Sustainable Development: The natural environment and all aspects of the Earth are all resources that man can exploit. They are natural resources such as soil, minerals, water, coal, forests, and others. However, as the world’s population grows and technology advances, our natural resources become increasingly contaminated and exhausted.
Natural resource management (NRM) is concerned with the interaction between people and natural landscapes. Water management, land use planning, biodiversity conservation, and the long-term viability of sectors like mining, tourism, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries are all part of it. It also recognises that people and their livelihoods depend on the productivity and health of our landscapes. Land stewards play a critical role in ensuring that production and health are maintained.
Pollution
Pollution is an undesired change in the physical, chemical, and biological features of water, soil, and air and is one of the sustainable management of natural resources. Unfortunately, this is damaging to humans as well as other living things on the planet. As a result, there is an immediate need to properly care for and manage natural resources in order to protect and conserve our environment for long-term growth.
There are worldwide laws, various legislation, and organisations fighting to protect our environment. The public’s knowledge of these issues has resulted in environmental and natural resource conservation.
Ganga Action Plan
The Ganga Action Plan was launched in 1985 as a multi-billion dollar initiative to clean up the Ganga River.
The quantity of bacteria coliform has also increased to an alarming degree as a result of the continual dumping of rubbish into the Ganga. Otherwise, these bacteria can be discovered in the human intestine. As a result, the river has become polluted. Because people use water for bathing, washing clothes, and various other personal and cleaning activities, it has become contaminated.
We can help the environment practice Sustainable Development by adopting the 3R’s idea, which stands for Reduce, Recycle, and Reuse.
Reduce
- It is designed to make use of less natural resources, such as,
- When not in use, turn off all electrical equipment.
- Save money on gas by walking or taking public transportation, for example.
- Food can be saved by cooking in moderation or without wasting it.
Recycle
It is described as the transformation of trash into new products by processing or recycling. Recycling saves resources, money, and time by reducing the amount of waste that is piled up and is an important practice for Sustainable Development.
Reuse
- It’s defined as using anything more than once, such as, Use the envelopes again.
- The jam and pickle containers should be reused for keeping other foods or groceries, among other things.
- Replace polyethene bags with cloth/jute bags, and so on.
Why Should We Manage Our Resources?
We have a pressing need to manage our resources because everything we eat is derived from natural resources on the planet and this practice is extremely important for Sustainable Development. Because all-natural resources are limited, they must be used with care. Furthermore, efficient management guarantees that these resources are always available for us today and for future generations.
In forests, we may find biodiversity (a vast range of plants, species, animals, and microbes in their natural habitat) which is important for Sustainable Development. These forests are both natural resources and wildlife habitats, and they must be protected.
Stakeholders
Individuals and parties with a legally binding interest in an asset are referred to as “parties with a binding interest.”
The stakeholders are,
- Locals – who live around the forests and frequently depend on forest products
- The Forest Department – a government body that looks after the forest
- Industrialists – they take raw materials to run their industries
- Wildlife and Natural Enthusiasts – those who need to conserve forests
Sustainable Development
It is the management of resources so that there is a constant flow and fair availability of products and services for current and future generations while minimising environmental effects and empowering Sustainable Development.
Chipko Andolan
It was also a sustainable natural resource management and a Sustainable Development initiative started in the Garhwal village of Tehri. People in that area grasped the value of trees and opted not to give timber products to people in other locations. Instead, they clutched the trees and protested against cutting them down by forming a circular chain.
Soon after, the Andolan spread to surrounding areas, and people began to resist tree cutting and practicing Sustainable Development practices.
Wildlife
Wildlife is a term used to describe a group of plants, animals, and microorganisms that live in natural settings and are not domesticated or cultivated.
It is endangered due to a high level of exploitation and human meddling, such as-
- Excessive exploitation
- The devastation of the environment
- Hunting