The 8th of August is being observed as Earth Overshoot Day across the world. Earth Overshoot Day, earlier known as Ecological Debt Day, is the date on which humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services for the year exceeds Earth’s capacity to regenerate those resources that year. This day is unbeknownst to most maybe for the reason that at the moment, the race for development outweighs conserving the environment or that unlike the other regions or nations, we have ample natural resources and undeveloped areas.
If we take the scenario of Nagaland, known for its abundant natural resources and flora and fauna, though nowadays we are known more for being the Land of Festivals, the impending threat to our lush nature cannot be ignored. Anthropogenic or human activities are taking a toll on our environment and if unchecked, will indirectly have a negative impact on the human life. Our environment is deteriorating at a rapid rate and we are unable to notice the irreversible alterations we are making to our own environment:
1.Flora and Fauna:
*Migratory birds that use to visit Nagaland have drastically decreased.
*Panthera tigris (Tiger) being not only extremely rare, its survival is in danger due to poaching;
*Gharial (reptilian species) is almost extinct.
*Monitor lizards and various turtles are in grave danger due to over-exploitation.
*Only one Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis) left in the State, which has been named Julie, and is housed in the Nagaland State Zoological Park.
*Our State bird Tragopan blythii, which is found only in our State, is also almost on the verge of extinction due to relentless hunting.
*Panax ginseng is found only in the Tuensang District and is endangered.
*Legal and illegal tree feeling for commercial purpose, jhum cultivation, poaching, hunting and human interference are the major threats to the flora and fauna.
2.Carbon emission:
In Nagaland, there is no data in place to ascertain the intensity of air pollution impact on health. This has also been confirmed by Dr. Sao Tunyi, Epidemiologist at Directorate of Health & Family Welfare that “the effect is there, but it’s very difficult to measure” in the Morung Express article “Air pollution on the rise in Dimapur”, February 2, 2015. Thus, calculating the carbon emissions is out of question. However, these available datas may give a rough idea.
* The number of Newly Registered Motor Vehicles in 2011-12 and number of Registered Motor Vehicles as on 31st March, 2012 in Nagaland, including all transport plus non-transport is 18785 and 291438 respectively.
* In Dimapur, according to the Nagaland Pollution Control Board (NPCB), the concentration of Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) and Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) at both Dhobinullah and Bank Colony exceed the permissible limit.
* Going by the WHO report, Naga families are exposed to serious health threats since most homes still use firewood and coal for multiple purposes and many of the kitchens are without proper chimneys.
* Methane (CH4) emissions from landfills and open dumpsites.
* Recent studies show that the amount of leftover food at a Naga wedding or major event, particularly in Dimapur and Kohima, end up wasted in the gutter or landfill that leads to the generation of methane and other noxious gases.
* Wastage of food incurs huge loss not only to individuals but leads to severe food-economy dependence to the neighbouring states.
* There are also cases where everyday people walk into restaurants and food chains and often leave huge chunks of food unfinished, forvarious reasons.
* Food is being brought from Peren, Wokha districts, and places like Tseminyu, Lazami (Pughoboto) and the neighbouring villages around Kohima and Dimapur, yet it constitutes just an average of hardly 15% of the total food being imported into Dimapur and Kohima.
Procuring the latest data in Nagaland is a hurdle due to lack of research centres or studies being conducted from time to time.
*Data from Kohima Meteorological for the periods 1951-80 (Thirty years) and 1952-92 (Forty years) showed that:
* During winter period, the values of the minimum temperature at night has increased by 4.4 0 C.
* During winter and pre-monsoon period the mean rainfall has decreased.
* During monsoon period, the mean rainfall has increased from the year 1980 to 1990.
*Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore has found out that the majority of districts of Nagaland have experienced an increase in monsoon precipitation in the past 100 years.
*The main source of water for drinking and irrigation which is from natural springs is under threat of drying due to partly drying of their recharge sources causing water stress.
*The Wokha district in Nagaland which is least vulnerable in the current climatic conditions is seen to become most vulnerable by 2035.
*The heavy monsoonal rains, and traditional agriculture practice of jhum have lead to severe soil erosion, followed by increased acidity of soils, affecting an estimated 13,33,000 Ha of land in the state.
*Soil erosion has affected 508,000 hectares area.
*Vector borne, water borne, tuberculosis, and respiratory diseases are a result of climatic changes. As of 2009, the total cases reported for these diseases in Nagaland was 140,277, Acute Respiratory Diseases being the largest cause of morbidity in the State.
These are but some of the examples of how we are altering our environment. Before the impact on our environment might become irremediable, we must take and make every effort to reduce the harm we are causing the environment. Incidents like the Changpang oil extraction fiasco or the encroachment into the Intangki Reserve Forest only brings to light the indifferent attitude we have towards conserving and preserving the environment. Thus, we must make a pledge towards saving our environment and the planet or else one fine day we might end up giving a huge price for our negligence.
