World Wildlife Day - March 3, 2021

This year's World Wildlife Day theme is

"Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet"

Forests are "the lungs of the earth"

We depend on forests for our survival - from the air we breathe to the wood we use. It regulates weather patterns, pollinates crops and produces our food. Besides providing habitats to millions of animal species and birds and livelihoods for humans, forests also offer watershed protection, prevent soil erosion and mitigate climate change.

But it is under increasing stress. Human activity has altered almost 75 per cent of the earth’s surface, congesting the wildlife and nature into an ever-smaller corner of the planet.

Deforestation and Desertification

Human activities such as Deforestation and Desertification leads to climate change which in-turn pose major challenges to the lives and livelihoods of millions of people and their sustainable development. Forests are vitally important for sustaining life on Earth, and play a major role in the fight against climate change.Deforestation will lead to an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

The desertification effects can be seen on fertile soils as well, thus affecting our agriculture cycle. It is also ruined by unpredictable weather conditions, scanty rainfalls, flood and storms caused due to the effects of deforestation.

Covid-19 - The Statutory Warning to the Globe!

The COVID-19 outbreak highlights the need to address threats to ecosystems and wildlife. The planet has delivered its strongest warning message till date that "humanity must change”. As the world responds to and recovers from the current pandemic, it will need a robust plan for protecting nature, so that nature can protect humanity.

World Wildlife Day

#WorldWildlifeDay is an opportunity to celebrate many beautiful varieties of wild fauna and flora and to raise awareness of the multitude of their benefits to the people.

At the same time, it reminds us of the urgent need to step up the fight against wildlife crime and human-induced dangers in the reduction of species, which have economic, environmental and social impacts.

Forests and Livelihoods

Many tribes around the world consider the forest as their God and have a religious belief with respect to trees and animals. This helps them save and use the resources of the forest judiciously.

Man needs to learn how to live and let live with forests and animals. Man is not the only animal on this planet. He is meant to share the forest resources with all the animals, for his own survival as well as to save the ecosystem.

Forests, if not conserved properly, can lead to devastating effects. Removal of forest cover will lead to floods and famine in that region.Man needs to learn to increase the forest cover on the planet to save the nature for the future generation.

To conclude, I would say : जीवेषु करुणा चापि मैत्री तेषु विधीयताम् ।

"Be compassionate and friendly to all living beings.​"