technology was introduced in the development area.

To make the environment sustainable, a number of measures are necessary to be taken up by the people and government across the globe. Some of these measures are- use of efficient and eco-friendly technologies, sustainable use of resources and adoption of indigenous practices like keeping of sacred groves.

It is being felt that the process of modern development id defective one. It is creating various types of stresses on the environment due to which a number of local, regional and global problems have emerged out that challenge the existence of human beings and other organisms on this planet.

Some of the created due to stress caused on environment by modern developments are being listed below-

(1) Destruction of forests.

(2) Falling underground water table.

(3) Rise in global temperature and climate change.

(4) Extinction of animal and plant species.

(5) Large scale migration of people.

(6) Great financial inequality.

(7) Reduction in the means of livelihood for the poor.

(8) Scarcity of food.

(9) Increasing number of disaster.

Besides above mentioned problems the process of modern development is creating economic inequalities. In view of these problems it is thought that the current process of development cannot go for long. That means it is unsustainable.

Keeping in mind the unsustainable nature of modern development, scientists and environmentalists the world over has thought out a new model of development called as sustainable development.

Such a new model of development which benefits every individual, safeguards environmental rights of every citizen and which may keep the natural environment in a perfectly balanced state is called as sustainable development.

Key Words:WECD,  sustainability, sustainable development, co-friendly technology

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Congestion in urban environment

Housing is a great problem in urban areas. As crops fail, the rural economy is damaged. More and more people from village areas migrate to cities in search of jobs. Being poor, they cannot afford high rent for houses in cities. As a result they settle on unclaimed government or public land, abandoned railway huts and even on areas near monuments. They bring their families and construct houses there. Thus slums are developed in urban areas.

People in slums live under unhygienic conditions and remain prone to a number of diseases and epidemics. Most of those who live in rented houses live as singles. They make groups, take a small area or a room on rent and spend nights in crowded conditions. All these conditions explain the congestion in urban areas.

Agricultural green lands in sub-urban areas are being utilized for construction of houses and industrial buildings. Many green areas; pastures; wet lands; water bodies like ponds and lakes; community parks etc. that provided open space to cities have been reclaimed for building apartments to accommodate the exploding urban populations.

The explosion of population has given birth to the Apartment Culture and severe congestion. In big cities, large number of men, women and children live in very unsanitary conditions in a very short area. In good locations even animals get comparatively more areas for their living and movements. Such types of human habitations further create new problems of spread of diseases, corruption and crime of various types. The United Nations Organisation observed the World Habitat Day on October 6, 2004 and asked the governments on the global level to improve the conditions of slum dwellers. Since then, the World Habitat Day is celebrated the world over on October, 6.

Key Words: slums, agriculture, apartment, UNO

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An example of Joint Forest Management from Nagaland, India

Situated in the North –East region of the Indian Union, Nagaland is a unique state in terms of its topography, soils, forests, wildlife and other resources of environment. The management of the natural resources of the state is mostly vested with the public as these have been considered to be the common property. 

Accordingly, the people had framed their own social norms, rules and regulations for the utilization of natural resources. As per the ‘Nagaland: State of Environment’- report-2001, approximately 8, 62,930 ha of area is occupied by forests in this state. Of this, about 11.7 percent of the forests are accounted for the Government. 

It has been reported that both the reserved and the community owned forests have been exploited unscientifically and haphazardly since a long time and even the sanctuaries and parks have never been free from encroachment. But now the farmers, who were ones blamed for disturbing the ecology of their areas through Jhoom cultivation, have started a revolution by planting trees in their fields along with their crops.

People’s participation and involvement in the development and protection of natural forests have been envisaged in the National Forest Policy of India. In the Policy Document it is stated that the Forest Communities should be motivated to identify themselves with the development and protection of forests from which they derive fuel wood, fodder, and small timber such as house building materials etc.    On March 5th 1997, a Joint Forest Management Programme was launched by the Government of Nagaland and the people vide Notification No. FR-153/80(Vol.-III).

Following are the aims of Joint Forest Management in Nagaland

The objectives of the Joint Forest Management in Nagaland are mentioned below.
1. Creation, management and protection of plantations along mountain slopes and in areas where trees are in lesser density or in Jhoom Fields.
2. Acheiving the Ecological needs coherent to sustainable productivity of wood and other non- timber forest resources.
3. Weaning away the land owning communities from Shifting Cultivation or the Jhoom cultivation by adopting an alternative.
4. Productive utilization of the degraded Jhoom- land thereby checking soil erosion.
5. Conservation of biodiversity through People’s Actions.
6. Creation and generation of Forest Based Economy for villages.

Community JFM Committees

As per the Resolution on Joint Forest Management (JFM) in Nagaland, Joint Forest Management Committees have been formed in all the districts of the state. The Record of some of the   Community- Forest Management Committees are Kohima-08,Mokokchung -33, Tuensang-30, Wokha-34, Doyang- 09, Zunheboto- 37, Mon- 19, Peren -12

In different divisions also, more committees have been formed for the protection and regeneration of forests. Trainings are being given to officials and community members on various aspects of JFM by the Departments of Forests/ Agriculture/ Horticulture/ Village Development Boards etc.

Some of the important aspects of Joint Forest Management on which trainings are being imparted to officials and community members are -

1. Theoretical background of JFM;
2. The method for micro-planning through Participatory Rural Appraisal;
3. Various issues such as gender equality, equity in distribution of resources;
4. Resolution of conflicts arising out during community based management of forests and   distribution of   forest resources.

Key Words : joint forest management, committees, community, Nagaland

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Wildlife Parks and Sanctuaries of the North- east India

There are a total of twelve megadiversity regions in the world and India is one of them. Hundreds of biodiversity zones (about more than 1000) are located here and there in the world. Out of this number about 200 zones are considered to be very rich, very rare or most distinctive. These zones are called as Biodiversity Hot Spots or Global 200. 

 

The Biodiversity Hotspots in India are mostly located in the North Eastern India and in the Western Ghats. These areas are considered as the world’s richest biodiversity areas. This is the reason why the government of India is opening an Institute of Biodiversity in Arunachal Pradesh. Phytogeographically the North –east including he seven sister states, form a distinct biodiversity zone.

 

It is estimated that out of 9000 plant species 3500 are endemic to this zone. At least 55 flowering plants that are endemic to this zone are recognized as rare for example the Pitcher Plants (Nepenthes khasiana). About 554 species of Orchids , 5 species of canes , 22 species of bamboo, 50 species of different medicinal plants and  47 species of Conifers. The fauna of Nagaland include 106 species of mammals including 9species of  insectivorous, 34 species of  bats, 12 species of rodents, 7 species of  primates, o1 species of Pangolin, 34 species of carnivores, 01 sp. of elephants, 7 species of angulates etc. This state is the host of more than 400 species of birds. About seven new species of birds have been identified in the wild since 2001.

 

Nagaland has a Zoological Park in Kohima where some of the rarest species of different animals including birds are being cared and developed. Next comes the Intaki National park which was notified in the year 1975. It is spread in the area of 202sq. km which is 1.22% of the area of the state. Some of the important animals found here are Hoolock Baboon which is the only gibbon found in India; elephant; tiger; mithun, sambhar, wild dog and sloth bear. 

 

The important Wildlife Sanctuaries of Nagaland include Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary, Pulie badge Wildlife Sanctuary; Rangapahar Wildlife Sanctuary; and Ghosu Bird Sanctuary. The Ghosu bird sanctuary is unique of its type due to the fact that it is fully maintained by local communities.It is located at a distance of 8 km from Zunheboto district. It is a habitat of more than 20 species of endangered birds.Hunting and poaching is completely stopped here by villagers.Satoic Range is a natural habitat of Blythii Tragopan, a rare but the State Bird of Nagaland is at the verge of extinction.

 

 

 

Image : Pitcher plant

Key Words : North-east, parks, sanctuaries, satoic range,extinct,

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An innovation in agriculture by Angami Tribals of Nagaland

So far, we are well acquainted that the leguminous plants are able to fix nitrogen of the atmosphere as they host Nitrogen Fixing bacteria called as Rhizobium in their root nodules. Have you ever heard of a non- leguminous tree that possesses nitrogen fixing bacteria in it its root nodules? The first strange thing that comes to our way is that even a non- leguminous plant can have nodules on its roots; and the second strange thing is the act of Nitrogen Fixation by such a plant or tree.

Image : The Alder Tree

Well, it is true. There is a tree called as Alder i.e. Alnus nepalensis, which extensively grows in Himalayas and that it is a non- leguminous tree, and that it contains root nodules that host nitrogen fixing bacteria. The Angami, Chakhasang, Chang, Yimchounger, and Konyak tribes of Nagaland identified the property of alder tree many- many years ago and started planting it in their Jhoom- Cultivation plots.

Since it had been very difficult for slope dwelling tribal farmers of Nagaland to leave their traditional system of cultivation, they remained trying to stabilize it at lower cycles and to make it environment friendly. The tribal people living in Knononome or the Khonoma village finally succeeded in finding out a viable solution. They learnt the nitrogen fixing property of the alder tree. They started growing crops of maize, millets, potatoes, chilies, pumpkins and barley etc. by enhancing soil fertility by planting alder trees in their Jhoom plots. Alder grows well in the altitude ranging from 800 to 3000m.Besides improving soil fertility for growing crops, alder tree also supplies timber, furniture and fuel wood.

The alder tree is chopped or pollarded within a period of 6 to 8 years after which the trunk sprouts into new and delicate shoots that are called as coppices. After proper pollarding, one alder tree is capable of giving birth to 100 to 200 coppices but only five to six coppices are left for regeneration. Rest of the coppices are cut and mixed into the soil along with their leaves that forms very good manure for the soil and future crop. The cultivation of crops is done after chopping the alder tree till the new branches come out and develop good coppices within a period of two to three years. After that, a new plot with alder trees is selected for cultivation. Thus the trend set by the people of tribal villages, especially the Angamis who are masters of cutting excellent terraces, shows that traditional systems are extremely important even in the current age of science and technology. The Ecological rationality of traditional practices still remains valid in the present context. Here one point needs special reference -

One of the prime goals of the alder plantation project in Nagaland, is to bring women into the process of Agricultural decision making while augmenting their traditional roles as farm labourers.Now, Angami women in Khonoma are preparing their own nurseries of alder saplings. Afterwards, the Nagaland Environmental Protection and Economic Development (NEPED) project was started for the development of this type of farming using alder trees by the assistance of the Canadian International Development Agency through the Indian Canada Environment Facility.

Key Words : Angami Tribals,Nagaland, alder, NEPED

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Land degradation in Nagaland, India

Major parts of the land of Nagaland are made of shale dominant rocks. These rocks always remain prone to soil erosion. High intensity monsoon showers form the rainfall pattern in this area. But, this type of rainfall pattern encourages soil erosion and land slides. The unstable geography of the land causes morphological changes in land and affects the socio-economic conditions of the naga people.

The factors responsible for land degradation in Nagaland have been categorizes as natural and human factors. The natural factors include: the Nature of soil and the Pattern of rainfall. The Human Causes of land degradation include following factors –

1.Rapid Growth of Human Population
2.Improper Utilization of land and Land Resources
3.Absence of Land Use Policy
4.Growing Urbanization and Deforestation

Some important causes of Deforestation in Nagaland are –
1.Unsustainable use of firewood
2.Shifting Cultivation
3.Non-adoption of Soil Conservation Measures in proper ways in certain areas of  Nagaland
4.Encroachment into Forest Land for agriculture and settlements
5.Frequent Forest Fires in different localities, and
6.Overgrazing along hill slopes by cattle.
Key Words: Nagaland, shale, monsoon, urbanization, forest fires

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Walnuts lower cholesterol- level in blood

Scientists have discovered that walnuts contain good percentage of anti-oxidants. Eating 7 to 10 walnuts per day can help ward off diseases, slowing ageing process and lower cholesterol levels in blood.

 
The researchers from the University of Scranton, Pennsylvania have found that walnuts contain very high levels of Polyphenol which is an anti-oxidant. It can protect the body from tissue- damaging molecules. After conducting tests on nine commonly eaten types of nuts they found that walnuts contained the most Polyphenol than others. According to the scientists, walnuts rank above Brazil nuts. Here are some more facts about walnuts being presented by earlier researches.

 
Walnuts are a rich source of omega-3 fat, alpha- linolenic acid. It improves artery function after a meal containing high fat level. A study by Spanish researchers Cortes B, Nunez I and J Am Coll Cardiol, walnuts may be more important than olive oil in Mediterranean- type food as it can promote the health of hearth.

 
Walnuts are important for our brain too. It is because of omega-3 fats found in them. Structurally, our brain is more than 60 per cent fat and omega-3 fats are essential for the working of brain cells.

 
According to a study- “Epidemiological studies in various countries including the U.S. suggest a connection between increased rates of depression and decreased omega-3 consumption, and in children, the relationship between low dietary intake of omega-3 fats and ADHD has begun to be studied. A recent Purdue University study showed that kids low in omega-3 essential fatty acids are significantly more likely to be hyperactive, have learning disorders, and to display behavioral problems. In the Purdue study, a greater number of behavioral problems temper tantrums, and sleep problems were reported in subjects with lower total omega-3 fatty acid concentrations. More learning and health problems were also found in the children in the study who had lower total omega-3 fatty acid concentrations.”

1. Walnut  : green fruits

Over 2,000 scientific studies have demonstrated the wide range of problems associated with omega-3 deficiencies. The American diet is almost devoid of omega-3s, except for nuts, such as walnuts, seeds and cold-water fish. In fact, researchers believe that about 60% of Americans are deficient in omega-3 fatty acids, and about 20% have so little that test methods cannot even detect any in their blood. 

2. walnuts: dried fruits

 
It has also been found by researchers that omega-3 fats prevent gall bladder diseases and gall- bladder stones. Thus intake of walnuts in desired quantity may help protect gall bladder from stones and diseases.

 
Walnuts have also been reported to contain bio-available melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone produced in our body by the Pineal gland which induces or regulates sleep. Thus eating walnuts on regular basis can help prevent sleep-disorders also.

 
According to a research - “Melatonin can help improve sleep for night shift workers and people suffering from jet lag, but maintaining healthy levels of this hormone is important for everyone over the age of 40 since the amount of melatonin produced by the human body decreases significantly as we age, and this decrease in antioxidant protection may be related to the development of free radical-related diseases later in life.” 

 
It has also been reported that - … by helping the body resist oxidative stress (free radical damage), walnuts may help reduce the risk of cancer and delay or reduce the severity of cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease. Walnuts, best known as a heart-healthy nut, are also a rich source of another highly cardio-protective nutrient: omega-3-fatty acids, so Reiter and his team will next investigate possible synergy between walnuts' omega-3 fats and melatonin. To us at the World's Healthiest Foods, this sounds familiar theme in Nature's symphony in which whole, wholesome foods each provide a wealth of nutrients whose harmony promotes our optimal health.

 
Key Words: omega-3 fats, Polyphenol, cholesterol, anti-oxidant

Image Credit: 1.graduallygreener.worldpress.com, 2.anut.com

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World’s smallest frog found in the forest of Papua New Guinea

Researchers Chris Austin and his colleagues of Louisiana Sate University have discovered a new frog species in the tropical forests of Papua New Guinea which is said to be the smallest vertebrate ever found.
The newly discovered frog measures just 7.7mm in length from nose to butt. It has red and black spots on its body.

The new frog species was discovered while Chris Austin and his colleagues were on a three-month long field trip to the Pacific island. According to the scientist, as per the reports the new frogs inhabit leaf-litter found on the floor of the tropical rain forest.
The miniature frogs newly discovered by the U.S. scientists are named as Paedophryne amanuensis. This title has been taken over from the title of the smallest vertebrate an acidic swamp dwelling fish from Indonesia which was called as Paedocypris progenetica.
A report in Live Science revealed that the ecology of these miniature frogs is yet to be studied by the scientists. However, it has been reported that they probably eat small invertebrates (animals without back bone) living in the leaf litter.

Frogs remain camouflaged among leaves of the forest floor. They have evolved calls that resemble those of insects. So it is hard to spot frogs in the forest litter. It is reported that the frogs of New Guinea are incredibly loud at night. Chris Louisiana has been reported to say that his team tried to record the sound of those tiny frogs for which they triangulated to where those calls were coming from and for this they looked through the leaf litter also.

The scientists grabbed a handful of leaf litter and kept it in a plastic bag. And it was from the plastic bag that tiny frogs came out. BBC reports that that the Paedophryne genus was identified recently and it consists of a number of tiny species found in different segments of eastern region of the forest of Papua New Guinea.

Earlier, the title of “the world’s smallest frog” was bestowed on the Brazilian golden frog(Brachycephalus didactylus). Until now, the smallest vertebrate has been a fish. The male angler fish of Photocorymus spiniceps is just over 6mm long. Species like this smallest vertebrate can also be found in Madagascar.

Key Words: smallest frog, Papua New Guinea, Louisiana,
Image Credit : womansindia.com

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Why do we need to conserve water?

According to the National Water Policy – 1987, water is a scarce and precious resource to be developed and conserved on an integrated and environmentally sound basis. The Planning Commission of India has estimated that the annual water flow in our rivers is 1869 cubic kilometres of water out of which we can use 550cubic kilometres of water which accounts for 30 percent only. The remaining 70 percent either goes to the sea wasted or causes floods enroute. We are facing irrigation problems from thousands of years due to water logging, salting or silting. 

There is an urgent need of water conservation because of the facts mentioned below-

-Water is the most essential substance for life processes. It is essential for drinking, bathing, cooking, irrigation, industry, and for the survival of plants and animals.

-The global supply of water is uneven. Due to this, many parts of the world frequently suffer from water crisis, drought, and crop-failure.

-Most of our fresh water sources like ground water, reservoirs, rivers etc. are under increasing environmental stress. This stress on water is caused due to overuse, water pollution and degradation of ecosystems.

-According to the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), some 80 countries of the world suffered from serious water- crisis up to mid-1990s.The World Water Council in its report of the year2000,   stated that the demand for water use is expected to increase by 40 per cent by the year 2020. The agriculture will require 17 per cent more water for producing food for our growing population by that time.

-About1.1 billion people in the world lack access to safe drinking water. The surface and ground water has been contaminated by toxic chemicals, wastes, and pathogens. Poor water supply and problems of water sanitation are causing the spread of many water borne diseases in many parts of Asia and Africa. Some of these diseases are- cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, eye infections, scabies, trachoma, ascariasis etc. According to a report of the UNEP, about 3 million people in Africa die due to water borne diseases.

-Dumping of toxic wastes has polluted ground water through seepage. Landfill sites too, contribute a lot in the pollution of the underground water. Secondly, the overuse and misuse of ground water is causing the depletion of water table in many parts of the country.

 

Key Words: Environmental Policy,UNEP, floods

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