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Environmental Protection in India
Environmental protection refers to any activity to maintain or restore the quality of ecological media through preventing the emission of pollutants or reducing the presence of polluting substances in ecological media i.e. changes in characteristics of goods and services, changes in consumption patterns, changes in production techniques, treatment or disposal of residuals in separate environmental protection facilities, recycling and prevention of degradation of the landscape and ecosystems.
Importance Of Environmental Protection In India
The importance of environmental protection is a matter of grave concern, now more than ever; as we burn through natural resources faster than we are able to replenish them. Environmental Protection has risen far beyond preservation inclined to our basic needs. India is amongst the top polluted countries and faces vast environmental degradation vastly due to pollution and climate change amongst other causes.
- India is the third most populated country with a population of 1.41. In pursuit of providing basic needs to such a vast population, we are haemorrhaging natural resources. India’s environmental issues extend to air pollution, water pollution, poor management of waste, biodiversity loss, land or soil degradation, water scarcity, deforestation, and many more.
- The forest percentage in India is about 21.71% of the total land. And most of the environment-related problems stem from the deterioration of forests. Some states in India have only 10% forest whereas others have 80%. This vast difference has had catastrophic effects on our environment.
A large number of environmental protection agencies (NGOs) are working on the preservation and restoration of nature in India; via the formalization of national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, conservation reserves and community reserves.
The Top NGOs Working in India For Environmental Protection Are:
1. Indian Environmental Society (IES)
This organization which was founded in 1972 aims at constructing an overall ecologically stable and self-supporting system which in turn would lead to an even-handed distribution of resources. IES also focuses on environmental education, biodiversity conservation, information dissemination, solid waste management, eco-technology, and heritage conservation. This organization suggests global solutions for critical environmental issues at both local and national levels.
2. Environmentalist Foundation of India
This foundation works towards wildlife conservation and habitat restoration. The foundation focuses on reviving freshwater habitats across the country. It is their belief that the restoration of freshwater bodies through scientific means is of utmost importance and they have been successfully doing so since 2007. They believe in restoration through community-based collaborative conservation efforts. This foundation has been at work in over 14 Indian states including Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, and Karnataka.
3. Wildlife Trust of India
This wildlife trust of India is a nonprofit, charitable organization founded by Mr Vivek Menon in 1998; and as their name suggests their focus is animal welfare, wildlife conservation and environmental protection. They have successfully been conserving wildlife and its habitat. They have also played an important role in recovering endangered species with their extensive reach of 150 professionals working around the country.
4. ATREE
ATREE founded in 1996, is an abbreviation for Ashoka’s Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment. This organization’s goal is to raise awareness and enforce rules in regard to conservation and sustainability. This organization runs practical and hands-on programs at various natural locations such as forests, water bodies etc; they work to implement ground-level environmental and sustainability interference which in turn spreads awareness amongst the masses.
5. Vanarai
Padma Vibhushan Mohan Dharia founded this NGO in 1982 with the goal of turning villages into self-reliant through community collaboration. They focus on soil and water conservation, afforestation, horticulture development, training of farmers, skill development, etc. In simple terms, they aim at rural development and environmental protection. Vanarai follows Mahatma Gandhi’s words ‘ Go back to villages’ and works on it. They have conserved approximately 37.15 crore litres of water. They are planting one lakh trees every year and are building thousands of toilets and drainage lines to manage waste.
Importance Of Environmental Protection Organizations In India
Our environment today suffers a great deal; this we can credit to the human race polluting and burning natural resources faster than ever before. Were it not for these organizations working towards balance, the imbalance would have catastrophic results on the world as we know it
- Restoration and Sustenance of Natural Resources
- Pollution Control
- Preservation of Wildlife
- Forest Land Preservation
- Awareness of Environmental distress and the need for Protection and Preservation
- Prevention of climate change
Role of NGOs in Environmental Protection in India
The Role of NGOs is to run interference with respect to Environmental Protection, raise awareness amongst the masses, monitor habitat management and restoration, lead in resource development and documentation, introduce alternative environmentally friendly livelihoods, and share intel and documentation with government departments. The Sakal Relief Fund is a great example of an NGO that is working towards environmental protection on a national and global level, working towards sustainable development and educating the populace of its importance.
In conclusion, NGOs working for Environmental Protection are working towards the restoration of natural resources and in turn helping our planet sustain itself in terms of natural resources i.e clean air – clean water, wildlife, pollution control, climate change and much more.
