Recent snapshots of our living earth relayed by satellites above have undoubtedly been among the most dramatic images ever encountered by humans. Earlier images, in comparison, would have much smaller areas of barren rocks and urban sprawl; much more extensive tree cover. The natural world is continuously being replaced by a world of artefacts. However, for a fuller appreciation of the consequences of the transformation made by humans, the modern bird’s-eye view of the satellite might be supplemented by a more traditional worm’s–eye view of life on the ground. If the bird’s–eye view reveals a picture of considerable ecological change, the worm’s–eye view conveys an ecological crisis.

Raymond F. Dasmann, an American biologist and environmental conservationist, believed that human societies have evolved from ‘Ecological People’ who are deeply connected to and dependent on the natural environment for their livelihoods, culture, and way of life. They have a profound understanding of the ecosystem and live in harmony with nature, relying on it for food and water, shelter, medicines, and even for spiritual and cultural practices as well. Such people are found in various parts of the world, including villages, indigenous communities, coastal communities and forest dwelling communities. As the natural world recedes owing to relentless consumption, the capacities of local ecosystems for providing natural resources to ecological people gets reduced. Over-consumption of natural resources has also caused a litany of severe ecological problems plaguing the world today.

These include: climate change, rising of sea levels, destruction of the ozone layer, extinction of species, loss of genetic diversity, tropical deforestation, soil erosion, drought, desertification, pollution of coastal water and estuaries etc. The crisis of the earth is not a crisis of nature but the crisis of society. Ecological people can no longer gain secure livelihoods in their homelands because of drought, desertification, deforestation and other environmental problems, together with the associated........

© The Statesman