A report states that an increase in mining, fishery, and agriculture has lead to the reduction in a number of species on our planet.
By Aiswarya Sriram
Bangalore, April 12, 2019
According to the report, India is one of the biggest abusers of nature. The Earth has lost 50% of its corals and 20% of the Amazon forest. “This will affect the biodiversity,” says the report. The report compares economic and population growth with the increasing amount of hazardous gases and the increase in the rearing of animals. The report shows us how the human race is exploiting nature and growing. It is estimated that nature provides revenue of Rs. 86,41,125 crores every year.
The Living Planet Report 2018, released by the World Wildlife Fund, states that there is a 60% decline in the population of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians in just over 40 years. The report is released every two years.
The growing human population is leading to an increase in demand for animal goods, leading to over-exploitation of nature.
Krishnan, who works for the Federation of Animal Rights Organization said, “Depletion of species is because people are still killing animals for leather and other body parts. There must be strict action taken by the government. If the fauna gets depleted in this manner, our ecosystem will be affected.”
Kajal Maheswari, a member of Fridays for Future India movement says, “The depletion is due to over-exploitation. The government will want to earn profits and that’s why it is not bothering about the loss of nature.”
Due to land management techniques, the regeneration ability and capacity of nature has increased by 27% – at the same time, human consumption has increased by 190%. This has lead to a loss in balance. The report shows that the consumption in India is higher than 1.75 gha (Global Hectare, used to measure the ecological footprint of people).
The Prevention of Cruelty Towards Animals Act of 1960 aims to protect wildlife.
Adding to that, Animal Protection Laws has mentioned that the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) came into effect in order to protect rare and endangered species of wild fauna and flora against over-exploitation.
Animal Protection Laws state that no wild animals or birds nor other wild species, especially endangered ones, could be sold or brought. The convention ensures that international trade does not pose a threat to the survival of species in the wild. The convention also provides strict regulation over the export of those species threatened by trade.