Wildlife in India is a beautiful gift of nature, with a vast array of diverse flora and fauna ranging from the mighty and fierce tigers to the friendly and endearing elephants. It is a well-known fact that India is home to 16 per cent of the world¡¯s population. However, it is a lesser-known fact that 411 species of mammals, 1,232 birds, 456 reptiles, 219 amphibians, 2,546 fish, and 83,436 kinds of invertebrates, and over 50,000 plant species also inhabit this vast yet diverse subcontinent.
Rapid urbanization, greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, habitat fragmentation, and destruction have all impacted natural ecosystems. According to recent research by conservation organizations and the United Nations, human activities have resulted in a 60% drop in animal populations globally, with about one million species on the verge of extinction. The loss of natural ecosystems and habitat fragmentation are two of the key causes of this decline.
Imagine you're an animal living in a dense forest with a road cutting right through it. This new thing will not only force you to search for your lost home but also confine you to a small area, increasing the likelihood of inbreeding. Furthermore, if a disease or other natural disaster occurs, you and your species may become extinct locally.
Large swaths of habitat, or corridors connecting habitat patches, can help protect wildlife populations from extinction due to unpredictable events. These events are common in nature, but human-caused fragmentation puts species in danger. Linking key wildlife habitats aids in the restoration and preservation of biodiversity by allowing species to move between vital habitats and maintain genetic variety. The intricate daily requirements of wildlife compels them to go safely from place to place in search of nesting places, food, water, a resting sanctuary, and shelter.
If we densify animal corridors, we can counteract the effects of habitat fragmentation. They provide food and cover for wildlife to hide from predators, allowing animals to access new resources and preventing species isolation. Corridors connect areas that have more animals and biodiversity than isolated parts. Many species benefit from corridors because they boost food sources, provide essential cover, reduce predation risk, and connect fragmented and isolated populations.
Apart from expanding wildlife corridors, outskirts and buffer zones of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries also need to be densified and wildlife habitats need to be protected. This can only be accomplished by increasing our green cover and avoiding habitat fragmentation at all costs. While large-scale plantation operations are one of the most effective ways to restore our natural habitats, we must recognise that specific procedures must be devised and executed to ensure that natural habitat quality does not suffer as a result of pollution and environmental degradation.
The density of natural plant communities can be reduced by noxious weeds and non-invasive native species, thus they must be controlled. Snags or partially dead standing trees provide cavities for nesting and resting, perches for hunting and displaying, and a plentiful supply of food for insect eaters, all of which are crucial for wildlife habitats. It is also important to safeguard plants from grazing and other harm while they are being planted for wildlife. To preserve naturally regenerating or newly planted trees and plants, fences or seedling guards prove to be quite effective.
As an organisation dedicated to expanding green cover and recovering animal populations, we were devastated to witness the falling numbers of some of India's incredible wildlife, such as tigers, elephants, and bears.
For this reason, we established large plantation drives to connect wildlife corridors, ensuring that animals do not become disoriented when searching for lost habitat. We've also seen that, as the amount of green cover has increased, man-animal confrontations have decreased significantly.
We believe that we have reached a point when environmental and wildlife protection require more attention, as we have been oblivious to our surroundings for some years. It's past time for us to acknowledge that if we think of development and progress as separate entities, the environment and biodiversity will continue to deteriorate. We've arrived at a point where humankind is establishing itself as a distinct entity from nature; nonetheless, we must never forget that we are a part of it. We must discover something within ourselves in order to be inextricably tied to the life that surrounds us.
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