Which nature do you want to save, … the man-made one you see today, or the original one? ‘This question from the audience shattered me,’ said my friend Prof Rajesh Gopinath, an environmentalist who was part of a panel discussion. Getting back to normalcy, he replied, ‘Choice is yours, but Mother Nature will not wait for you to save her.’ ‘It was indeed a good reply.’ I told Rajesh, but in a way, he had provoked my thoughts. I asked Rajesh, ‘What is ‘man-made nature? What did that participant want to know?’ Because if man creates nature, it is unnatural and not natural. So, for me, it appears that man-made nature is one that evolved due to the exploitation of natural resources. It is the human-nature interface that has changed the very definition of what was once natural. What our forefathers saw on planet Earth is not what we are seeing today. On the one hand, it was due to natural evolution over millions of years, and on the other, the man-made destruction in the last few decades.

Could we recreate an environment where dinosaurs were freely moving on the planet? Science has relied on certain assumptions based on material evidence and theories constructed thereon. We can only simulate that Mother Nature was like this during the Jurassic era, or perhaps see the movie Jurassic Park again to relive the bygone era. Nature has undergone changes that are beyond human conception. Those who lived in the 20^th century during their early years and are still living in the 21^st century, like me, may perhaps speak and recollect the school days when, on holidays, we visited the nearby villages, spent time on farms, and enjoyed swimming in the small rivulets. Where are those rivulets now? Right under our noses, we miss the sparrows to a large extent. Many bird and animal species have become extinct. The smell of soil when it rains and the frequent rainbows, lightning, and thunder are now rarities.

Precisely, today’s nature is not what people like me experienced during their youth. Within 50 years, I can confidently tell that the present-day environment is not the same as the one that prevailed in the 1960s and 70s. Anthropological changes have impacted nature. The pre-industrialisation era was far better than what it is now. Rightly, the Paris Convention decided to reverse the damage that human beings had made to the environment, choosing the pre-industrialisation global mean temperature as a benchmark.  It is understandable because we cannot return to an endless past, and we need a zero point to go forward. Global warming and climate change are major concerns today. We continuously debate how to reduce carbon footprints. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are now deadlines that institutions struggle to meet within the given time frame set by their duty-bound bosses, least realising that the environment can never be saved in air-conditioned halls. Only a few like Rajesh take it seriously and wish to contribute their part to nature. Let nature be natural, and humans, who live for a short while, must not tamper with it (Representative picture from the internet)

Dry leaves are a menace! We are fed up with them when the trees shed their leaves during dry periods!

It is quite strange to see many getting disturbed about the dry leaves. More often, we find people burning the fallen leaves because they do not know what to do with them.  Of course, the ‘easiest’ way to dispose of waste, garbage, and plastic items seems to be burning. Burning releases the carbon trapped in dry leaves, emitting harmful gases and even worse particulate matter.  In India, there are generally two dry seasons during which leaves are shed, namely, just before the monsoon and summer. The most common of these are Neem, Populus, Maple tree, and Peach. Leaves reappear with the arrival of the spring season. This process of shedding leaves is called as abscission or leaf fall.

The trees that shed leaves are called deciduous trees. Before shedding, leaves change colour from green to yellow or red/brown and finally fall. Such fallen leaves are a valuable resource for gardening and landscaping. Dry leaves are a type of organic matter that is high in carbon and low in nitrogen. They are often dry, brittle, and may retain their original structure. Used as mulch, they can retain soil moisture, insulate plants from cold, and suppress weeds.  Dry leaves may become compost and contribute to soil health by providing a natural fertilizer. Additionally, they can be used in craft projects and even as insulation for garden sheds. A healthy soil consists of humus, the organic component of soil, primarily composed of decayed plant and animal matter. It includes carbon, nitrogen, and other elements like phosphorus and sulfur. 

The best way of managing dry leaves is to leave them where they fell. Perhaps some may be skeptical when I say this. But consider this. There are vast areas of forests where, every season, trees shed leaves, but no one is concerned about that. What happens to these leaves? They decay, decompose, and become the organic component of the soil, namely humus. This enables new trees to get manure from decomposed animal and plant matter. Soil that consists of sand particles only has no nutritional value except that it holds the roots. It is the organic matter that further gets converted into nutrients, such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), as well as organic compounds and essential elements necessary for plant growth. If someone still wants to treat the dry leaves, they can try composting or using them as mulch. Composting helps improve soil, while mulching provides moisture retention and weed control. In the 90s, I used to trek into the dense evergreen forests (Sholas) of Kodaikanal, which are known for their spongy floor. The floor may hold fallen leaves that could be dated a few thousand years. The leaves mix with rainwater to serve as a blotting paper, giving a cushioning effect while walking. If one experiments digging to trace the rock bottom, it may be about one or two meters deep sometimes. These are all the sources of fertility of the soil. Dry leaves and dead animals are great contributors to soil fertility. They are not a menace. Nature has appointed them to do so. We should not create a barren land, but leave the dry leaves as such.

Tit for tat, eye for eye… such emotional outbursts are quite common when it comes to war! The common man thinks the solution to all terrorist activities must be responded to on the same scale. Especially those who were affected by a bomb blast, a terror activity, or an unprovoked attack will feel so, and it is but natural. However, the cost of such attacks cannot be compensated by either money or revengeful retaliations. True that such heinous crimes will end in a large-scale disaster if not arrested in time. However, history has shown that the war is not a permanent solution. When the missiles and drones pitch fire on undisclosed targets, it is beyond doubt that there will be huge collateral damage besides the targeted spot. Tracing the flesh and blood of human bodies and animals amidst the rubble is pathetic. Leave alone the valuables that get destroyed in the attacks. We are daily hearing stories of one or other attack on the Gaza Strip or the Russo-Ukrainian War.

Thousands of multi-story buildings, passenger vehicles, and other properties are being reduced to rubble, rubbish, and ruins. Economic loss apart, we have witnessed the drastic destruction of the environment. War and armed conflict significantly degrade the environment through various means, including direct destruction of ecosystems, pollution from military activities, and the exploitation of natural resources. These impacts can lead to long-lasting consequences like food and water insecurity, biodiversity loss, and the displacement of populations. Construction of military bases may destroy forests, wetlands, and other natural habitats, leading to habitat loss and biodiversity decline. The chemical weapons may affect water sources, soils, and air with hazardous substances. Flora and fauna will be destroyed, leading to a loss of biodiversity. Innocent civilians may be displaced. The overuse of fossil fuels by military aircraft will emit greenhouse gases. The military attacks mostly target fuel tanks and stations, which speed up the shrinking of fossil fuel stocks. When emotions flare up, there will be an excitement in favour of war. Politicians take mileage out of such mass psychology. Graphics in news media channels showed jaguars, missiles, and drones flying crisscross the TV screen, giving a feel of seeing war pictures of a possible 3^rd World War. Any such act might result in the escalation of the war situation and the ultimate decimation of the precious natural resources. Besides innocent lives, the ultimate victim would be the environment. We should not forget that a 3^rd World War would make the planet Earth a barren land (Picture courtesy: a representative picture from the Internet)

Published on 10.5.25 in South Express

Why are trees always targeted? Are there no alternatives for trees? Can’t we produce more oxygen in the lab?

Such questions repeatedly surface among students. Why are trees treated as priceless? Is it true that we can’t estimate the worth of a tree? Long ago, a research study computed the value of a grown-up tree as Rs 1 Crore. In January 2020, then Chief Justice S.A. Bobde instructed a committee of experts to evaluate the loss of trees to the environment. The panel estimated the economic value of a tree as Rs 74500 multiplied by its age. In other words, a 100-year-old tree will be worth Rs 74,50000. Heritage trees with a lifespan of over 100 years could be valued at more than Rs 1 crore. By adding the costs of micronutrients and compost, living trees will more often than not outweigh the benefit of most of the projects they are felled for, as per the committee’s report. Unfortunately, when calculating the cost-benefit analysis of an infrastructure project, the authorities never speak about the environmental costs of felling trees for the project. Project reports make a passing remark, that’s all. Sometimes the reports suggest transplantation of well-grown trees, but do not discuss the feasibility of transplantation and maintenance. In Bangalore, the Metro rail construction had initiated compensatory plantation. But there is no provision for a reality check about the number of trees removed or the number of trees compensated. Even if ten saplings are planted for felling one tree, where is the real compensation for the environmental degradation meted out to the spot where the felled tree existed?   Moreover, ten new and young saplings cannot compensate the loss due to the felling of a 50-year-old tree in terms of the economic values as mentioned above.

While everyone knows the environmental value of a tree, it is painful to note that all over India, whether it is Hyderabad, Bangalore, Delhi, or Uttarakhand, massive tree felling has become the order of the day, in the name of a new infrastructure project. Nowadays, wherever new projects are proposed, the contractors erect huge compound walls that hide the happenings behind the walls. After erecting walls, whether tunneling, felling trees, or destroying a water body, becomes easier. Recently, a small forest stretch near Dwarka, adjacent to the International Airport, vanished overnight. Tree felling happens at midnight when the world sleeps, using chainsaws within a fraction of a minute. The old timers cannot forget the once beautiful PUSA road in West Delhi before the erection of metro pillars. Those born after 2000 may not even imagine that the road was once a boulevard. We do not preach against development, but the planners of development conveniently forget the economic value of trees and blame climate change when the weather is getting hotter. Bangalore, the once garden city is now a concrete jungle!

Last August, the Karnataka Cabinet approved the Tunnel Roads Project (TRP) of Bengaluru. This 18-km TRP is between Hebbal and the Silk Board junction. The tunnel corridor is expected to facilitate smoother and speedier vehicular movement, enhance transportation efficiency, and support economic growth by improving connectivity between important corridors. This initiative is deemed the Government’s commitment to sustainable urban development and infrastructure modernization. However, Bengalurians do not seem to be enthusiastic about the project. Scientists from the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, do not advocate the move. They say that the move is unscientific and will not ease the traffic problem in the city. The project could disrupt groundwater flow, threaten local flora and fauna, and exacerbate the heat island effect. Environmentalists say the underground aquifers will be cut off drastically, drying out borewells and waterbodies. Some geological complexities, such as rock fissures, sinkholes, and landslides, will derail the project. The DPR of the project is said to have no satisfactory environmental impact assessment (EIA). The project cost is too high and is not commensurate with the expected benefits. It is always argued that such mega infrastructure projects are time-consuming and cannot rule out huge cost escalation.

An ordinary citizen looks for making the road cyclable or walkable for short distances, while public transportation is the key for longer distances. Therefore, there is opposition in the form of online signature campaigns, media highlights, and warnings about cost escalation. The metro rail construction is in slow progress. Even if the city is connected by Metro, there will be last-mile connectivity issues as the city is expanding in all four directions. Looking at Delhi’s experience, Bangalore residents will also be comfortable using the metro rails. In addition, the roads of Bangalore cannot bear the load of vehicular traffic, as they are mostly narrow. With affordability increasing, the four-wheeler sales have grown tremendously in the last few years. We can also explore introducing economical mofussil electric trains, using the train routes and connecting railway stations inside the city, like those of Chennai and Mumbai.  Moreover, why don’t we have a comprehensive traffic management system? I happened to talk to an engineering student. I asked him whether there is any satellite-based solution for Bangalore’s traffic snarls. He was optimistic and said we can easily integrate traffic signals through an integrated digital platform that could be effectively monitored and managed. He added that the tunnel project will not solve the persistent traffic problems. Why can’t we consider such ideas from our young engineers?  In any case, the tunnel road projects will be a futile exercise on one hand and will end in disaster in the long run. After all, where is the assurance that there won’t be jams in tunnels? (see the tunnel scene in Delhi)

There cannot be smoke without fire! True, when people are boiling, something is brewing. Let us see the background. The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has contemplated a waste-to-energy (WTE) project at Kodungaiyur in crowded North Chennai. The Corporation has signed a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) with a company called ‘Resustainability for burning 1400 tons of non-biodegradable waste generated per day at a project cost of Rs 1026 Crores. The project will be implemented in 25 years under a Public Private partnership (PPP). For all this, the expected electricity generation is a meagre 21 megawatts, though the company claims to have cutting-edge Chinese technology! It reminds us of the famous idiom penny-wise, pound-foolish. Electricity production or garbage treatment, which is the key objective of this project? Apprehensions soared as the technology, according to people, will throw toxic pollutants into the air and water. For about 40 years, the residents have voiced their health concerns about the Kodungaiyur landfill in North Chennai. In a massive show of strength, the residents came together under the Federation of North Chennai Resident Welfare Associations on 13.4.25 to fight against the move. Going by the reports and records, it is evident that the residents won’t budge. The meeting resolved to hold a massive human chain protest on May 25. As usual, the authorities claim that environment clearance has been obtained from CPCB and TNPCB.

Though the company claims that the process is a ‘cutting-edge’ technology and non-polluting, when we burn the mixed waste, it is common sense that the smoke will carry pollutants, effluents will pour ash, and other chemicals. As of now, we have no clarity on this matter. There are two more points to note. One is burning the mixed waste accumulated at Kodungaiyur for 3 to 4 decades, and the other is about what to do with future dumping. People demand relocation of the dumping site to a remote place, but will that be a solution?  In Kodungaiyur, lots of cancer and other lung diseases have since been reported. It is a thickly populated area with about 38000 people per square km. Most of them are from the poor and middle classes. Under the circumstances, the best solution is to shift the landfill to a remote location far away from any human habitat and forests. Mixed waste should not be allowed in the existing landfills. Efforts must be made to replicate the Biomining project in South Chennai. The municipal corporation must enforce segregation at source as stated in the Solid Waste Management Rules 2016. Green and wet waste must be composted. Non-biodegradable waste has to be sorted, recycled, reused, and reduced.  Since the volume of waste generated is enormous in cities like Chennai and Bangalore, the Government needs to engage the services of experts and handle waste management scientifically and professionally. In a democracy, the voice of the people is the ultimate. The way residents stand up together in North Chennai is a classic example of how genuine concerns should work, and bring change

Interesting! Birders cannot click photos from hides anymore in Nainital. Is it good or bad?

There are two types of bird lovers: those who are interested in watching birds and those who are interested in capturing birds through their lens. Both are right in their way. At Sattal in Nainital district, both are quite common. There is an area called ‘Studio area’ that is adjacent to the lake. This is a hotspot, as mentioned in eBird India, a global portal, with more than 260 species of birds recorded here. At this place, bird photographers find ample opportunities to photograph birds close in their natural settings.  Sattal gives ample opportunities to watch colourful birds. One way is to walk around and look for rare birds. Or, if someone is interested, he may hire a bird hide. Many private agencies provided the facility. In both cases, the local guides assist photographers in identifying the bird species.

The Forest Department has recently banned hide photography and started taking action under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. While bird hide photography itself isn’t outright banned in Uttarakhand, using playbacks to lure birds for photography is considered illegal under the Wildlife Protection Act, as it constitutes baiting. Complaints about feeding birds with meat entrails were also coming up. These were the reasons why the forest department was tightening its belts. Sattal is home to about 400 bird species, which means about one-third of India’s bird species are found there. I used to try all methods in Sattal, such as visits to birding hotspots, casual bird walks, hide photography, and tracing targeted birds. Bird-watching is exciting and enriching. But I never agree with disturbing wildlife or teasing them. While hide photography per se is not a criminal act, though feeding the birds for photography¹ is not in good taste. More so, when they are fed meat, it is an obnoxious act for commercial purposes.

I have seen a few guides who used playback recorders and mimicked the voice using birding apps. But apps like Merlin by Cornell Lab, i-Naturalist, and eBird are useful tools for guiding bird researchers.  However, Sattal guides are not that bad. Barring a few commercial people, many are leading normal lives. Like Bharatpur or Sultanpur National Parks, the bird guides do not lead great lives. Birding is a seasonal activity in many birding spots. The guides are involved in farming or other traditional activities during the off-season. I met a birding guide who runs a Tea shop near Bharatpur National Park. He had excellent knowledge about birds and their behaviour.  To streamline the birding trails, the guides must be certified by the forest department to provide genuine guidance. They must be taught the dos and don’ts, and make the guiding profession more eco-friendly

1. A blue throated barbet is feeding on a papaya kept by hide manager ↩︎

The freedom for this country came at midnight, and perhaps that night marked the sacrifice of millions of freedom fighters. Paradoxically, the ‘freedom to destroy’ the 400-acre land at Kancha Gauchibowli of the University of Hyderabad at midnight was a conspiracy. Why JCBs chose midnight for their nefarious action is perhaps suspicious. Of course, the contractors were successful in almost shaving away 50 acres of green cover. The painful cry of peafowls woke up the social media. Hundreds of students were on their toes without realizing that they were going to be treated as criminals and fall prey to the lati charge of police for what ‘crime’? They were protesting to stop the state-sponsored crime of felling the trees. The purpose of the deforestation was to build an infotech park. The move to destroy the forests drew the attention of activists everywhere. Many activists raised concerns and held rallies in solidarity with the students. When pressure mounted from all quarters, the Supreme Court ordered the scrapping of the proposed infotech project. It was a blow to the Telangana Government, which is now contemplating turning 2000 acres of land into one of the world’s largest eco-parks, which will include the University of Hyderabad lands and Kancha Gauchibowli land. This means that the University near Kancha Gauchibowli will be shifted to a new location. What a clever move! What development or economic growth is proposed by such a move?

A natural forest does not mean an evergreen forest of tall trees with tigers and leopards roaming freely. In general, urban green areas are mini forests with smaller animals such as monitor lizards, monkeys, snakes, hares, and peafowls. They are scrub jungles with a unique ecosystem. There are shelters for several microorganisms, flora, and fauna.  The ridge in Delhi is a classic example. Fortunately, the central ridge forest has survived the Airport metro tunneling to date. But Delhi’s metro tunneling has interrupted underground aquifers. If not today, the environmental impact will be felt very soon. Perhaps Delhiites might wake up from their long slumber to realize that it is too late.  Here, in Hyderabad, the proposed eco park will not take into account the rocky natural habitat at Kancha Gauchibowli. However, the valiant war by the students deserves applause. One request at the end! The misleading AI generated videos may tend to derail a beautiful movement. We need to be cautious!

Nature is a natural phenomenon! Sounds odd? Perhaps, yes! The other day, one student requested me to give ideas on using the AI tool for environmental experiments. He was doing his summer project work. He wanted me to help him with some environmental concepts for applying AI tools. I do not know why he was asking for ideas from a person who does not have any technical background. There is no dearth of ideas on the internet. All he had to do was to use ChatGPT, Meta AI on WhatsApp, or even Google browser (which now uses an AI tool for searching). I learnt that there are 100s of such AI tools today in the global market. He probably wanted to identify some problem areas from a grassroot level worker like me.  I didn’t want to disappoint him, though it meant some extra effort for me. Of course, such small works do come often. The following were some of the ideas that flashed in my mind. They were all my felt needs at one time or another as an environmental activist. He chose the third idea

1. Develop a model to geotag all trees, the species location, etc. This may help stop illegal tree felling. There were some apps already. But we may explore using AI tools for better counting
2. Unauthorized garbage dumping is a big menace. We may develop an AI tool to track dumpers and clear the garbage. If the entire city is covered by an AI tool, something can be done promptly to clear the trash.
3. Bangalore’s traffic is a perennial problem. AI tool to track congested roads and make synchronized traffic management, pollution level, and roads with less traffic, coordinated traffic signaling, etc. This could save fossil fuel waste, reduce pollution levels, and save time on roads
4. Wild animals like leopards enter human colonies. The forest department is unable to track them for days. AI tool may help capture the animals and release them in jungles to avoid loss of life on both sides
5. Migratory bird tracking was traditionally done using the ringing method. Could an AI tool capture migratory birds electronically and track them to trace their route? Can it be used for a particular bird to find the number of days of flight, height, speed, non-stop or otherwise, climatic conditions in both places, eco systems, food similarity, etc.?

The above list is just indicative and not exhaustive. AI could be used widely in environmental research. However, the usefulness of this tool depends on how we use it. Artificially, one may even create a jungle or even a river or desert, and it may appear as if it is natural. But Nature is God’s creation. Oxygen can never be created in labs. Only trees can produce it to date. Even the human body and its various systems are still a mystery. Man has not yet decoded the basis of life and its beginning or end. But will life be the same after AI takes extensive strides? In the last few decades, the world has witnessed a lot of technological inventions. The lifestyle in the recent past has undergone drastic change. Survival is not that easy as we experienced in the 20^th century. This is the era of Artificial Intelligence. AI has already assumed wide dimensions in all spheres. Given the background of all these happenings in planet Earth, it appears that nature is not an exemption. If used properly, AI could prove very useful. If the same is used to get more likes and followers in social media, it may spread misinformation and fabrication. The choice is in our hands.

A farmer was driving a tractor on his farm. Interestingly he was not tilling or ploughing his land. A close look at the scene was shocking. The visual flashed on a TV channel was disturbing. Yes, he was destroying the cauliflower plants together with vegetables. Yes, he had no other way because he had been offered Rs 10 per kg which was pathetic. There is no point in adding his expenses of carrying the produce to the market as the price does not even compensate even 10^th of his investments in the production. There is always a felt need to strengthen the farmers’ hand. India has witnessed farmers’ suicides in Vidarbha, Maharashtra many a time. The agricultural produce in our country gets exchanged between many hands before it reaches the consumer. End of the day, what we pay farmers is just peanuts. This is why TN has ventured into the farmers market which is handled by the farmers directly. Indirectly, the farmers take the produce and reach the ultimate consumer without a middleman menace. Uzhavar Sandhai meaning farmers’ market in Tamil aims to empower farmers by allowing them to sell their produce directly to consumers, potentially earning them higher profits and reducing the influence of middlemen. Consumers can buy fresh produce at lower prices compared to traditional retail outlets.  Late Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M Karunanidhi deserves all praise for introducing the concept in 1999, which is still in vogue. The scheme is managed by the Agricultural Marketing Department and manned by staff from the Department of Agricultural Marketing, Agriculture, and Horticulture. These markets are located in various urban areas across Tamil Nadu. Of course, a similar market is there in Chandigarh, Punjab known as Apna Mundi, though it is smaller. In Andhra Pradesh, a direct market is in place. These are good examples of boosting the morale and economy of the farming community. We understand that these markets operate between 5.30 AM and 6.00 PM and transport facilities are provided to the farmers’ market from some nearby areas at specific times. At the farmers’ market, each farmer is allocated a separate space and is given free weighing equipment. Farmers have been issued an identity card to sell at the farmers’ market. The identity card also includes pictures of family members, so that they can bring their produce to the market. A Government officer handles each market. Price is decided by a committee and posted in the farmers’ market for public view. In Tamil Nadu, Uzhavar Sandhai is available in 104 locations, according to the TNA Agritech website. In cities, people prefer such markets and avail the benefit of better prices and quality. Such concepts must gain national-level importance. More research must take place to strengthen the farmers’ market. Unless farmers get better treatment, the exodus from the agriculture sector will deteriorate, and people will switch to other activities leading to more environmental issues such as urbanization, and dependence on food imports.