Ecosystem Diversity and Sustainability: Towards Middle Path

Dr. B. Mohan Kumar

Professor & Head

Dept
t. of Social Sciences & Humanities

CBS&H, GBPUA&T, Pantnagar

The inherent resilience in nature and the inevitably ubiquitous constancy of

subtle or drastic alterations tend to subsume, even counter-balance the various
human interventions in the form of resource-utilization in the course of
civilizational ascension. Ecological biodiversity implies coexistence of multiple,
often divergent forces and organisms. The crux of the problem lies in the
prevailing development premise that most of the natural resources are for the
exploitation and utilization of human beings. There are diametrically opposing
perspectives to perceive the issue. One view often implies irrational and
unsustainable exploitation of even depleting bio-physical resources for short-term
gains causing long-term ecological damage. This seemingly realistic view is
essentially pessimistic critically blaming human efforts of growth for ecological
problems amounting to self-flagellation. The other more optimistic view counters
the first one with the argument that such an idea amounts to amentia or non-
recognition of human intelligence, creativity and ingenuity generating a wide
range of astounding techno-scientific and aesthetic milestones, multidimensional
achievements and search for sustainable alternatives. In reality, human beings are
still continuing their struggle for survival in the face of adversities and uphill
challenges. It is, however, wiser to follow a middle path as some human efforts
bring in certain desirable (or culturally approved) and intended (or
institutionally mandated) consequences while others undesirable and unintended
ones. The former is more functional to ecological sustainability while the latter
may be mal(dys)functional in their effects. Variations in terms of temporal
(periodic), spatial and situational dimensions have to be accorded due cognition
that itself nullifies any premise having universal applicability.

Key-Words: development, evolution, pessimistic/optimistic views, middle range

The incremental progression of human development spurred by the

accumulated and accreted scientific knowledge and technological knowhow may seem
to have outpaced but essentially subsumed in the subtle evolutionary process
inherent in nature. However, it may be reiterated that human beings being just one
of the organisms in the biodiverse and multi-variate nature play a miniscule
albeit significant role in the ongoing universal triadic scheme of creation,
sustenance and destruction. There prevails divergent perception related to
possible role and impacts of human intervention on the composite ecology. In fact,
there is a broad spectrum of perceptions. There is a pessimistic view that
presupposes and blames human efforts for ecological degradation at the one end;
while the optimistic view glorifies material development and control over nature
at the other end. There are contingent views in the middle range either tilting
towards one of the extreme perspectives or postulating a balanced stance
highlighting the positive points and abnegating the negative ones of both. The
present analysis is an assertion of relative advantage in the middle range
perspective.

It is, however, unjustified to highlight only the negative points of any

perspective. The views tilted to pessimistic extreme has a brighter side as they
highlight the risks to natural equilibrium due to excessive exploitation of
resources that can hardly be replenished. These bring into focus the serious issue
of rapid depletion without full swing committed search for alternative as in the
case of fossil fuel that may not last more than a couple of decades. The search,
for instance, in lasting energy sources are still experimental and sporadic. Such
a view essentially forewarns the intellectual, economic and political leaders
sensitizing them to the looming calamity of multiple pollutions and long-term
adverse impacts. These are inevitably being brought about by the natural or
manmade processes of erosion, contamination and degradation of biotic-abiotic
diversity making them unsustainable. Such realization may hopefully spur formation
of policies and matching endeavours attuned to sustainability of the planet earth
securing it for the coming generations. It does not belittle the onward march of
human specie as this can not be wished away, but simply implies that moderation is
required in utilization of depletible resources while focusing on rational
exploitation of non-depletible ones. However, the outcry over a broad range of
adverse impacts on air, water, soil, biodiversity, human health and climate often
corroborated empirically (albiet sporadic and inconsistent) betrays an alarmist
view of doomsayer. One has to recall the scientific notion of constancy of
evolutionary process that continues in a subtle manner and perceive the issue as a
persistence of human efforts to survive, strive and thrive in the face of varied
adversities.
The whole issue, however, is too complex and varied to be analyzed and
comprehended simplistically. It is related to the techno-scientific advancements
creating more comforts and amenities on the one hand, and concomitant ecological
degradation and depleting bio-physical resources on the other. The middle path is
a saner approach that focuses on the continuation of positives and avoidance of
negatives in terms of sustainability and for the sake of leaving a habitable
ecology for the coming generations.
There are multiple substantive issues and premises involved in the problem. Some
of these having middle range thrust may be critically perused:
• In-built Unsustainability in the Prevailing Development Premise:
There seems to be certain inherent presumptions in the overarching development
paradigm being followed the world over that tantamount to overexploitation of
ecological resources for enhancing productivity and improving human comforts
assisted by a broad range of techno-scientific innovations without taking into
account the long-term adverse impacts. The increasing needs of food, energy,
water, fuel, shelter, civic amenities and a host of other related consumer
necessities accelerate the ongoing process of exploiting natural resources. The
fallout is observed in depleting reserves of water, fossil fuel, forest on the one
hand; and degradation/contamination of air, water, soil, biodiversity and the
likes on the other. These invariably lead to green house effect, depletion of
protective ozone layer, unpredictable climatic conditions and increasing
susceptibility of human being to various psychosomatic diseases.
There seems to be a vicious circle of increasing population, their unlimited needs
and consequent overexploitation of resources in which the humanity has got mired.
Unless the development paradigm spurring unrestrained consumerism is altered to
imbibe the sustainable agenda, there may not be an easy way out. Such refocusing
requires sensitization of the people in ecosystem diversity envisioned with
sustainability.
• Continuation of Subtle Evolutionary Process:
It would be unscientific to presume that evolution has ceased to continue.
Certain physiological human traits (i.e. opposing thumbs, bipedal movement,
advanced brain, genetic configuration etc.) and acquired manipulating skills and
ingenuity have enabled the humanity to ascend higher on the imagined civilization
ladder and excel in many realms. The mindboggling advancements in science and
technology have accelerated the control of nature and wise utilization of
resources. There has been stupendous progression in cultural and aesthetic realms.
Yet, the efforts to enhance comfort level and create facilities/infrastructure
ceaselessly continue. That some of these have generated unintended and undesirable
impacts may be indicative of emerging challenges that humanity is striving to
face.
The increasing concern is reflected in serious deliberations for evolving
measures to counter or minimize the adverse effects of environmental pollution,
preservation of biodiversity and search for appropriate alternatives in order to
ensure sustainable course of development. It would be interesting to hypothesize
that even subtle changes may be occurring in the human physiology and psychology
attuned to the new challenges and opportunities. These initially seem to be
contrary to existing notions of rational existence, but we must not doubt the
inherent/acquired capacity, resilience and ingenuity of humanity to emerge
unscathed in this struggle for survival.
• Inevitability of Epochal Changes and Concomitant Alterations:
It is a truism, yet needs to be reiterated that the earth system with its
ecological diversity has witnessed multiple changes within it without human
intervention (i.e. shift in continental plates, destruction/formation of terrains
and water bodies in different eras, climatic changes, and other geological
upheavals) and emergence of variegated life forms, survival of some through
adaptation and extinction of many. Somewhere along the line, human beings evolved
about three million years ago and emerged the most resilient and wisest to survive
and strive ahead in the struggle for existence. They have proved to be more
manipulative and intelligent to carve niches and evolve mechanisms to make life
more comfortable. The quest and striving continues with leaps and bounds in many
sectors. These can not be wished away or belittled. We may be witnessing a
miniscule part of the epochal changes in our times. The cynicism of doomsayers
will get relegated to the backwaters as it largely tends to underrate the human
ingenuity and capacity to adapt. No doubt, some of these endeavours have generated
adverse conditions, but humanity is striving to find way out of any imbroglio and
is undertaking massive global projects towards sustainability despite initial
hiccups.
• Search for sustainable alternatives:
There is a set of multipronged agenda with a vision to minimize ecological
imbalance and ensure secure future within the limits of human efforts and
intelligence. Some of these may be cited to substantiate optimistic confidence in
human ingenuity. For instance, search for viable sources of energy besides the
existing hydel, thermal and nuclear ones in the forms of exploiting solar, wind,
sea-waves, bio-resources etc. are indicative of sustainable efforts. Striving to
focus on eco-friendly bio-control, bio-fertilization, organic farming, genetically
engineered crops and the likes may prove to be positive moves towards
sustainability. Moreover, extensive reforestation, conservation and preservation
of biodiversity may reinstate the equilibrium suited to new challenges and ethos
of sustainable future.
• Ecological Zone-specific Projects of development:
The diversity in the extant ecological systems has largely been identified and
working database formulated to facilitate region/sub-region-specific projects in
tune with the needs and priorities of a particular region and inhabitants. The
earlier thrust on uniform policies has given way to contextualized ones that are
attuned to geographical conditions, human resources and prevalent styles of
livelihood. These tend to elicit positive response and consequent involvement of
local populace. For instance, the projects for resource-scarce zones of hills,
deserts, arid/semi-arid areas inhabited by indigenous and underprivileged people
engaged in unproductive works have been focused for mainstreaming through efforts
of public and voluntary agencies of development. However, there has been
perceptional divergence in priority-setting primarily due to near-absence of ex
ante assessments of existing livelihood sources, infrastructure and world-view of
concerned people. The sustainability issue has remained sidelined to a greater
extent, thus minimizing the expected and desirable impacts.
• Ensuring access to sustainable livelihood opportunities:
The more urgent and pressing concerns of the humanity are to ensure rational
provision of reasonable access of the masses to drinking water, nutritional food,
shelter, health care and civic amenities besides adequate enablement and
empowerment to sustain survival and civilized existence. The major efforts are
indeed directed towards these projects. The problem may be marginalization of
issues like judicious distribution and equitable access to enhancing avenues.
Somewhere the priorities have got bogged down in efforts for procuring mundane
luxuries for the privileged few causing negligence of basic necessities for the
underprivileged majority. The increasing dissent and violent unrest being
witnessed today throughout the world needs to be accorded topmost priority,
otherwise the humanity may get mired in resolving small or large scale conflicts
rather than focusing capabilities on issues of long-term implications such as
global warming, conserving and preserving ecosystem diversity and so on.
• Elitist Bias and Lip Service to the Cause of Sustainable Livelihood:
There is a widespread feeling that such concerns betray elitist bias in
thinking amounting to idealized and formalized policy-formation and negligible
implementation at the ground level. This may be curtailed by addressing and
prioritizing the unfulfilled needs of more than half of humanity in the widely
scattered tribal, rural and slum zones that remain largely sidelined in the course
of global development. In fact, the scientists, technologists, other intellectuals
and policymakers may be blamed if they fail to undertake such onerous
responsibility with urgency for the sake of justifying massive public/private
expense on them, if not for loftier cause of humanity. Increasing practice of
enforcing accountability through evaluation and monitoring of scientific and
development works is one of the mitigating measures for streamlining. Indeed, it
must not be presumed to be a case of misplaced optimism. They have been able to
find ways to bring incremental progression in nearly all the possible realms, and
they can definitely find ways to the specific concerns of marginalized lot.
Sporadic attempts have proved to be impacting inadequately and marginally in the
face of large scale and magnitude of unfinished tasks of sustainability.
• Ecological concerns as subterfuge/ distraction from real issues and
perpetrators:
One is tempted to opine that modern and privileged sections and regions have got
too engrossed in sensate (i.e. pleasure-seeking pursuit) culture to get concerned
with the lurking catastrophic hazards to humanity and the earth that their
consumption and life choices tend to generate and aggravate. But the enchanting
lure of luxuries and comforts overshadow any sensible and sustained efforts
towards mitigation of ecological or judicious development issues. Can these be
wished away or has mass sensitization been adequately undertaken to wean away? The
answer is an emphatic No. There seems to be little light at the end of the tunnel
of self-destruction the humanity perforce has tumbled into. Reliable data
vindicate the point that the disproportionately greater consumption of energy and
search for maximizing profits through production of luxury items has intensely
magnified the ecological disasters in the forms of global warming, depletion of
protective ozone layer, climate change, melting of polar caps and river-sustaining
glacial ice, deforestation etc. These inevitably threaten the sustainable
existence of life forms and accelerate the process of indispensable destruction.
But these harsh realities need not turn us into hardcore pessimists and doomsayers
as the current world-view seem to be incorporating corrective measures for
mitigation.