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Natural Resources are Essential component for the proper performance of various Ecosystem Functions that maintain the Natural Homeostatic balance

The Natural Resource Base comprises of:Bio resource

� Population� Vegetative Biomass: Forests and Agriculture� Biodiversity: Vegetation & Wild-life

Abiotic Resource:� Mineral resources & Soils

Physical & Climatic Resource:� Energy: Renewable as well as Non renewable� Climate and it’s Phenomena

Continued exponential rise in the Human population and it’s compound impact offsets delicate balance of Nature

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Our Natural Resource Wealth� Land: Arable Land: 48% and Forests: 22%� Water: Total renewable water resources: 1,907.8 km3/year

� Soil: Many fertile soils including alluvial soil which comprises 80% of the total fertile soil available

� Minerals: India occupies a prominent place in the Mineral map of the world. Chief minerals include Coal, iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, titanium ore, chromite, diamonds, limestone, thorium,petroleum, natural gas

� Energy: Both renewable & non-renewable energy resources. Besides Coal based TPP, We have Natural gas, Solar, Geo-thermal, Hydro, Nuclear etc.

� Vegetation: Diverse vegetation including Tropical Rainforests, Deciduous & Coniferous forests. Nearly 6% of the world’s flowering plants .

� Wildlife : `Many species of animals, birds & reptiles which includes 7.6% of all mammalian, 12.6% of avian, 6.2% of reptilian of the wildlife population of world Asian Elephant, Bengal Tiger, Asiatic Lion, Leopard,Sloth Bear, Indian Rhinoceros, antelopes

1.Total Land mass - 2973,000 Km2

2.Total Cropland - 1694,610 Km2 [57% Area] Year 2000

3.Total Pastures - 118,920 Km2 [04% Area]

4.Total Forest Cover - 641,000 Km2 [21% Area] per capita0.07 %

5.Dense Forest - 367,260 Km2 [57.3% Forest Area] Canopy<40%

6. Open Forest - 261,310 Km2 [40.7%Forest Area] Canopy10-40%

7. Mangrove - 4827 Km2 [0.75% Area]

We had in 1947 about 34 % area under forest

Major conflicts are logging for sake of timber and Pulp, and also the requirements of Fuel wood, Fodder and Agricultural land to support the deprived Local Tribal

Communities which are often marginalised

Environmental Impact of Mining is worstMining on forest lands has maximum impact in terms of ecological destruction & Loss of biodiversity. It also Affects people directly or indirectly dependent on forest for livelihood

Water Resources get augmented through

Hydrological Cycle

The Surface waters are locatedin Lakes, Rivers & Reservoirs

The Ground Water is located in water bearing Formations called aquifers

� Drinking

� Bathing

� Municipal Water Supply

� Navigation

� Irrigation

� Aquaculture

� Industrial Use

� Waste disposal

With nearly 70 percent, Agriculture is

the largest abstractor of Water

resources

With increasing Population, Cash

crop farming and use of energy

intensive practices, Water demands

are increasing

Immediate steps are necessary to

reduce the water use in Farming

Practices

Abstracting nearly 07 percent Water

Industry sector demands are quite high

With Recent estimates at nearly 13 %, Water

demands are only increasing

A liter of Waste water renders another 07 liter

unfit for any other use

Hence, the actual Environmental demands are

much more, and given the in-efficient use in

Indian Industry situation is really alarming

Industry pays a pittance for

the water it uses, and wastes

An effluent discharge of less than

1.5 m3/ MT product as P2O5

Nitrogenous fertilizer plant : 5.0 - 20

Straight phosphatic plant : 1.4 - 2.0

Complex fertilizer : 0.2 - 5.4

Fertilizer

industry [MT

of Product ]

Data not available 75-200 m3/ tonne alcohol produced Distilleries

5 -10 m3 / MT of Finished Product ( Best )

is around 25 m3 / MT of Finished Product

(average) Wastewater less than 0.1 m3

10-80 m3 / MT of Finished Product

(average)

Integrated Iron

& steel plant

Wood based mills: 50 - 75

Waste paper based mills: 10-25

Wood based mills: 150-200

Waste paper based mills: 75-100

Pulp & Paper

[ MT ]

Less than 100200-250Cotton Textiles

[ MT of Cloth ]

Less than 10On an average 80Thermal Power

Plant [ mWh]

Average water consumption in Globally best in m

3 / unit Product

Average water consumption in Indian industry in m

3 / unit Product

Industrial

Sector

443.7330097.00.7 U.K.

48.964800.01.3 Thailand

92.274703.00.8 Sweden

35.047599.01.4 Norway

95.6249268.0 2.6Korea, Rep.

7.5113041.015.0 India

23.4231442.0 9.9 Brazil

30.077171.02.6 Argentina

Ind. Water productivity

(US $ / M3)

Ind.productivity

(Mill. US $)Ind.waterUse (Bill.M

3)

Country

No Water consumption Standards for Guzzler IndustriesNeed Pollution load-based standards: polluter pays principle

WATER SERVICES

� Access to safe drinking sources 82%

� Access to tapped water 65%

� Access to tapped water within premises 42%

� Average per capita supply 54 to 160 lpcd

� Unreliable, inadequate, unknown quality of water

SANITATION

� Access to toilets 63%

� Access to toilets within premises 33%

� Connections to sewerage 28%

� Only 70 out of 289 class I cities have sewage treatment facilities

Unfulfilled Urban Agenda ?

1972 : 1,50,000 Villages were Water Deficient

1980 : 2,31,000 Villagesbecame Water Deficient

1985: 1,61,722 Villages still faced shortage

1994 :1,40,975 still left with Water Problems

The Water, that was earlier a Common Community

Resource

accessible to all the user groups in justifiable quantities for

centuries,

because of over exploitation turned in to a scarce &

unsustainable commodity

�of the 12 Mega biodiversity country� Has 02 World’s Biodiversity Hot Spots� 8% of World’s Biodiversity� 81,000 Animal Species� 45,000 Plant Species (6000 endemic)� 50% of World’s Tigers �100% Asiatic Lions

87 National Parks - 4.06 Million ha.485 Wildlife Sanctuaries - 11.54 million ha.Total protected areas - 15.60 Million ha.

23 Tiger Reserves spread over - 3.3 million ha.

12 Biosphere Reserves 780 Forest Divisions63,618 JFM – 14.09 Million ha.

as Ecological Processes do not respect National Boundaries and thus the Environmental problems often have impacts beyond the Borders.

Air Pollution Is a Big Killer� 3 Million deaths per year world-wide Mostly in Asia

� Legal, economic, and technological tools can help to clean up air pollution, but much greater emphasis should be focused on preventing air pollution.

� Raise fuel-efficiency for cars, SUVs, light trucks & Heavy Vehicles

� Better regulation of emissions

� intense pressure needed from citizens to make improvements?

� Stricter emission standards for diesel-powered vehicles

� Link between international trade and air pollution - Cargo ships

and Air Transport

� Emission trading or cap-and-trade program

Report by Sir Nicholas Stern for the UK government(published 2006)

Global temperature rise 0.5 degree. Expected to rise by 5 degreeGlobal temperature rise 0.5 degree. Expected to rise by 5 degreess

Environmental impact :Environmental impact : Melting glaciers increase flood risk- then drought.

Crop yields to decline in tropics, particularly in Africa.

Rising sea levels may displace 200 million people.

Up to 40% of species may become extinct.

More frequent extreme weather patterns.

Economic impactEconomic impact�� Rise of Rise of 22--33°°CC ––

reduced global GDP by 3%.reduced global GDP by 3%.

A rise of 5A rise of 5°°CC -- 10% of global GDP. 10% of global GDP. The poorest countries would The poorest countries would lose disproportlose disproportionately more.ionately more.

What makes India susceptible to Climate Change?

� Densely populated (rural and

urban) - substantial poverty.

� Large coastal populations

� Diverse climatic zones

� Diverse economy with

important climate dependant

sectors such as agriculture

and fisheries

� Many low-lying areas

susceptible to extreme events

National Action Plan to counter Climate Change

� National Solar Mission

� National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency

� National Mission on Sustainable Habitat

� National Water Mission

� Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem

� National Mission for a Green India

� National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture

� Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change

National Action Plan has eight Missions

Other Initiatives : Choice of mitigating technologiesSuper critical technologies, Integrated gasification Combined Cycle

Natural gas based power plants, Closed cycle 3 stage nuclear power

Hydro power and Other renewable technologies

Disaster management response to extreme weather events-

Summary of the Major Annual Environmental Costs

in India (5.2% of GDP=9.7 billion USD)

2% 3%

20%

14%

2%

59%

Tourism

Deforestation

Rangeland Degradation

Soil Degradation

(Agriculture)

Surface Water Pollution

Urban Air Pollution

More People : More Resources

“A persons Foot Print is the total area in Global Hectares required to sustain his/her Lifestyle”

Bill Rees & Math Wackernagel,1996

Africa : 1.36 (Mozambique:0.47 & Burundi : 0.48)China : 1.54, India : 1.5, UK: 5.35, US : 9.7

� Population Explosion,

� Industrialization,

� resultant Urbanization,

� Transmigration from villages,

� Wasteful use of available resources and

� Over exploitation of the Natural resources

What calls for our immediate attention?

� India is blessed with rich natural resources, But the resources are fast depleting

� Forest and arable land is being depleted due to

Urbanization, Demographic overconsumption & Degradation.

� Water resources are depleting due to Wasteful use and Over exploitation, and are being contaminated due to

Urbanization, Industrialization & Over use of Agro-chemicals.

� Wild life resources are being lost due to illegal poaching, Industrialization and Habitat loss

Threats to Natural Resources� Urbanisation and Industrialisation

� Overpopulation

� Overconsumption and irresponsible use

� Deforestation

� Erosion

� Habitat Destruction

� Natural Hazards

� Unjustified & inequitable access to common

resources such as Water & Air & Wilderness.

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Externalities are steadily increasing andthe cost of inaction is more than cost of action

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Thickly populated state & largest like U. P has less than5% of geographical area under forest cover

Fecal coliform at Varanasi is more than 200 times the prescribed standard for bathing at the Ghats after implementation of Ganga Action Plan

80 % of Disease and Sickness are Due to Water Borne and Water Related Diseases [WHO]

Percapita availability of fresh water in India has decreased from 6000 cu mts/yr in 1947 to 2000 cu.mts/yr in 2001 current trends in 2020s likely to be 1600 cu.mts/yr

In 1991 air pollution in Mumbai caused 1,91,000 cases of bronchitis in children,741000 cases of asthama and 4500 deaths per annum

Natural Resources are basis of SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Development that meet the

needs of the present without

compromising the ability of

future generations

Our Common Future, 1987

Critical DriversCritical Drivers

� Stricter Regulations

� Proactive Judiciary

� Green Movement

� Intl. treaty Obligations

INDIA’S TREATY OBLIGATIONSConventions in which India plays a leading role:

� Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

� Convention on Wetlands of International Importance.

� Convention on Conservation of Biological Resources.

�Convention for Climate Change.

� Vienna Convention, 1986.

� Montreal Protocol on ODS.

Conventions & treaties to which

India is signatory:

�Preservation of Fauna & Flora in their Natural State, 1936

�Convention for the Regulation on Whaling, 1946

� International Plant Protection Convention, 1951

� The Antarctic Treaty, 1959

� Protection of Workers against Ionizing Radiation, 1960

INDIA’S TREATY OBLIGATIONS

� Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1975

�Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, 1980

� United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982.

Conventions & Treaties to which India is a contracting party:� Convention of Wetlands, 1971

� Protection of the World Cultural & Natural Heritage, 1972.

� Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, 1973

� Protocol of 1978 for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973

� Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, 1979.

INDIA’S TREATY OBLIGATIONS

� International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983

� Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident, 1986

� Assistance in Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency,1986.

In last 15 years 11Multilateral environemtal agreements have entered into force dealing with such issues as ozone depletion, transport of hazardous waste, and conservation of migratory species.

Judicial Activism and Judicial Activism and

Proactive Judicial ResponseProactive Judicial Response

� SC served closure orders on 9,038 Polluting Units at Delhi

� SC ordered immediate closure of 59 Industries in North Arcotdistrict of Tamilnadu.

� Closure orders to Coastal Shrimp Aquaculture units

� SC took up Sue Moto petition of Bichri Case as PIL

� Patancheru Case

GREEN MOVEMENT�Nylon 6, 6 Project of Thapar Dupond Ltd., - Stalled

�Integrated Steel Project & Power Plant in Mangalore - Shifted

�Sterlite Industries 60,000 Tpa Copper Smelter - stalled

�Tata Project to setup Aqua Farm - stalled

�Binani Zinc Project - stalled

�Goshree Integrated Island Development Plan, Kerala

�Cogentrix Coal based Thermal Power Plant, Karnataka

�M/s Sinar Mas Pulp and Paper (India) Ltd., Pune

�Sanghi Jetty/Cement Plant, Kutch, Gujarat.

What are we doing to save our resources ?� The Government of India has undertaken many

measures for the conservation of the resources

� Legal framework, Regulations & Institutions to ensure Proper and sustainable use of Natural Resources.

� Regulations & reforms for proper housing and infrastructure development to avoid land acquisition problems.

� Mass media public service messages to educate the people on the importance of conservation of resources.

� Increase the wildlife and forest reserves in the country.

� Schemes to do a proper inventory of the resources and monitor changes in the environment.

� Various projects & schemes that promote conservation.36

Knowing where you are?

Where you want to Go?

and

How you are

going to get there?

Markets all over the World are GREENING

Stringent Environmental regulations are emerging rapidly…

�Direct �Market Based

�Self Regulation

�Incentives & Dis incentive Regime

�Economic/Environmental Sanctions

Emerging Scenario

� FROM COMMAND AND CONTROL TO

� Prevention principle

� cooperative principle

� Participatory Environmental Management

� FROM STATE REGULATION TO SELF –REGULATION

Paradigm shift

� Voluntary standards ISO 14001,

Responsible Care

PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE The onus of proof is on the developer to show

that his actions are environmentally benign

Environmental Decision-Making Process: From TOP-DOWN to BOTTOM-UP

� FROM DISPUTE RESOULTION TO DISPUTE AVOIDANCE� Improved Public Consultation Process� Community Response & Right to know

� Increased Liabilities & Penalties � Siting Rules & Impact Asseaament

� Standards based on supporting

or assimilative capacity of area and its safety requirements

�Pollution Taxation

� Trade Barrier

Environmental Legislation -

Emerging Trends

� Environmentally Conscious Financial institutions

Points to Ponder ?...!!!

� Stark choice = reject “the gods of profit” as holding out solution to ecological problems

� If We do not act fast: Ecological & social crisis rapidly spinning out of control, with irreversible & devastating consequences for all

� Human society & human economy has to co-exist within the larger biosphere

� Undermining conditions of life bound to undermine conditions of production it self

� Nature is not a commodity: attempting to treat it as such and make it subject to laws of self regulating market is irrational,leading to overexploitation of biosphere by failing to reproduce the conditions necessary for its continued existence

Think! What do we leave for

our children?