UNIT 2 NATURAL RESOURCE'

MANAGEMENT AND
ENVIRONMENT
Structure
2.1 Introduction
2.2 The Meaning and Types of Natural Resources
2.3 Biodiversity: Our Strength
2.4 Exploitation of Natural Resources
2.5 Threats to Biodiversity
--.
.". ,2.6 Conservation of Biodiversity
2.7 Management of Natural Resources
2.8 Let Us Sum Up
2.9 References and Suggested Readings
2.10 Check Your Progress - Possible Answers

2.1 INTRODUCTION
One of the most critical issues on the national and the global agenda is the need
to preserve natural resources for future generations, while meeting present day
requirements. Today, the entire world has awakened to the need for sustainable
development by maintaining judicious use of the natural resources and adopting
developmental models and policies which assure proper environmental protection.
It is well known that humans across the globe are not only polluting nature and
destroying it thorough an aggressive expansion of urbanization vis-2-vis
consumerism. It was rightly pointed out by Mahatma Gandhi, that there is enough
in nature for human need but not for human greed. Some 11,000 years agp,
agriculture started in the lap of nature. In the beginning, it was a beautiful synergy
between human technique and rhythmic nature, gradually this relationship became
less friendly and finally it became tarnished. In the aftermath of the Second
World War, unabated mechanization as well as increasing use chemicals have
transformed our agriculture into a huge source of pollution of the environment.
Aftentudying this unit, you should be able to:
explain the role of natural resources in the lives of human beings
* discuss the impact of development activities on the natural resource base
describe the impact of development on the natural resource management
strategies
explain the role of various government bodies in the management of natural
resources
differentiate the factors responsible for the depletion and over exploitation
of natural resources
identify the various threats in the management'of natural resources.
Emerging Issues in
Developm~.lt 2.2 THE MEANING AND TYPES OF NATURAL
RESOURCES
Nature has been defined as the omnipresent expanse, definite and indefinite,
created and evolving, having all the biotic, abiotic and social dimensions, evolving
within, and around life forms and life process. The following definition may be
used for understanding the natural resources: "the sum total of all physical,
chemical, biological and social factors which construct the surroundings of man
is referred to as environment and each element of these surroundings constitutes
a resource on which man thrives in order to develop a better life". Any part of
our natural environment, such as land, water, air minerals, forest, rangeland,
wild life, fish, micro organisms, or even human population - that man can utilize
to promote the welfare, may be regarded as a natural resource. There are two
types of natural resources, viz., exhaustible and inexhaustible. Exhaustible
resources are limited in nature and liable to be degraded in quantity and quality
by human activities. Examples are forests, soil, water and fossil fuels, etc.
Inexhaustible natural resources are unlimited in nature, and they are not likely to
be exhausted by human activities, like solar radiation, air, and precipitation.

Environment: the environment is everything which surrounds an organism and

influences its life in many ways. It includes physical and biological components.
The physical components of the environment are soil, water, air, light and
temperature. These are termed abiotic components. The plants and animals are
collectively referred to as biotic components. All these components of the
environment work together, interact and modify the effects of one another.

Water: about 70-73 per cent of the earth is covered by water. Water is available
in the form of oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, ponds, pools, polar ice caps, and water
vapour, and this forms the hydrosphere. The main component of the hydrosphere
is water. Water exists in all the three forms, i.e., solid (snow), liquid (water), and
gas (water vapour).

Air: this is an inexhaustible natural resource and essential for the survival of all
the living organisms on earth. In the atmosphere, about 95 per cent of the air is
present up to a height of 20 krn above the earth's surface. The remaining 5 per
cent of air is present up to a height of about 280 km. Air is a mixture of different
gases; nitrogen and oxygen are the major components. Thus, the total volume of
air present in the atmosphere consists of 78 per cent nitrogen, 21 per cent oxygen,
while the remaining 1 per cent is made up of other gases, such as y-gon, neon,
helium, krypton, xenon, and radon.

Soil: the word, soil, is derived from a Latin word, solurn, meaning ground. It is
a stratified mixture of inorganic and organic materials, both of which are products
of decomposition.

Minerals: the Earth's crust is rich in inorganic materials which include ores that
are used on a large scale to yield metals such as iron. aluminium, copper, tin,
nickel, silver, gold, and platinum. These minerals are useful in industrial and
technological growth. Some of the metals are used as catalysts, e.g., vanadium,
tungsten, and molybdenum. Some of the non metallic materials (minerals) are
vital to industrial growth such as sand, fluxes, clay, salt, sulphur, phosphorus,
diamonds, gems, coal, and by products of petroleum (petrol, kerosene, lubricants).
Flora and fauna: flora refers to plant species and fauna refers to animal species. Natural Resource
Management and
The term biota includes both plants, as well as the domesticated and wild species Environment
of animals. Our country has a rich diversity of flora and fauna. There are over
45,000 plant species and 81,25 1 animal species. This represents about 7 per cent
of world's flora and 6.5 per cent of world's fauna.

BIODIVERSITY: OUR STRENGTH

Biodiversity is the variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or,
on the entire Earth. Biodiversity is often used as a measure of the health of
biological systems. The biodiversity found on Earth today consists of many
millions of distinct biological species, which is the product of nearly 3.5 billion
years of evolution.

Biological diversity or biodiversity can have many interpretations, and it is most

commonly used to replace the more clearly defined and long established terms,
species diversity, and species richness. Biologists most often define biodiversity
as the "totality of genes, species, and ecosystems of a region". An advantage of
this definition is that it seems to describe most circumstances and present a
unified view of the traditional three levels at which biological variety has been
identified
genetic diversity
species diversity
ecosystem diversity.
One of the most pressing issues on the national and global agenda is the need to
conserve biodiversity for future generations while trying to understand and
document the indigenous knowledge of resource management practices. So far,
this challenge, has been partially addressed by the national and global agencies,
who have restricted themselves to conservation of biodiversity as outlined by
the World Commission on Environment and Development (1987), which led to
calls for sustainable development. As a result, the model of development was
foisted upon the so called Third World foi the last fifty years. A strong argument
has been made that development dictated from outside rather anchored in the
knowledge base of the target population is, in principle, modernization disguised,
and not fully concerned with local needs. This is evidenced by the continuing
marginalization of already marginalized populations in Latin America and
elsewhere at a global level, and similarly, marginalization of the tribal, pastoralists
and marginal farmers in far flung and remote areas, especially in the mountains
in India. Only recently, it has been realized by scholars and researchers that
indigenous knowledge systems should constitute the core of development models
in the Third World. Because indigenous knowledge has permitted its holders to
exist in harmony with nature, allowing them to use it in a sustainable manner, it
is seen as especially pivotal in discussions of sustainable resource use.

In agricultural systems, a diversity of crops and varieties is needed to combat the

risks farmers face from pests, diseases, and variations in climate. Crop biodiversity
also underpins the breadth of dietary needs and services that consumers demand
as societies become wealthier. For some time, scientific experts have been
concerned about declining diversity of crop genetic resources on farms. Many
Emefging Issues in argue that the very processes that engendered the remarkable advances in
Development
agricultural productivity during the 20th century, such as the Green Revolution,
also eroded the valuable stocks of genetic resources long maintained by farmers.
Sampling these resources and housing them in gene banks, while fundamental,
is only a partial solution. Ex situ conservation stops the evolutionary clock and
raises proprietary concerns as genetic material is transferred out of the hands of
its historical custodians for safeguarding. Economists often view the loss of
diversity as an unavoidable, unintended consequence of technical change and
specialization-a negative externality of progress. In the longer term, managing
crop genetic diversity through a combination of strategies and approaches (in
gene banks, breeding programs and on farms) is essential for sustained social
and economic development. The overall categories of floral and faunal
biodiversity available to us are as under:
Flora

Fauna

Protozans-2577, Porifera-5 19, Enidaria-237, Ctenophora-10, Platyhelminthis-

1622, Ctenophora- 10, Platyheminthis- 1622, Nematoda-2350, Rotifem-3 10,
Mollusca-5042, Anthrapoda-57525, Protocordata- 116, Echinodermata-705,
Annelida-1093.
 Check Your Progress 1 ~ a t u r aResource
l
Management and
Note: a) Write your answer in about 50 words. Environment

b) Check your answer with possible answers given at the end of the unit.
1) What do you mean by Natural Resources Management (NRM)?
Answer: .........................................................................................................

2) Write in brief what do you understand by environment?

Answer: .........................................................................................................

3) What do you understand by biodiversity?

Answer: ................................................................................ ..:......................

2.4 EXPLOITATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES

A number of activities relating to development including construction activities
i of all kinds, forest based industries, hydel and irrigation projects, mining, oil
drilling, pollution, resource extraction, and road and transportation put enormous
pressure on natural resource base. There are some human induced activities,
I
which relating to agriculture, fishery, expansion of forest villages, grazing1
increased domestic animals habitat, habitat depletion and exchange due to
horticulture, monoculture forestry have led to different kinds of encroachment
on natural resources.

I Collections made by scientific1educational institution

exploitation by local authorities as revenue resource
fuel wood collection
1 food gathering
food hunting
smuggling of timber1 forest produce
trophies1 specimen collection of medicinal plants and orchids and
unregulated trade I market forces.
Emerging Issues in Human induced disasters causing stress on natural resources
Development
floods
major oil spills1 leakage
wildlife depredation
Epidemic
forest fires due to humming and
intentional forest fire.

Threats to NRM- wrong and faulty approaches

diseases
fire as management tool
genetic uniformity
hybridization
inadequate water and food for wildlife
increased competition
introduction of exotic species
lack of patronage of local I native species
low population, restricted range (protectionism).

Management of human resources

change in people's life style
conflicting I increasing demands
dilution of traditional values
erosion of indigenous knowledge
generation gap
human harassment
ignorance / lack of awareness
inadequate trained human resource
inappropriate land use
lack of effective management
negative attitude
tourism development.

Political and policy issues

civil unrest I political movement
change in use1 tenure1 legal status
insurgency or armed conflict
intercommunity conflict
intervention failure
lack of clear policy implementation
0 lack of interdepartmental coordination
 lack of intervention Natural Resource
Management and
military activities Environment
'people's pressure.

THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY
The categories of threats that follow have been recognized by the International
Union for Conservation Nature (IUCN).

Endangered
This category includes taxa whose number have been reduced to a critical level,
and those whose habitats have been so drastically reduced that they are seemed
to be in immediate danger of extinction, e.g., Nepenthes khasiana, Rhinanthera
imschootiana, Vanda cerulean.

Vulnerable
Taxa likely to move into the endangered category in the near future, if the casual
factors continue operating because of over exploitation,extensive destruction of
habitats or other environmental disturbances. Some examples are Discora
deltoidea and taxus wallichiana.

Rare
This includes taxa with a small world population that are not at present endangered
or vulnerable but are at risk. These taxa are usually localized within restricted
geographical areas, or habitats, or are thinly scattered over a more extensive
range, e.g., Farictia macrantha and Rauvolfia serpentina.

Threatened
The term threatened is used in conservation for species which are in one of the
three categories: endangered, vulnerable, and rare. India's biodiversity is one of
the most significant in the world. As many as 45,000 species of wild plants, and
over 77,000 if wild animals have been recorded, which comprise about 6.5 percent
of the world's known wildlife. In the last few decades, India has lost at least half
of its forests, polluted over 70 per cent of its water bodies, built on, or, cultivated
much of its grasslands, and degraded most of its coast.

2.6 CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY

Why Conservation?
The Indian region is a treasure house of wild genetic resources. .Wild species and
relatives of crop plants contain valuable genes that are of immense genetic value
in crop improvement programmes. The important wild related species and types
in various crop groups, prevailing under different phytogeographic zones in the
country needs particular attention in the agro-biodiversity management system
for sustainable use, to help maintain food, nutritional, and agricultural economic
security. The main objectives of biodiversity conservation are
the cdnservation of biological diversity
the sustainable use of q~mponentsof biodiversity.
 Emerging Issues in India's efforts at Biodiversity Coriservation
Developinent
Dr. M.S. Swaminathan (1983) suggested the following co~lservationmeasures
0 cultivated varieties in current use
0 obsolete cultivars
primitive cultivars or land races
wild species su~dweedy species closely related to cultivated varieties
e wild species of potential values to man
special genetic stock developed by Inan
fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic
resoLirces.

I In-situ Conservation
This includes conservation of plant and animals in their native ecosystems,
or even in a man-made ecosystem, where they naturally occur.
It applies only to wild fauna and flora.
It aims at preservation of land races with wild relatives in which genetic
similarities exists.

Ex-situ Conservation
This is done through the establishment of gene banks.
e It is the chief mode for preservation of genetic resources.
Generally, seeds or invitro maintained plants cells, tissue, and organs are
preserved under appropriate conditions.

The drawbacks of ex-situ conservation are

loss of viability over passage of time and susceptibility to insect or pathogen
attack
inability to maintain distinct clones except for inbreed and apomicts species
non applicability to vegetative propagated crop.

2.7 MANAGEMENT OF NATLTML RESOURCES

There is an urgent need to think deeply about the destruction of natural resources.
With the exponential increase in human population and increased techdological
advancement, the natural resources get relentlessly exploited. There is a need for
optimization of its usage. This is possible only when we adopt the concepts of
management and conservation of natural resources. Management and
conservation mean scientific utilization of resources while maintaining their
sustained yield and quality. India produces only half of the national requirement
of petroleum products and it imports the rest from other countries. Natural gas is
the most popular petroleum product and its consumption during last two decades
has increased tenfold. If we need to save fossil fuels from total exhaustion, we
should encourage the usage of non conventional resources of energy, such as
solar energy, wind energy, biomass energy, etc. Biogas is a natural gas. It is
produced from animal, water and weeds and other plants. India comes first in
developing and using biogas technology. It is a cheap, non polluting and labour Natural Resource
Mn~~nycment and
saving fuel. Biogas can be used for cooking and lighting, and in vehicles. E~lviro~i~nc~lt

According to the world conservation strategy on natural resource management

(NRM), it is the management of human use of the biosphere, lithosphere, and
hydrosphere so that it may yield the greatest sustainable benefit to the present
generation while maintaining its potential to meet the needs and aspiration, not
the greed, of future generation. With the cuirent rate of development, population
growth, and migration, communities are increasingly unable to meet their
sustained needs, growing demand for fuel wood and other forest products,
pollution due to industrialization, and a market for rare animal species and
medicinal plants have all threatened the biological diversity; and thereby have
hampered sustainable human development. Further, the race for development
and cultivation of improved varieties in larger areas has threatened the biodiversity
to a considerable extent. The complex dynamics of resource management system
can be well understood by the flowchart (figure 2.1) and various issues and
dimensions involved in resource management are represented in figure 2.2
Flora Radio and TV Political Parities
newspapers Statutory Government

Introduced

Resources Management

resources

National
Companies Trade Non-governmentnl
unions Fixed organizations Young
capital (NGOs) People
Companies

Universities
Small.scale and research Indigenous
Enterprises institutes communiYcs
-

Fig. 2.1: Complex aild Dynamic Resources Management Systems

Emerging Issues In
Development

1 GEOGRAPHY 1
ANTHROPOLOGY

RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
CULTURAL STUDIES

POLITICAL ECONOMY

Fig. 2.2: Various issues/dimensions involved in resource management

2.7.1 Meaning and Need for Resource Management

The main driving forces of resource consumption are population and economic
growth, and the pattern of development, broadly defined to include technological
level, economic structure, and the patterns of production and consumption. The
projected 50 per cent growth in the global population over the next fifty years
will put a significant pressure on the environment. If, over the next fifty years,
the population of the developing countries achieves levels of material wealth
similar to today's levels in industrialized countries, world consumption of
resources would increase by a factor ranging from two to five. Without dramatic
technological improvements or changes in the patterns of consumption, growth
in resourCe use and environmental impacts due to increased population and
economic giowth in developing countries are likely to outweigh technological
efficiency gains in industrialized countries.

Human wealth is based o n h e use and consumption of natural resources, including

materials, energy and land. Continued increase in resource use and the related
environmental impacts can have a multitude of negative effects leading to
ecological crises and security threats. The sustainable use and management of
natural resources have, therefore, come into focus and has been the subject of
many policy discussions over more than a decade, beginning with the summit in
Rio de Janeiro in 1992.

Over the past 50 years, humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly and
extensively than in any comparable period in human history, largely to meet
rapidly growing demands for food, fresh water, timber, fibre and fuel. This has
resulted in substantial gains in human wellbeing and economic development,
but these gains have been achieved at growing costs in the form of the degradation
of many ecosystems (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005). What is driving
28 our material and energy use to the extent that it is becoming a global environmental
 problem and a threat to future generations? There is no simple answer to this Natural Resource
Management and
question, because a number of interdependent socioeconomic and environmental Environment
factors are at play. Nevertheless, there are three basic factors which determine
the growth of resource consumption, and the resulting environmental impacts of
human production and consumption patterns.

2.7.2 Dynamics of Resource Management

Public policy in India has, for long, appreciated that access to shared or common
natural resources (NR) is crucial to local livelihood strategies. Many of the rural ,

poor depend directly on shared NR, yet they often live in ecologically marginal
areas and have limited and insecure rights to NR. A recurrent question in the
rural development debate has been: how are poverty and access to NR linked
and what are the policy implications of these linkages? A principal conclusion
has been that decentralised NR management regimes will enhance both
sustainability and equitable access to NR by the poor. Policy has focused
principally on institutional frameworks conferring rights, responsibilities and
roles in decentralized NR management (DNRM). In India, two formal institutional
systems have been identified as having the legitimacy and potential to enhance
rural livelihoods: partnership models. In the last decade there have been significant
moves towards formal NR management partnerships between the public
administration and local user groups. The two most institutionally evolved
examples, for which Guidelines have been promulgated, are Joint Forest
Management (JFM) and Watershed Management (WM). A Constitutional
Amendment passed in 1993 aimed to strengthen local government, collectively
called Panchayati Raj Institutions, at District, Block and Village levels. Some of
the seats at these levels are reserved for marginal and vulnerable community
1 members, and for women. Village level Panchayats have become responsible

i:
for preparing plans for the management of NR within their boundaries. The
support for decentralisationis based less on any proven success than on ideological
convictions related to the importance of local involvement and self determination
I ) in the development process. There is, however, a growing realism about the
t strong centralising forces within the polity and bureaucracy that inhibit meaningful
transfer of access and control over NR. Equally, earlier optimism regarding
I
collective action has been tempered by failed participatory common resources
are not considered worth collective action.

t The decentralisation agenda has however led to changes in the institutional

arrangements for managing shared NR. Through partnership models, and
!
indirectly through Panchayati Raj, communities have been given some autonomy
I in deciding priorities for NR management, funds to develop NR assets and
guidelines to promote community mobilisation. These decentralisation initiatives
represent major achievements in challenging the previous dominance of line
I
I
department control over all aspects of NR management. The objective of
sustainable, equitable and efficient DNRM is, however, far from being realised

i
II
as our examination of the source of political demand for decentralisation and the
content of the programmes and projects themselves revealed.

t 2.7.3 Management of Forests

1 The world forest is derived from the Latin word foris meaning outside, the
reference being to a village boundary, or fence, and it must have ircluded all
t uncultivated and uninhabited land. Today, a forest is any land managed for the
29
Emerging Issues in diverse purpose of forestry, whether covered with trees, shrubs, climbers, etc:, or
Development
not. The Indian word, jungle, has been adopted in the English language to describe
a collection of trees, shrubs. climbers, etc., that are not grown in a regular manner,
as contrasted with a forest, which is any vegetation under systematic management.
Technically, a forest is defined below.
a) Generally, a forest is an area set aside for the production of timber and other
forest produce, or maintained under woody vegetation for certain indirect
benefits which it provides, e.g., climatic or protective.
b) From an ecological point of view, a forest is aplant corninunity predominantly
of trees and other woody vegetation, usually with a closed canopy.
C) From a legal point of view, it is an area of land praclaimed to be a forest
under a forest law.
Forestry is the theory and practice of all that constitutes the creation, conservation,
and scientific management of forests, ind the utilization of their resources to
provide for the continued production of the required goods and services. Forests
are a veri striking feature of the land surface. They vary greatly in composition
and density, and stand in marked contrast with meadows and pastures. The scenic
effect of forests changes with the seasons like the patterns in a kaleidoscope.
Certain forests are evergreen, like the Deodar forests of Rashmir, while others
are deciduous, becoming leafless either before the advent of winter when
vegetative activity alinost ceases, such as the oak forests of the Himalayas, or
else just before the onset of intense dry summer, to reduce transpiration to the
minimum, like the Teak forests of Central India. The falling leaves in some
species become bright orange or golden yellow. In others, the young foliage is
pink. Such autuinnal and verbal tinges are in vivid contrast with the general
green or straw-coloured background, and are extremely pleasing. Unlike animals,
plants do not have the power of locomotion. They also cannot conbtruct shelters :
or generate heat to withstand the adverse effects of the environment of which
they are captives. Therefore, to survive they wear the evidence of this fact in the
i
form of structural adaptations, such as leaflessness in summer to minimize
transpiration, thorns to ward off browsers, poisonous sap, etc.

The forests of a country are a natural asset of immense value, Unlike its minerals
resources, including fossil fuels. which in course of time either get exhausted or
their utilization will become uneconomic due to increased costs for obtaining
and processing thein, the forests, if of adequate extent, ideally dispersed,
scientifically managed and judiciausly utilized can be kept perpetually productive
and useful, conferring inany benefits, direct and indirect. on the people. Thus,
forests are a renewable resource. Directly, forests meet tlsc needs of small timber,
fuel, bamboos and a variety of other products, including fodders which are
indispensable requirements of the people living in close proximity of the forests.
They also provide the facility of grazing for their livestock, and yield a variety of
products of commercial and industrial value such as structural timber, charcoal,
and raw materials for making paper, newsprint, rayan, panel products, bidi leaves,
gums, resin, dyes, tans, and a number of othcr ccono~nicproducts including
medicinal drugs. Forests also provide employment to a large population engaged
in their protection, tending, harvesting and regeneration as also in ancillary
occupations processing forest raw material and marketing them. These are
productive functions of the forests.
 2.7.4 Management of State Forests Natural Resource
Mnnagement and
No forest should be permitted to be worked without the government having Environment
I approved the management pian, which should be in a prescribed format and in
keeping with the national forest policy. In order to meet the growing needs for
essential goods and services which the forests provides, it is necessary to enhance
the Sorest cover and productivity of the forests through the application of scientific
and technical inputs. Production forestry programmes while aiming at enhancing
the forest cover in the country and meeting national needs should also be oriented
to narrowing, by the turn of the century, the increasing gap between demand and
B
supply of fuel wood. No such programme, however, should entail clear felling
of adequately stocked natural forests.

t
I
Rights and concessions: the rights and concessions, including grazing, should
always remain related to the carrying capacity of forests. The capacity itself should
be optimized by increased investment, silvicultural research and development
of the area. Stall feeding of cattle should be encouraged. The requirements of the
community which cannot met by the rights and concessions so determined should
be met by development of social forestry outside the reserved forests.

The holders of customary rights and co~~cessions forest areas should be motivated
to identify themselves with the protection and development of forests from which
they derive benefits. The rights and concessions from forests should primarily
be for the bonaJide use of the com~nunitiesliving within, and around forest areas
specially the tribal communities.

Division of forest lands for non forest purposes: forest land or land with tree
cover should not be treated merely as a resource readily available to be utilized
for various projects and programmes, rather, as a national asset which requires
proper safeguards for providing sustained benefits to the entire community.
7

Wildlife conservation: forest management should take special care of the needs
of wildlife conservation, and forest management plans should include
,
prescriptions for this purpose. It is specially essential to provide 'corridors' linking
the protected areas in order to maintain genetic continuity between ai-tificially
repeated sub sections of migrant wildlife.

Tribal people and forests: there exists a symbiotic relationship between the tribal
people and the forests, which means that both depend on each other for their
survival and existence. Therefore, the primary task of all agencies responsible
for forest management, including the forces development corporations should
be to associate the tribal people closely in the protection, regeneration and
development of forests as well as to provide gainful employment to the people
living in and around the forests.

Shifting cultivation: Shifting cultivation is affecting the environment and

productivity of the land adversely. Alternative avenues of income, harmonized
with the right land use practices, should be devised to discourage shifting
cultivation.

Forest based industries: as f x as possible a forest based industry should raise

the raw material needed for meeting its raw material requirements. Forest based
industries must, not only provide employment to the local people on priority, but
involve them fully in raising trees and raw material. 31
Emerging Issues in Forest extension: forest conservation programmes cannot succeed without the
Development
willing support and cooperation of the people, a direct interest in forests, their
development and conservation, and awareness of the value.of trees, wildlife,
and nature in general.

Forestry education: forestry should be recognized both as a scientific discipline I

I
as well as a profession. Agriculture universities and institutions dedicated to the
development of forestry education should formulate curricula and courses for
imparting academic and professional excellence, keeping in view the manpower
needs of the country.
(1
Forestry research: with the increasing recognition of the importance of forests
for environmental health, energy, and employment, emphasis must be laid on
scientific forestry research necessitating adequate strengthening of the research
base, as well as new priorities for action. 1
2.7.5 Management of Soil Resources
~ a ~ dkterioration
i h of soil health and degradation of soil environment as a
consequence of persistent nutrient depletion and operating process of erosion,
salinisation, acidification, and desertification have been of concern to soil
scientists in recent years, as these are posing a threat to the potentiality of our
soil resources to support the increasing food demands in the future.

. Soil Degradation
Physical: soil erosion, water logging, deserfification, compaction, crusting,
overgrazing
Chemical: nutrient runoff, acidification, salinisation, alkalinisation, loss of
organic matter, nutrient imbalance, nutrient depletion, accumulation of
toxicants.
Biological: monoculture, pesticides and herbicides, disposal of industrial
waste, toxic containing sewage water, genetic manipulation
L

Approaches toGards soil conservation

Thi primary purpose of soil conservation is to prevent soil erosion and heal
the damage where it has not advanced too far to respond to curative methods.
The land should wear a vegetative cover throughout the year.
Engineering and agronomic practices should be applied conjointly.

Reclamation of eroded lands

Ravines should be provided with sufficient and suitable vegetative cover.
Instead of agriculture, these lands should be reclaimed for forestry, pasture,
or horticulture.
Their deficiency in nutrients and moisture for plants growth should be
improved.
Further misuse of such land should be prevented, over transplanting by man,
and fenced cattle trails. for example.
Vegetative cover provided, should be protected against reckless destruction
32 by local population.
Measures for controlling soil erosion deposition hazard Natural Resource
Management and
Plantation at wind breaks and shelterbelts Environment

Sand dune stabilization

Stubble mulching
Wind string cropping
Primary and secondary tillage
Conserving soil moisture.
2.7.6 The Management of Water Resources
Ground water has been exploited in -India quite substantially in the past few
,decadesfor irrigation. However, unlike surface water resources, there has been a
conspicuous lack of scientific assessment of groundwater resources. Availability
of this important natural resource has been taken for granted; utilization of ground
water has not been commensurate with the available potential in a state, e.g.,
about 86 per cent in Gujarat and 3 per cent in Assarn, indicating considerable
regional imbalance. India has 4 per cent of the world's water resources. The
present water demand of India's agriculture is nearly 83 per cent of the total
water use in the country and shall not change appreciable by the end of the
century. The Ministry of Environment (1992) had made projections for water
demand of various utility sectors for 2000 and 2025 AD.
Use of most of this allocated water for agriculture is confined to 33 per cent
irrigated area and the remaining 67 per cent is still dependent on monsoon rains.
The disproportionateuse of water in certain pockets results in wastage. Excessive
use of water makes the field more vulnerable to soil erosion. Irrigation, thus, can
be identified as the most important single activity responsible for agriculture
induced environmental stress, although other activities such as deforestation for
expanding agriculture, production oriented agronomic practices, use of fertilizers,
and plaltts protection chemicals have their individual contribution.
Approaches towards water conservation
Management at surface water resources such as
canal water
run-off water
khadins
nadis, Tanks a
Gully
plugging
water harvesting dams
water spreading
percolation tank
Management of ground water resources
The ground water resources in arid region have four major problems
65 per cent area has saline ground water with total soluble salt content over
3200 ppm
Emerging Issues in deep static water level
Development
poor yield from wells
due to over exploitation, static water level is declining, soluble salt content
have increased, and the yield is reduced.

The following methods are available for artificially recharging aquifers

water spreading
recharging through pits
wells an& shafts
pumping to induce recharge from surface water bodies.

Extension approaches for NRM

Creation of natural resources like forests, water bodies etc.
Conservation of resources in an ecology niche.
Regeneration of natural resources by organizing self-propelling processes.
Preservation through social fencing.
Recycling of waste water by products.
Rejuvenation of degraded or age old resource base.
Protection of target species.
Pollution control through policy formulation.
Elimination of negative factors operating in the eco-systems.
Social fencing for protection, preservation.
Integration of biotic, abiotic and social factors.
e' Rationalization in the use of dwindling resources.
ITK and ITW; appropriate use and application.
Watershed management to generate livelihood and conserve natural resources.
Monitoring : Benefit monitoring evaluation (BME)
Auditing is required to get accounts of depletion, and to suggest interventions
People's participation: this is the most important and critical way to
accomplish any objective in NRM.
Check Your Progress 2
Note: a) Write your answer in about 50 words.
b) Check your answer with possible answers given at the end of the unit.
1) What are the important roles of forests in our society?
Answer: ........................................................................................................
 2) Write five major extension approaches which are very much needed for NRM. Natural Resource
Management and
Answer: ........................................................................................................ Environment

........................................................................................................................
1
3) What are the right approaches to soil conservation?
Answer: ........................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................
4) How can you manage surface water resources?
Answer: .........................................................................................................

2.8 LET US SUM UP

2

In this unit we dealt with various concepts and issues relating to the Natural
Resource Management and Environment. We also discussed how these challenges
have been partially addressed by global and national agencies. We explained
how the exploitation of natural resources causes threats to the biodiversity, and
various conservation issues and initiatives taken at global and national levels.
The sustainable development approach, based on the complex dynamics of
resource management, is the desired goal and objective of all national and
international bodies. We also discussed how the decentralization agenda has led
to changes in the institutional arrangements for managing shared natural resources
including the sustainable management of the forests, soil resources and water
resources.

2.9 REFERENCES AND SUGGESTED READINGS

Andres, Suzanna, et. a1 (1982). The world Environmental Hand Book: ADirectory
of Government Natural Resource Management Agencies in 144 Countries, World
Environment Centre, New York.
Cambell &. Sayer (2003). Integrated natural resource management: linking
productivity. The environment & development. CAB1 Publishing in sssociation
with the Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), pp. 315.
Emerging Issues in Champion, H G and S K Seth (1968): A Revised Survey of the Forest Types of
Development
India, Government of India Publications, New Delhi.
Farooquee, Nehal A., B.S. Majila and C.P. Kala. (2004). Indigenous Knowledge
Systems and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in a High Altitude
Society in Kumaun Himalaya, India. Journal of Hzrman Ecology, 16(1): 33-42.
FSI (2001): State of Forest Report 2001, Forest Survey of India, Ministry of
Environment and Forests, Government of India, New Delhi.
- (2003): Status ofForest Report, Forest Survey oflndia, Ministry of Environment
and Forests, Government of India, New Delhi.
Go1 (2002): Draft National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP),
Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, ~ e Delhi.
w
Guha, R (1989): The Unquiet Woods:Ecological Change and Peasant Resistance
in the Himalaya, Oxford University Press, New Delhi.
Jana, M.M. (1995). Environmental Degradation and Developmental Strategies
in India, Ashish Publishing House, New Delhi.
Kothari, A, N Singh and S Suri (1996): 'People and ProtectedAreas: Towards
Participatory Conservation in India', Sage, New Delhi.
Puri, G.S., (1960). Indian Forest Ecology. Oxford Book & Stationery co. New
Delhi.
Saxena, K.G., Rao, K.S., Sen, K.K., Maikhuri, R.K. and Semwal, R.L., (2001).
Integrated Natural Resource Management: Approaches and Lessons from the
Himalaya. Conservation Ecology 5, 14 [URL: http:// www.consecol.org/ ~01151
iss2/artl4].
Steffen, W., Jager, J., Carson, D.J. and Bradshaw, C. (eds.), (2002). Challenges
of a Changing Earth. Springer, Berlin.

2.10 CHECK YOUR PROGRESS - POSSIBLE

ANSWERS
Check Your Progress 1
1) What do you mean by Natural Resources Management (NRM)?
Answer: The following definition may be used for natural resources: "the
sum total of all physical, chemical, biological and social factors which
construct the surroundings of man is referred to as environment and each
element of these surroundings constitutes a resource on which man thrives
in order to develop a better life". Any part of our natural environment, such
as land, water, air minerals, forest, rangeland, wild life, fish, micro organisms,
or even human population - that man can utilize to promote the welfare,
may be regarded as a natural resource.
2) Write in brief, what do you understand by environment?
Answer: The environment is everything which surrounds an organism and
influences its life in many ways. It includes physical and biological
 compoilents. The physical cornponents of the environment are soil, water, Natural Resource
Management and
air, light, and temperature. These are termed as abiotic components. The Environment
plants and animals are collectively referred to as biotic components. All
these cornponents of the environment work together, interact, and modify
the effect of one another.
3) What do you understand by biodiversity?
Answer: Biodiversity is the variation of life forms within a given ecosystem,
biome, or for the entire Earth. Biodiversity is often used as a measure of the
health of biological systems. Biological diversity or biodiversity can have
many interpretations and it is most commonly used to replace the more clearly
defined and long established terms, species diversity and species richness.
Biologists most often define biodiversity as the "totality of genes, species,
and ecosystems of a region".
Check Your Progress 2
1) What are the important roles of forest in our society?
Answer: Aforest is considered as an ecological kingdom, where many animals
and the ecosystem live in perfect balance. 'The green cover produces enough
oxygen, and, as well, carbon dioxide, for photosynthesis. The wild animals
and other beings get enough protection from the solar heat, temperature, and
the leaf cover formed on the earth gives cooling effect to the earth. The
rivers and lakes in the forests give enough food and shelter for the animals
and also the water for drinking for sustaining life. While the dense forests
atmosphere acts as enormous sink for green house gases.
2) Write five major extension approaches which are very much needed for NRM.
Answer:
3 1) Creation of natural resources like forests, water bodies, etc.
2) Conservation of resources in an ecology niche.
3) Regeneration of natural resources by organizing self-propelling processes.
4) Preservation through social fencing.
5) Recycling waste water by products and social fencing for protection,
preservation.
3) What are the right approaches to soil conservation?
Answer: The right approaches towards soil conservation are:
1) The primary purpose of soil conservation is to prevent soil erosion and
heal the damage where it has not advanced too far to respond to curative
methods.
2) The land should wear a vegetative cover throughout the year.
3) Engineering and agronomic practices should be applied conjointly.
4) How can you manage surface water resources?
Answer: Surface water resources can be managed in different ways: canal
water, run-off water, kltadins, nadis, tanks, gully, plugging, water harvesting
dams, water spreading, percolation tanks, etc.