Excessive human exploitation of the environment is leading to disastrous consequences. All around the world, we hear experts warning us about the degradation of the environment, but to the common person, these effects seem lightyears away from the convenient lives they lead. Allow me to show you how these seemingly irrelevant concepts directly relate to our lives.
One striking example of people who became too comfortable exploiting their surroundings is the recent tragedy in Wayanad. Torrential rains have always been a significant part of the region’s geography, but why did the recent monsoon create such a devastating impact? It can be directly linked to human developments in the area. Urbanization led to houses, hotels, and resorts being built where there were once trees. Without the trees that once anchored the soil, Wayanad crumbled under the heavy rains. Such conflicts between nature and humanity are not isolated or freak incidents.
Closer to home, on the outskirts of Bangalore, there were once vast lakes and swamps frequented by pink flamingos and other migratory birds. However, these birds have fled the area since industries began dumping effluents into the lakes. They are probably flying further south before taking a break in their journey, instead of stopping here. To counter the decline in the number and variety of fish, the government introduced exotic, non-native species, which further damaged the lakes. The exotic fish began wiping out the native species. Meanwhile, the fishermen who spend their Saturday mornings leisurely fishing here are thrilled when they catch one of the big exotic fish. They have even urged the government to introduce more varieties of exotic fish to further their fishing hobby!
Recently, there have been reports from Rajasthan that a pack of wolves has turned to man-eating. Forest officials surmise that the pups in the pack may have been killed by humans, and the wolves are now taking revenge.
In summary, it is easy to discern the changes in the environment caused by human greed. We cannot continue making these rampant mistakes to satisfy our desires.
Mankind needs to respect the natural resources that have been blessed to us. We are not meant to cause the destruction that is so evident around us. We are stewards of the natural resources entrusted to our care. We need to take responsibility for our actions and, instead of depleting the Earth, focus on replenishing it.
