united nations iyf 2011 book on climate change

7/23/2019 United Nations IYf 2011 Book on Climate Change

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Celebrating Forests For People


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INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF FORESTS 2011

The United Nations (UN) General Assembly declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests (IYF 2011).

The Forests 2011 logo was designed to convey the years theme of Forests for People, celebrating our role in sustainably managing, developing

and conserving forests worldwide. Each icon in the design depicts the multiple values of for ests and the need for a 360 degree perspective on

the resources they provide: shelter and habitat to people and biodiversity, food, medicine, clean water and a stable global environment. The

message is clear, forests are vital to the survival and well being of all.

All 7 billion of us

Global Objectives

In order to strengthen global efforts to improve the state of forests, the UNFF has adopted four Global Objectives which focus on;

1. Reversing forest loss

2. Enhancing forest-based benefits

3. Increasing sustainably managed forests and

4. Mobilizing financial resources.


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IYF 2011 CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

Indian Astrobiology Research Centre (IARC) celebrated IYF 2011 and offered IYF 2011 Certification Program in India.

Official Websites

Program Website: forests.astrobiology.co.in

Listed on UN Forest Key Events Calendar: un.org/en/events/iyof2011/events

IARC Website: iarc.res.in (hosts a dedicated IYF page)

Program Email: [email protected]

Science Commons

The IYF 2011 Certification Program was offered under science commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License. All

the modules of the program are available for freedownloadon the IARC website.

Program Team

Program Head - Pushkar Ganesh Vaidya; He can be reached at [email protected]

Environment Focus Group Head - Dr. A.H. Dholakia; He can be reached at [email protected]

Education & Outreach Facilitator - Lakshmi Balakrishnan
http://www.un.org/en/events/iyof2011/events/http://www.un.org/en/events/iyof2011/events/http://www.iarc.res.in/Downloads%20Merchandise%20IARC.htmlhttp://www.iarc.res.in/Downloads%20Merchandise%20IARC.htmlhttp://www.iarc.res.in/Downloads%20Merchandise%20IARC.htmlhttp://www.iarc.res.in/Downloads%20Merchandise%20IARC.htmlhttp://www.un.org/en/events/iyof2011/events/


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Program Advisors

1. Ms. Jyotsna Roberts, Senior Educator, Mumba

2. Mr. B.B. Jadhav, Senior Educator, Mumbai

3. Ms. Nehal Shah, Biologist, Surat4. Mr. Hemal Shah, Science Communicator, Mumbai

Program Senior Volunteers

1. Mr. Nitesh Pandey, Surat

2. Mr. Harshit Saran, Nagpur

3. Mr. Rachit Shrivastava, Pilani

Media

IYF Certification Program related news appeared in various newspapers and magazines. We thank the media to help spread the word across

India - without their support it was impossible to reach out to millions across India. To name a few; Times of India, Daily News and Analysis,

Dainik Bhaskar, Afternoon Dispatch and Courier, Careers 360 and several more. A few links are available on theMedia pageof IARC website.

Disclaimer

The use of the UN logo is in no way an "association" with or endorsement or approval by UN as United Nations cannot be as sociated with

any organization.A detailed disclaimerincluding the media related indemnification can be viewed on the program website.
http://www.iarc.res.in/Media%20%20IARC.htmlhttp://www.iarc.res.in/Media%20%20IARC.htmlhttp://www.iarc.res.in/Media%20%20IARC.htmlhttp://www.forests.astrobiology.co.in/Alert%20Disclaimer%20IYF%202011%20Certification%20Program.htmhttp://www.forests.astrobiology.co.in/Alert%20Disclaimer%20IYF%202011%20Certification%20Program.htmhttp://www.forests.astrobiology.co.in/Alert%20Disclaimer%20IYF%202011%20Certification%20Program.htmhttp://www.forests.astrobiology.co.in/Alert%20Disclaimer%20IYF%202011%20Certification%20Program.htmhttp://www.iarc.res.in/Media%20%20IARC.html


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IYF 2011 CERTIFICATION PROGRAMSCHOOL PROGRAM

School Program

Total Number of Participants: (via fees): circa 1000 > Participants involved in IYF 2011 via workshops (at no cost): circa 1200

Participating Schools

Bombay International School, Malabar Hill, Mumbai Fr. Agnel Multipurpose School, Vashi

Chhtrapati Shahu Madhyamik Vidhyalaya, Shahunagar, Beed Maharaja Agrasen Model School, New Delhi

Fountainhead School, Surat Jamnabai Narsee School, Mumbai

Indus International School, Hyderabad Delhi Public School, Jaipur

Oxford Public School, Kandivli, Mumbai Suncity School, GurgaonBombay Cambridge School, Andheri (E), Mumbai Dr. S Radhakrishna Vidyalaya, Borivali, Mumbai

Bombay Cambridge School, Andheri (W), Mumbai Twinklers School, Bangalore

Vidya Bhavan High School, Indore Bright Sun Public School, Sawai Madhopur

Vishesh Bal Shramik Setu Vidyalaya, Rewa N H English Academy, Mira Road, Thane

Jeevan Jyot School, Surat Oxford International School, Nanded

Ink Education, Surat Raghuvansh Public School, Sendhwa

Holy Family Convent High School, Vasai, Mumbai Chirec Public School, Kondapur, Cyberabad

The Best 4 Schools (in no particular order) are;

1. Oxford Public School. Kandivli (W), Mumbai

2.Raghuvansh Public School, Sendhwa, Madhya Pradesh

3.Bombay Cambridge School, Andheri (E), Mumbai

4.Chirec Public School, Kondapur, Hyberabad (Cyberabad)


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IYF 2011 CERTIFICATION PROGRAM SPECIAL COURSE

Special Course

Total Number of Participants: 220 > Participants At No Cost: 40 Participants (via fees): 180

Best College in India

Several college and university students including visually challenged participated in Special Edition Short Term Course from across India.

Participants also came from the general public.

Thakur College, Mumbai emerged as the best college in India. The evaluation was based on the degree of participation, the aggregate of grades

and essay work.

The list of Colleges and Universities from which the students participated is given below;

Atmiya Institute Of Technology & Science, Rajkot Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal

BITS Pilani, Goa Thakur College, Mumbai

Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat

IIT Gandhinagar NMIMS ~ MPSTME, Shirpur

BITS Pilani, Pilani Tezpur University, Assam

IIT Bombay, Mumbai St. Xaviers College, Ahmedabad

Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar TERI - The Energy and Resources Institute, New DelhiManipal Institute of Technology, Manipal International Student Center, University of Pune

Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore Public Health Engineering Department, Madhya Pradesh

Sardar Patel College of Engineering (SPCE), Mumbai Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal


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IYF 2011 CERTIFICATION PROGRAM SPECIAL COURSE ESSAY WINNERS

Special Course

Total Number of Participants: 220 > Participants At No Cost: 40 Participants (via fees): 180

Special Course Essay Competition

The IYF 2011 Special Course Essay Competition invited essays on two topics; 1. Ideas for World Forest conservation and Sustainable

Development & 2. Impacts of Climate Change on the Future of India. There were in all 20 winners and the best 3 essays competed for a cash

prize of Indian Rupees Twenty Thousand.

The essays were judged on the basis of structure, reference work, focus and relevance to the topic. The twenty winners are;

1. Ankit Gandhi 2. Amanpreet Kohli 3. Poonam Saini 4. Dhritiman Deka 5. Nitika Sharma 6. Varkey Thomas 7. Umang Gupta 8. Sujoy C.S 9.

Bhanu Prakash 10. Anoop Pradeep 11. Kavitha K.G 12. Niraimozhi A.G 13. Santana Baishya 14. Aakash Parihar 15. Anuraj Jain 16. Suman Kanukati

17. Bhawani Shankar 18. Disha Grover 19. Sarasija Sudharsan 20. Parvej Sheikh

The Best 3 Essay winners are;

1. Parvej Sheikh, IIFM, Bhopal Rupees Ten Thousand

2. Nitika Sharma, TERI, New Delhi, - Rupees Six Thousand

3. Dhritiman Deka - Tezpur University, Guwahati, Rupees Four Thousand

Special Course Essays

Some of the winning essays are reproduced in the following pages.


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IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON FUTURE OF INDIA

SHEIKH PARVEJ

IIFM, Bhopal.

INTRODUCTION

There is now global consensus that the worlds climate is changing and this is a consequence of human activity. Researchers are agreeing that

this is because of emission of green house gases (GHGs) at the rate that exceeds the rate of earths absorption capacity. Now in our country we

are feeling the impacts of climate change likewise change in rainfall patterns, floods, increase in temperatures, and shifting of seasons. Indians

should be concerned about climate change since this phenomenon might have substantial adverse impact on them.[1]Thing is that all possible

consequences of climate change are not fully understood but major categories like impact on agriculture, sea level rise leading to submerge of

coastal areas as well as increase frequency of extreme events are producing major threats on future of country.

FUTURE IMPACTS

Climate change affecting in various means, likewise -

Agriculture

Health


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Rising sea level

Extreme events and natural hazards [2]

Political stability - there could be over 150 million environmental refugees by 2050, mostly due to the likely effects of global warming. [3]

I would like to put my attention on agriculture sector which generates the livelihood opportunities for two third of the nation. As said that

vulnerability of Indian agriculture to climate change is well acknowledged but what is not appreciated is that about rain fed farming (non

irrigated) which is done by small and marginal farmers who will suffer most. According to A K Singh, deputy director-general (natural resource

management) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), medium-term climate change predictions have projected the likely reduction

in crop yields due to climate change at between 4.5 and 9 per cent by 2039. [4]

PROJECTED IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON INDIAN AGRICULTURE

Increase in CO2 to 550 ppm increases yields of rice, wheat, legumes and oilseeds by 10-20%.

One degree Celsius increase in temperature may reduce yields of wheat, soybean, mustard, groundnut, and potato by 3-7%. Much

higher losses at higher temperatures.

Productivity of most crops to decrease only marginally by 2020 but by 10-40% by 2100.

Possibly some improvement in yields of chickpea, rabi maize, sorghum and millets; and coconut in west coast.

Less loss in potato, mustard and vegetables in north-western India due to reduced frost damage.


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Increased droughts and floods are likely to increase production variability

Considerable effect on microbes, pathogens, and insects

Increasing sea and river water temperatures are likely to affect fish breeding, migration, and harvests

Increased water, shelter, and energy requirement for livestock.

Animal distress due to heat; effects on reproduction.

Loss of 1.5 million tons of milk by 2020.

Imbalance in food trade due to positive impacts on Europe and N.America, and negative impacts on us.

Sinha & Swaminathan (1991) showed an increase in two degree Celsius decrease rice yield by about 0.75/ha.[5

]

There will be uncertainty on various issues like errors in climate models, crop models and data used. No links with future water availability, No

consideration of weather extremes. [6]

Impacts are not invisible in nature as per time we are facing the challenges and threats like Serious recurrent flood in 2002, 2003, 2004 in India,

rainfall in Mumbai in 2005, droughts in Orissa 2000-2002, and similar such other events in various states of India have already displacedthousands of people and especially the poorest of the poor sections of Indian society. These trends indicate that similar incidences might occur

which will have short term and long term effects in the lives of people by displacing them, due to death caused by these incidences, further

more damaging the agrarian fields and the farming patterns in India. To add on this, about 40 million hectares of land is fl ood- prone, including

most of the river basins in the north and the north-eastern belt, affecting about 30 million people on an average each year. Such vulnerable

regions may be particularly impacted by climate change. [7]


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With these indications of low food production due to climate change, it is likely that a number of people specially the poor ones will suffer a lot.

Nearly 50 percent of the world's hungry live in India, a low-income, food-deficit country. Around 35 percent of India's populations - 350 million -

are considered food-insecure, consuming less than 80 percent of minimum energy requirements. Nutritional and health indicators are extremely

low. Nearly nine out of 10 pregnant women aged between 15 and 49 years suffer from malnutrition and anemia [8]. Within these already food

deficit contexts, if things are not checked on time and if adaptation issues are not taken seriously and not addressed effectively, it is likely that a

major chunk of Indian society will be forced to face serious humanitarian crisis.

CONCLUSION

In these contexts, most often within the dominant debates of climate change, the focus goes towards broader sectoral framework such as

agriculture, industry, economy, forestry, water which is fair. However, often within these big frameworks, the issues of people are

overshadowed whereas they are the ones to face the highest burden of such crisis. Till date climate change debates have been more technical

which in a sense is also important however, there is a risk of missing the human face of it. Thus it is high time for the planners and policy think

tank not to dissociate climate change discourse from peoples daily realities; it is important to keep the people in general and the poorest of the

poor in the centre of climate change discourse.


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REFERENCES

1 Parikh, J. K. (2002). CLIMATE CHANGE:INDIAS PERCEPTIONS, POSITIONS,POLICIES AND POSSIBILITIES. OECD,(p. 5). (IGIDR)

2 Background research paper on the predicted climate change impacts of greatest relevance,

3 UNHCR (2003), http://www.neweconomics.org/gen/uploads/igeebque0l3nvy455whn42vs19102004202736.pdf

4 http://business.rediff.com/column/2010/apr/06/guest-impact-of-climate-change-on-indian-agriculture.htm

5 Climate change and food security in India Dr. N Chattopadhyay, Director India meteorological Department, 2008, presented in Dhaka

6 http://moef.nic.in/downloads/others/Vulnerability_PK%20Aggarwal.pdf

7 National Action Plan on Climate Change, India

8 The Economics of Climate Change, A Review of Studies in the Context of South Asia with a Special Focus on India. Joyashree Roy


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UMANG GUPTA

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi

The worldwide assessment of climate and weather conditions has suggested a drastic change in the environment around us. India is a vast

country with lots of cultural and geographical diversity and these changes are affecting different parts of the country in different ways for ex:

increased droughts in some parts, variable monsoon[1], floods on eastern coast, sea level rise and melting of Himalayan glaciers [2] are the

much visible examples of it. The change was unavoidable but the pace of change is surprising and is attributed to increased human activities that

interfere with the nature. Adaptation in species cannot keep up with the pace of change [3][4]. The impact is severe [5]. Global warming, ozone

depletion, increasing population and increased CO2 content have affected the climate severely [6]. Studies have suggested that the major impact

of climate change will be on health, temperature, forests and vegetation and food habits of people.

IMPACT ON WEATHER CONDITIONS

Recent studies suggest much of India is warming and at ever fast rate. There has been a considerable (.4

C) increase in last 50 years[7] and it is

expected that the average surface temperature rise of 2-4

C by 2060 with more rise in northern area than southern parts.[8] The effect is visible

as of now as the icecaps melt and a major source of fresh water is being dissipated into the seas[9].This ultimately leads to rise in sea level (since

1963 a rise of 1.7 mm [10] per year is recorded with a positive derivative) and floods affecting coastal lives. Oceans and seas too are not left

alone they are probably the most affected by it. About 80% of heat is absorbed by the ocean and hence a rise in temperature of the ocean will


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affect the marine species. Irregular occurrence of seasons is the other consequence. This also has impact on vegetation. The crops require

certain ambient temperature and conditions which are changing. India receives most of its rain (70%) in monsoon. With the changing climatic

conditions there will be less rains in June July and rather more in drier months of September, May and October. There will be an overall increase

in the rainfall [11]. The vulnerability to floods has increased too. It is estimated that the flood-affected areas has more than doubled in size from

about 5% to about 12% of geographical area in past five years[12]. Flood prone areas like Orissa and other eastern coastal states have adapted

to this change either by migration or switching less flood vulnerable occupation [13]. There have been subsequent increases in droughts in

certain areas too like the central India. The frequency of droughts has doubled in the recent past. This is attributed to the escalating levels of

ecological degradation, resulting from deforestation, receding water tables and overgrazing have increased vulnerability to droughts. This has

led to severe decline in economy and the level of living of people.

IMPACT ON HEALTH

According to UN industrial development organization, climate change is likely to have adverse effect on the population of India owing to its

diverse geographical conditions and high population density. Climate change affects the water, air, food and shelter habits of population [14].

There will be more direct effects of climate change now like heat waves and frost. The indirect impacts like infectious diseases are also more

prominent [15]. Thanks to the vaccines and medicines available so that there are no major cases till now, but the reports suggest something else.

There have been spread of malaria in Himalayan region which was rare till now [16]. Increasing temperature, rains and overpopulated areas are

the best place for the vectors like mosquitoes and flies to breed. Destruction of ozone layer is causing a major climatic change too. It has addedto rise in temperature and the UV rays entering also affect the health adversely [17].


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IMPACT ON FORESTS AND VEGETATION

Climate is probably the most important factor affecting the vegetation. Rising temperature will have adverse effect on the evergreen forests and

economically important forests like Sal, Bamboo etc. forests like tundra and other Himalayan forest will be mostly affected. This has beenevident by the temp rise which is more in northern forests (3

C) than in Western Ghats (2.4

C)[18]. This will lead further acceleration in climate

change as forests stabilize the climate. The deserts of west are also expanding as a consequence of decline in water table, forests and rise in

temperature

IMPACT ON CROPS AND AGRICULTURE

Changing climate has long term effects on crops and farm products. For example: the states of Punjab and Haryana, known for their rice

production are now facing aridity in some parts. The crop cultivation is adversely affected by the ris ing temperature and irregular rains. A rise of

approximately 4

C is expected in kharif and rabi season in the mean temperature. The WWF report projects a considerable loss of yield in both

wheat and rice, the two main staple crops of India [19]. Also, just to know India is not alone in facing these problems, a study by university of

California comments over the vulnerability of walnuts to climate change[20][21]. In near future, it is possible that we may have to switch to

some other sorts of food crops. For example: bajra, millet, ragi and other cereal crops can be an alternative to rice and wheat which require

more water. Groundnut is least vulnerable to the changes.

However, the change in climate is unavoidable, but the pace at which it happens is really alarming. If not controlled this pa ce is going to increase

and the earth will become a hell to live on. Current trends suggest melting of polar ice and rising of sea levels which will affect most of the

economy of the country as major business and trade activities are carried across seas. Moreover the lives of people deteriorate due to the

frequent droughts and floods. Illiteracy and poverty are the major visible effects of migration.


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The change cant be stopped but minimized so that everyone gets the time to adapt to it

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I acknowledge the motivation provided by IYF certificate program and the IARC to express my thoughts over this issue.

REFERENCES

1 http://in.reuters.com/article/2009/07/29/idINIndia-41393820090729

2 http://www.clraindia.org/include/Climate.pdf pg. 7

3 http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/effects/adaptation.html

4 http://www.skepticalscience.com/Can-animals-and-plants-adapt-to-global-warming.htm

5 http://www.livescience.com/3863-animals-plants-adapting-climate-change.html

6 http://www.clraindia.org/include/Climate.pdf (phase 1 and 2)

7 http://www.aip.org/history/climate/20ctrend.htm

8 http://www.longrangeweather.com/global_temperatures.htm

9 http://www.climate.org/topics/sea-level/index.html

10 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Current_sea_level_rise


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11 Likely Impact of Climate Change on the Indian Monsoon by: R. R. Kelkar (pg. 23) climate projections of monsoon rainfall

12 Climate Change Impacts in Drought and Flood Affected Areas: Case Studies in India pg 57-58

13 Climate Change Impacts in Drought and Flood Affected Areas: Case Studies in India pg 86

14 http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs266/en/

15 www.whoindia.org/LinkFiles/Health_&_Environment_Climate_Change_country_Presentation_KL_workshop.pdf pg.11-24

16 http://chimalaya.org/2011/08/12/climate-change-to-increase-malaria-in-indian-himalayas/

17 http://www.ozonedepletion.info/education/part2/ozoneimpact.html

18 Impact of climate change on forests in India, N. H. Ravindranath1,*, N. V. Joshi1, R. Sukumar1 and A. Saxena2 pg.4

19 WHO- 2010 on Impacts of Climate Change on Growth and Yield of Rice and Wheat in the Upper Ganga Basin pg-2, 3, 16, 24

20 http://news.discovery.com/earth/walnut-trees-may-crack-under-climate-pressure-111201.html#mkcpgn=rssnws1

21 http://moef.nic.in/downloads/others/Vulnerability_PK%20Aggarwal.pdf


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SARASIJA SUDHARSAN

IISc, Bangalore

After 21 years of living in a hot, humid place such as Chennai (on the east coast of India), moving to Bangalore, I thought, was a welcome change.

It was a common enough joke that Chennai had only three seasons: hot, hotter and hottest. However, beginning January, a lot of my friends'

Facebook statuses began to read 'What is happening to Chennai? A foggy cover at nine in the morning?', 'This is not the Chennai we know!', 'Is

this Climate Change?' etc. With every change from normalcy, the threat of climate change looms huge in the minds of people. What will the

future be like with regards to climate change? To answer that, I decided a mini-research project was in order.

MANIFESTATIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

The Human Development Report of 2008 describes climate change as 'a threat to the freedom of people, in terms of limiting their abilities to

making choices which enable them to lead lives that they value' [1]. Climate change manifests itself in the form of rise or drop in temperatures,

sharp increases or decreases in precipitation, increases in tropical cyclone intensities etc. [2].

In the case of India, there has been a widespread warming trend since 1960. Also, there have been extreme events such as the heat wave in the

summer of 2003 that saw temperatures soaring to the forties in many parts of India, even reaching a maximum of 50degree Celsius and resulting

in over 1500 deaths. Severe cold spells have also hit India(such as the one in January 2006). June-September 2008 saw heavy rainfall and flash


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floods in several parts of North India. 2000 casualties were attributed to this disaster. In contrast, a harsh drought persisted in 2009 during the

summer monsoon, that resulted in 23% less rainfall than usual. Farmer suicides crept higher [3]. In 2011, floods induced by monsoon rains

affected 25 lakh people around the Sunderbans and killed 130.

The projected increase in temperature between 2045-65 is expected to be range from 1.9 to 2.6degree Celsius [4]. As can be concluded from

above, the impact of climate change on a country can be devastating.

IMPACT ON AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

Climate is the foremost determinant of agricultural productivity and, therefore, climate and food availability are interlinked at a very

fundamental level. [1] Assessments of the potential effect of climate change on food supply suggests that developing countries such as ours arelikely to bear the brunt of the crisis of decrease in global crop production. Rice yields would decrease by around 0.75 ton/ha for an increase of 2

degree C, and wheat yields would deteriorate by 0.45 ton/ha for a 0.5degree C increase in winter temperature. Rain-fed crops (excluding rice

and wheat), which account for nearly 60% of farmed area, would be the hardest hit. With the poorest farmers in our country practicing rain-fed

farming, the loss in net revenue will be between 9 to 25% for a temperature rise of 2-3.5 degree Celsius [5].

IMPACT ON HEALTH

Climate change is likely to aggravate water-borne and air-borne diseases. Significant changes in humanpathogen relationships will be

experienced by tropical regions due to climate change. Varying temperatures and precipitation patterns that are connected to climate change

will further affect health by modifying the ecology of several vector-borne diseases: malaria, dengue and chikungunya, to name a few. Parasite


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incidence is positively correlated with temperature, precipitation, and humidity. The requirement of further research in the dynamics between

climate change and infectious diseases is of prime importance. [6]

IMPACT ON WATER RESOURCES

Although the meltdown of the Himalayan glacier was not at a rate as high as feared, it nevertheless is a cause for concern. [7] Glacier melt is

expected to escalate flooding, rock avalanches and to affect water resources within the next couple of decades. Gross per capita water

availability is projected to decrease from 1820 cu. m/yr in 2001 to 1140 cu. m/yr in 2050 .[5]

IMPACT ON FORESTS & COASTAL REGIONS

77% and 68% of the forested regions in India are likely to undergo a shift in forest type. Studies show that a shift towards wetter forest types in

the northeastern region and drier forest types in the northwestern region is probable. From climate models, an increase in frequencies of

tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal is predicted. The rise in sea level is projected to displace huge populations in coastal areas, increase coastal

zone flooding (in low-lying areas) and also lead to loss of crop yields from inundation and salinization [5].

CONCLUSION

As India clarified in the Conference on Climate Change in Durban(2011), effectively sustaining and implementing the regime of climate change

has always been its goal, as shown by its support of the 2nd

commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol between 2013 and 2019 [8]. However, the

journey is long and the terrain harsh. Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan etc. have already done their homework on how


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climate change affects their respective states and how to reduce its impact. What remains is following this through with action. Another

conclusion that I have arrived at following my research is that further inquiry into the complex relationships between climate change and its

effect on human life is required. This done, we will be truly equipped with the necessary machinery to deal with climate change.

REFERENCES

1 Chatterjee.B & Khadka.M, Climate Change and Food Security in South Asia , p. 5

2 http://climate.nasa.gov/effects/

3 Met Office, UK Climate: Observations, projections and impactsIndia.

4 World Bank, The Little Databook on Climate Change 2011.

5 Dr. N. Chattopadhyay, Director, IMD, International Symposium on Climate Change and Food Security in South Asia , August 25-30, 2008

6 Bush KF, Luber G, Kotha SR, Dhaliwal R, Kapil V, et al. 2011 Impacts of Climate Change on Public Health in India: Future Research Directions.

7 http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/02/10/intl-coverage/himalayan-glaciers--meltdown-not-so-fast-after-all/348683.html

8 http://unfccc.int/meetings/durban_nov_2011/statements/items/6584.php


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VARKEY THOMAS

Climate change has become one of the most serious issues that is staring at the policy makers of both the developed and developing countries.

Apart from poverty, disease and the economic global melt down, climate change is taking center stage, justified by the alarming impact it is

having on the universe. Specific to India, impact of climate change must be understood in four key areas. Agriculture, water, health and Natural

Ecosystems and Forests (1)

AGRICULTURE

India, in spite of having made successful forays in the services, IT and manufacturing sector is still an agrarian economy. With a burgeoning

population, Indias primary concern for the future wi ll revolve around food and water.

Indian agriculture, which still provides a source of livelihood to the majority of the rural population, is driven by the monsoon.

The monsoon is instrumental in charting the course of the Indian economy. A good monsoon, apart from providing food and water plays an

indirect role in the upswing of the markets. Thus the nation waits with frenzied anticipation, the onset of the monsoon. A delayed or weakened

monsoon heightens the anxieties of the population. The rain fed cropping cycle gets negatively impacted, and an entire economy spins out of

control. The direct impact of climate change on Agriculture, a monsoon driven activity is least encouraging. (2)


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With a diverse geography consisting of a 7000km coast line, the Himalayas, the Western Ghats and the North Eastern regions, agriculture is also

diverse. The monsoon, being seasonal in nature is specific to a region, thus any variation in the rainfall pattern or its onset has a direct bearing

on the agricultural activity of the country. Alarming trends in the rainfall pattern (4) could derail the agricultural production across all the

geographical zones.

Apart from the monsoon being impacted by climate change and its subsequent affect on the food production other factors such as temperature

fluctuations, a rise in the sea levels and glacier melting have negatively influenced food production. A rise in temperature could bring about a

reduction in the yield of both paddy and wheat, (5) (6) plantation crops such as coconut will also suffer lower yields. (7)(8). With the demand

increasing for both food and shelter, due to the increasing population, any increase in temperature could result in lower yield of cereals,

plantation crops and timber (9) (10) thermal stress is known to reduce livestock production. The vast coast line of India has a population that

depends on the harvest from the sea as a source of food and livelihood, any change in temperature or variance in the monsoon will see a

decrease in the catch of fish. Many tropical fish stocks are already exposed to high extremes of temperature tolerance and hence, some may

face regional extinction, while others may move towards higher latitudes (Perry et al., 2005). (11)

The last decade has witnessed a spate of farmer suicides. Failed monsoons, crop failures and poor agri economics being the chief reasons.

(12)(13).

Thus climate change which adversely affects agriculture is detrimental to the well being of the Indian farmer. India needs to impress upon the

developed countries to mitigate their emissions that are creating changes in the climate, the world over. On its part India and China must put in

place mechanisms to check emissions and tread the green path. In its race to catch up with the developed nations, it has on ly contributed to

the climate change phenomena. Indias tit for tat policy, you did so all these years, now its our turn attitude, is short sighted and will

only add to the woes of the farming sector.


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WATER

Climate change will take its toll of surface water and imbalanced precipitation by way of rain, snow and ice could trigger wide spread drought

there is a tendency for drying in mid-continental areas during summer, indicating a greater risk of droughts in these regions..(14)

(15)With the Gangotri glacier receding at a quicker pace in recent times, excess water downstream resulting in flooding of the Gangetic plains

and drought is a possibility in the days to come. This could adversely affect the food production, in this fertile belt of India. (16)

Rising sea levels is yet another fall out of climate change. Indias vast coast line is susceptible to inundation on account of this scenario, especially

the East coast which is at sea level when compared to Wet coast which has higher sea wall to protect it. In addition rising sea levels also bring in

salinity in its wake, creating salt basins around the cropping zones. This can result in poor yields and poorer quality potable water. (17)(18)(19)

There needs to be concerted efforts to harness the precipitation and improve the ground water table. Dams for generation of hydel power need

not be the only sources of storing water from rain fall. Surface run-off if harvested can replenish sub surface soil moisture and enhance the

ground water table.

HEALTH

Climate change could have indirect impacts on the health of humans in the region. Floods and temperature variations could trigger epidemics

such as malaria and diarrhea (21). The mental health of the population is of prime importance, this will ensure better and efficient productivity.

Higher temperatures, depleted fresh water reserves, low agricultural output, all contribute to migration of communities, resulting in

displacement disorders.


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NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS AND FORESTS

Due to the regional complexities, climate change impact in these areas are varied, however they are vulnerable as they are composed of very

fragile ecosystems. (23) The Himalayan forest region is the most vulnerable and is highly susceptible to change. (24) Followed by the coastal

regions, the Western Ghats and the North East. Though studies are limited in the understanding of the shift in this area, the play safe mode is

wiser counsel, as any impact due to climate change could trigger widespread across the country, unknown and underprepared world e fallout is

inestimable. India, in its own interest must impress upon the world, at all forums, the need to check emissions , lay emphasis on a sustainable

developmental model and clean up its own back yard , thus setting an example to the rest of the world .

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Sincere thanks to Ms. Shanbagavalli for all the indexing work.

REFERENCES

1 INCCA, http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/fin-rpt-incca.pdf2.4, page 22, 23

2 http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070308121808.htm University of Liverpool, Science Daily, (March 8, 2007)

3 http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/fin-rpt-incca.pdf INCAA ,3.3.6 Variability of Indian summer monsoon rain fall

4 http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/fin-rpt-incca.pdf INCCA,3.3.7, page 34

5 Kumar K and Parikh J 1998

6 Sanghi A, Mendelsohn R and Dinar A ,1998

7 http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/fin-rpt-incca.pdf INCAA, 5.1,Samra and Singh,2002,2004

8 http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/fin-rpt-incca.pdf INCCA,5.4.2


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9 Achanta A N and Kanetkar R 1996

10 Bhagatet al.

11 http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/fin-rpt-incca.pdf INCCA,5.7

12 http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/fin-rpt-incca.pdfINCCA , 5.4.3, page 74

13 www.deccanherald.com / Panorama,28th

February, 2012, Vandana Shiva

14 J. Barnett, W.N. Adger / Political Geography 26 (2007) , table 1, 639 to 655

15 http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/fin-rpt-incca.pdf INCCA, 8.3

16 http://www.unep.org/climatechange/ UNEP, Intergovernmental panel on climate change, section 1,Fig 1.1

17 http://www.unep.org/climatechange/ UNEP, Intergovernmental panel on climate change, section 2.3.1.2 Precipitation extremes

18 http://envfor.nic.in/cc/adapt.htm

19 http://www.unep.org/climatechange/ UNEP, Intergovernmental panel on climate change, 3.2.6

20 http://www.unep.org/climatechange/ UNEP, Intergovernmental panel on climate change,3.2.7 Fig 3.4

21 http://www.unep.org/climatechange/ UNEP, Intergovernmental panel on climate change,9.2.2

22 http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/fin-rpt-incca.pdfINCCA , 7.3(Martens et al., 1995).

23 http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/fin-rpt-incca.pdf INCCA,6.4.1

24 http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/fin-rpt-incca.pdf INCCA, Table 6.2


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SUMAN KANUKANTI

A BRIEF INSIGHT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF NATURE IN THE INDIAN CULTURE

The entire edifice of Indian culture is based on the foundation of spirit[1].The source books of Indian culture can be called "Shruti-Smriti-

Puranokta",i.e. based on the Shruti, Smriti and Puranas. The Vedas are known as Shruti, i.e. "direct from God"[2].All the four Vedas have threeparts, which are Samhita, Brahmana and Aryanaka.Aryanaka is that portion of the Veda which is to be studied in Aranya, i.e. forest. In this stage

of life, values from forest are to be observed [3].The Vedas has roots of ancient environmentalism. Indian culture is nature-centric. We find god

in all living and non living things. I am remembered of this verse from Bhagavad-Gita:

Isvarahsarva-bhutanamhrd dese 'rjunatisthati

Bhramayansarva-bhutaniyantrarudhanimayaya [4]

Which translates to "Within the hearts of all living entities, resides the supreme lord Arjuna and by the potency of the illusory energy

orchestrates the movements of all living entities like figurines on a carousel"[5].This exemplifies the importance of all living and nonliving things

in the Indian society.


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INDIA IN GLOBAL SCENARIO

In the present age of synergy and benchmarking, India is the fourth largest economy [6] in the world with a GDP of 4.06 trillion of USD, according

to 2010 report. The energy requirements of the country are largely met by burning coal [7], and India stands third in global emissions by emitting

1.7 billion tones [8] of greenhouse gases each year. Future emissions are set to grow rapidly [9], owing to high economic growth rates and

carbon-intensive development. With current development patterns and business-as usual growth, India could be responsible for up to 6 billion

tons of GHG emissions by 2030[10], and lock-in carbon-intensive practices in all areas of growth.

GEOGRAPHICAL AND PHYSICAL PERSPECTIVE

FORESTS

The Third Assessment Report of IPCC[11] concluded that recent modeling studies indicate that forest ecosystems could be seriously impacted by

future climate change. Even with global warming of 12C, much less than the most recent projections of warming during this century[12], most

ecosystems and landscapes will be impacted through changes in species composition, productivity and biodiversity[13].Biodiversity is likely to be

impacted under the projected climate scenarios due to the changes or shifts in forest or vegetation types (in 57 to 60% of forested grids), forest

dieback during the transient phase, and different species responding differently to climate changes[11] even when there is no change in forest

type. Climate change will be an additional pressure and will exacerbate the declines in biodiversity resulting from socio-economic pressures [14].

MOUNTAINS-THE HIMALAYAN RANGE:

One of the most visible impacts of climate change in the Himalayan region is the retreat of the glaciers [15], many at higher rates than glaciers in

other mountain ranges .River discharges are likely to increase for some time due to accelerated melting, but the flow is then likely to be lower as

the storage capacity of the glaciers goes down. The effects are likely to be felt most severely in the arid parts of the region which are already


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very dry.[15]Glacial lakes have formed in many places in the area left at the foot of retreating valley glaciers. An inventory compiled by ICIMOD

[15] identified 8790 glacial lakes within selected parts of the Hindu Kush-Himalayas. There are also likely to be more flash floods resulting from

increased numbers and magnitude of extreme precipitation events, and there may be greater direct runoff and less delayed runoff as less

precipitation falls as snow.

OAST

The coastal India is densely populated with 7500 km of peninsular region, A study to evaluate the impact of rising sea levels[16] on India was

carried out by JNU (Jawaharlal Nehru University). They calculated what would happen if the sea-levels rose by just 1 meter and they found that

as many as 7 million people would be displaced and 5,764 sq km of land and 4,200 km of roads would be lost!

ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE

India may be a long way from melting polar ice caps, but its economy will be among the worst effects on account of climate change. According to

a report by Lehman Brothers [17] India's GDP would dip by 5% for every two degree temperature rise. Unreliable monsoon will affect our

economy as agriculture is our primary sector and investment per hectare of agricultural land goes up. Severe drought conditions and severe

flood conditions will become hindrance to development. The revenues from the rich coastal areas will see a sharp decline. The demand for

energy increases [18] which will trigger the imports of oil and hence India may have to lose out on the exchange rates.


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6 http://www.therichest.org/world/worlds-largest-economies/

7 http://www.indiaenergyportal.org/overview_detail.php

8 http://www.indiaclimateportal.org/India-and-Climate-Change



11 Climate Change 2001: Synthesis Report, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Geneva, Switzerland, 2001a

12 Climate Change 2001: The Scientific Basis, Summary for Policy Makers and Technical Summary of the Working Group I Report,

13 Leemans, R. and Eickhout, B., Global Environ. Change, 2004, 14, 219228.

14 Gitay et al. Climate Change and Biodiversity, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2002

15 http://www.indiaclimateportal.org

16 http://nitawriter.wordpress.com/2007/02/05/how-global-warming-will-affect-india/

17 http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2007-09-21/news/27679879_1_emissions-global-warming-emitters

18 http://www.indiaenergyportal.org/energy_stats.php



21 http://blog.practicalsanskrit.com/2010/01/like-father-like-son-yatha-raja-tatha.html


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As the human population increases, so does the pressure on ecosystems, since we draw ever more resources from them. Today our only option

is to manage productivity and resources in a sustainable manner, reducing waste wherever possible.

Here are some ideas for forest conservation and sustainable development:

INVESTMENT IN RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY SUCH AS SOLAR, WIND ETC.

Renewable energy has a host of social, environmental, and economic benefits. It helps to improve local air quality and reducing our impact on

the land, water and climate system. Increased use of renewable energy will also help boost local economies through job creation. [2] There

should a public investment in this sector and regulation needs to be imposed supporting it. Encouragement of the usage of environmentally

friendly automobiles such as hybrid, hydroelectric and low emission vehicles also should be done.

On the other hand, continued use of conventional energy sources such as fossil fuels and nuclear power will lead to a host of environmental,

social, and political problems and hold us dependent on limited resources controlled by a few countries and corporations.

PRIVITAZATION OF FOREST MANAGEMENT

The formulation of effective policies for sustainable forest management requires an understanding of ownership issues .Forest ownership is

changing in many countries: increasingly shifting from the state to local communities and to individual households, resulting in an increasing

complexity in stakeholder relations. These changes affect the way forests are managed and have social, political, and economic implications.[3]

Earlier The government used their countrys natural resources as they saw fit. With this continued over exploitation of natural resourc es

privatization was introduced. In this the owners directly experienced the cost and benefits of their decisions. As a result they started using the


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resources valuably and efficiently. It served as an incentive to manage their resources well. Common property is seen as leading to the tragedy

of commons.

Also by encouraging private entrepreneurs into forestry, the government opens the door for increased innovations that can help combat forest

degradation and can improve forest condition [4]

CONSERVING INDIAS FORESTS: A NEW POLICY

India`s National Forest Policy of 1988 calls for managing state-administered forests to conserve biological diversity.[5] The objectives of the

Policy include: maintaining environmental stability of depleted forests; preserving remaining natural forests; checking soil erosion and

denudation of vegetation; halting desertification caused by poor land-use practices; establishing afforestation and social forestry programs;

meeting rural peoples needs for fuel-Wood, fodder, small timber, and forest products; increasing forest productivity to meet essential national

needs; encouraging efficient use of forest products and maximizing wood substitutes; and creating a peoples conservation movement.

But presently this policy is hardly ever implemented by states. As per report not many states have constituted forest protection committees. [6]

MORE OF VERTICAL GROWTH IN CITIES

Vertical growth would involve building high rise multi-level "skyscrapers" in a controlled environment. This could ultimately ease the world's

food, water, and energy crises. it could be an economical and sustainable solution to a number of problems.[7]

The most obvious benefit is the space economy. By building up, we would not need to clear cut forests to make way for sprawling buildings.


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INTEGRATION OF FOREST PLAN WITH THE NEEDS OF THE LOCAL PEOPLE SO AS TO ESTABLISH A

FOOL-PROOF SYSTEM

The Indian Forest Policy of 1988 emphasizes the need for people's participation in natural forest management. The policy asserts that localcommunities should be motivated to identify themselves with the development and protection of the forests from which they derive benefits.

Thus, the policy envisages a process of joint management of forests by the state governments and the local people, which would share both the

responsibility for managing the resource and the benefits that accrue from this management.[8]

Forests cannot be protected if the rights of the tribes are ignored

The rights to and tenure of forests are often poorly defined and, in particular, the rights of customary owners are seldom given full

recognition.[9] Indigenous Peoples, forest owners, the forest workforce, and local communities are now additionally concerned that their rights

to control and benefit from forest-based carbon will be nationally and internationally unacknowledged. This, in turn, will reduce their ability to

manage and use their forest resources and to retain their cultures, traditional knowledge systems, and territories. Poorly designed forest-based

climate change mitigation measures could undervalue proven traditional and local knowledge systems and the experiences accumulated by

customary owners in sustainably managing their resources over many generations. Mechanisms to engage and build capacity among local

stakeholders so they can participate effectively in decision-making are of fundamental importance.

Indias new list of forest policy objectives is remarkable in a country that once focused on maximizing production of wood and other forest

products. Although the new policy has been criticized as being too difficult to achieve, it also may be viewed as a step that provides a new and

optimistic future for forest conservation.


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REFERENCES

1 http://www.sapphyr.net/smallgems/quotes-environment-nature.htm

2 http://www.pembina.org/re/benefits

3 http://www.greenfacts.org/en/forests/l-2/8-economic-social-benefits.htm section 8.4

4 Plantations, privatization, poverty and power. Michael Garforth, James Mayers page 15-17

5 http://www.plexusowls.com/PDFs/india/cons_indian_forests.pdf

6 ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/005/AC921E/AC921E04.pdf

7 http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/govt-favours-vertical-growth-in-cities-relaxing-of-far_614284.html

8 http://www.fao.org/docrep/x2450e/x2450e0c.htm

9 http://www.guianashield.org/site/en/latest-news/1-latest-news/147-forest-conservation-can-fight-climate-change-and-poverty


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AMANPREET KOHLI

When we think of climate change, the first thought is why we should be concerned about it. For most people climate change doe snt seem to

have an effect on the individual level. But I see climate change affecting every individual, including me. Being fond of travelling and photography,

I like visiting new places and then re-visiting them after a couple of years and recalling the past moments. But with the speeding rate of climate

change, I am afraid that a couple of decades from now, much of the wilderness will not be the way I see it now and would have changed for the

worst.

Another common thought amongst the masses is that climate change is a long term phenomenon, but the fact is that this phenomenon has

substantial adverse impacts, both in the near future and in the long run. World Bank finds that climate change will adversely affect India where

about 1/3 of the land is already drought or flood prone. India needs to enhance its adaptive and preventive capacity to combat climate change,

as it will be severely affected by climate change because of which, climate-sensitive sectors like natural resources, agriculture, water and

forestry, may face a major threat[1]. Like any other developing nation, many sections of the Indian populace will not be able to cope with the

impacts of global warming[2,3]. The economic, social and ecological price of climate change is going to be massive for India.

Impacts are already being seen as unprecedented heat waves, cyclones, floods, salinisation of the coastline and effects on agriculture, fisheries

and health[3]. With 27.5% of the population still below the poverty line, reducing vulnerability to the impacts of climate change is essential[1].

The main long term impacts of climate change include effects on agriculture, submergence of coastal areas due to rise in sea level , and an


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increased frequency of extreme events; each of which pose serious threats to India.

The Government of Indias National Communications (NATCOM) in 2004 identified the following impacts if climate change[4]:

1. A decrease in the snow cover which will affect Ganges, Bramhaputra and other such snow-fed and glacial systems.

2. Serious effects on rain-fed agriculture, peninsular rivers, water and power supply because of erratic monsoon.

3. Drop in wheat production by 4-5 million tones, with even a 1C rise in temperature.

4. A rise in sea levels causing displacement along one of the most densely populated coastlines in the world, threatened freshwater sources and

mangrove ecosystems.

5. Increased frequency and intensity of f loods. Increased vulnerability of people in coastal, arid and semi-arid zones of the country.

6. Studies indicate that over 50% of Indias forests are likely to experience shift in forest types, adversely impacting associated biodiversity,

regional climate dynamics as well as livelihoods based on forest products.

In the drought prone regions like Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, the dryland farmers may see their incomes plunge by 20% and sugarcane

yields may fall dramatically by 25-30% respectively ; and in the flood prone regions like Orissa, flooding will rise dramatically leading to a drop in

rice yields by as much as 12% in some districts[6]. Other areas too, which are of immense importance for biodiversity are susceptible to similar

losses.

Rising of sea-levels is an event that will leave the country with thousands of environmental refugees as mass emigration from the coastal zones

will happen because of their submergence. The fishing income is also expected to decrease as the populations will suffer due to a change in the

water temperature, and the agriculture too will not be spared as the increased sea water will intrude in the ground water and other sources


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Action is needed now to avoid higher costs in future. The policies and interventions need to be tailored to local conditions. It will be critical for

India to invest in improvements in information infrastructure. This will require unprecedented levels of collaboration across diverse institutions

in India and abroad. Local human and technical capacities for risk communication and promoting adaptive behavior must also be enhanced.

Precautionary measures for drought-prone areas include better water management and promoting climate-resilient agricultural practices and

cropping patterns. In such a situation diversifying into agro-forestry and livestock production offer resilient options. A need for using subsidies

for encouraging a shift to more environmentally suited crops is also there. To improve the condition of the farmers, micro-credits should be

provided to overcome the indebtedness and start new businesses. Imparting education and skills, building roads and developing markets are

critical to building climate resilience in the long term.

In the flood prone areas it is required to make agriculture flood-resilient and people should have an adapting livelihood. Aquaculture holds a

considerable potential if the supply chain and marketing are improved. Land use planning and zoning also needs to be promoted. Systems need

to be strengthened to be able to detect and forecast floods.


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IDEAS FOR WORLD FOREST CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE

DEVELOPMENT

Dr. NIRAIMOZHI. A. G

INTRODUCTION

Our world forests are in peril. Desertification, Urbanisation, Deforestation, Pollution, Climate change, Habitat destruction has reduced ouravailable forest landscapes. We are losing about 13 million hectares of forest every year [1]. It is estimated that approximately 350 million

people depend on forests for a high degree for subsistence and income, and about 1.2 billion people rely on agro forestry farming systems

(World Bank 2004)[2]. Hence for the survival and wellbeing of nations and in turn world depends on the conservation and sustainable

development of the forest.

PROTECTED AREAS

The "protected area'' concept has been put forward for world forest conservation. In which, each country has to designate a minimum of 10% of

each biome under their jurisdiction (oceans, forests, tundra, wetlands, grasslands) as protected areas [3]. Every year the level of protected area

must be assessed and legal frame work must be carried out to ensure the area remains protected. By which the drawbacks of protected area


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OTHERS

Controlling invasive forest tree species, protecting native tree species and discouraging the introduction of new tree genotypes (non-local

provenances or genetically improved planting stock) leading to genetic pollution. The creation of hybrids and loss of gene pools that may have

acquired specific characteristics through local adaptation. Effective fire prevention through sound management remains by far more cost-efficient than suppression during emergencies. Nationwide wild land fire management programme must be evolved and enforced.

CONCLUSION

Adapting the forest landscape restoration, establishing protected areas, promoting eco-tourism, effective wild land fire management technique

and controlling genetic pollution may help us in conserving world forest and sustainable development of forest and the liveli hood depend on them.

REFERENCES

1 Managing to mitigate documentary video content, IYF 2011 Special edition course/videos.

2 A Good Practice Guide: Sustainable Forest Management, Bio diversity and livelihood 2010 by Convention on Biological Diversity, IUCN.

3 Krishna B. Ghimire and Michel.P. Pimbert, Social Change and Convention.

4 www.Unep-wcmc.org/forest/restoration/global partnership.

5 Management, conservation and sustainable development of forests. State of the world's forest 2005.


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DEVELOPMENT

ANOOP KULANGARA PRADEEP

Forest is an ecosystem predominantly of trees and other woody vegetation, growing more or less closely together; landscape dominated by

trees and other woody vegetation with a canopy cover of 20% or more [1]. Conservation Forest is forest that is designated for wildlife or habitat

protection, usually found within national parks and other protected areas [2]. Sustainable development was defined by the United Nations

World Commission on Environment and Development in the 1987 Brundtland Report as those paths of social, economic and political progress

that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.*3+

Sustainable development is indeed important to adjust to the climate change and with proper world forest conservation initiatives it can be met.

Sustainability requires that human activity only uses nature's resources at a rate at which they can be replenished naturally. Theoretically, the

long-term result of environmental degradation is the inability to sustain human life. Such degradation on a global scale could imply extinction for

humanity.


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FOREST CONSERVATION

THE FOREST INVESTMENT PROGRAMME

(FIP) is part of the Banks Strategic Climate Fund, which is one of two funds in the framework of the Climate Investment Funds[4].Furthermore, it

seeks to give funds to other schemes that promote carbon markets in forests, such as the UN-REDD programme. It achieves this by providing

scaled-up financing to developing countries for readiness reforms and public and private investments, identified through national REDD+

readiness or equivalent strategies.*5+

THE UN-REDD PROGRAMME

The UN-REDD Programme was launched in September 2008 to prepare and implement national REDD+ strategies in developing countries and

was formed by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).This multi-donor trust fund states that the final phase of REDD involves developed countries

paying developing countries carbon offsets for their standing forests, making it clear that they see REDD as a carbon trad ing scheme[6]

FOREST COMMUNITIES

Forest Communities works with indigenous communities around the world at the front line against forest destruction - supporting the

demarcation of traditional boundaries and eco-forestry initiatives, and offering a global platform through which these communities can address

the rest of the world. Why? We believe that if these communities are able to keep control of their forests, they will protect their resources for

the future, and the planet. [7]


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AFFORESTATION

The need for afforestation is two-fold: environmental and commercial. Rampant deforestation over the past centuries has hurt and continues to

harm the earthsecosystem at an alarming rate. Furthermore, the increasing greenhouse effect, soil erosion, drastic climate changes and danger

to the ecological balance are just a few of the many environmental concerns facing the world today. Therefore, afforestation is considered an

important environment tool.[8]

ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE PAPER PURCHASING

Environmentally responsible paper purchasing can minimize forest degradation, biodiversity loss, contributions to climate change and waste.

The pulp and paper industry *9+ is among the worlds largest emitters of greenhouse gases, users of industrial process water and usersof energy.

It produces significant amounts of pollutants and waste to landfill. Proper and Sustainable use of paper has to be thus promoted.

SUSTAINABILE DEVELOPMENT

BIODIVERSITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TARGETS [10]

Despite increasing attention to biodiversity, the international community failed to meet the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development

target to significantly reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010.Therefore, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming 2010 as

the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB) to further raise awareness concerning biodiversity loss and to solicit commitments and new

determination from the international community to improve and foster biodiversity conservation and its sustainable and equitable use.


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In 2009 UNDP promoted sustainable tourism and the sustainable harvest of natural resources covering 85,200,000 hectares of land in 453

protected areas.125 countries received UNDP support in 2010 on environment and sustainable development. 2.7 billion tonnes of CO2 and

ozone-depleting substance emissions have been averted as a result *11+ of UNDPs work. Promoting Sustainabi lity makes initiative of people and

society more strong to work as focus group to achieve the goal of better sustainable development.

GREENING OF BUSINESS

Governments must take the lead and encourage the greening of business throughout all levels of the economy, in order to: [12]

Create an enabling environment for more green jobs;

Adapt to the impacts of climate change;

Support new markets for sustainable products;

Improve the use of natural resources, and

To reduce environmental degradation caused by business activities.

INTEGRATE THE PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes; reverse loss of environmental resources [13].

Efficient policy and governance can support the people who take sustainable initiatives as well as promoting the concept of sustainable

development.


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KAVITHA K.G

The turn of the twentieth century surfaced issues which were never before seriously considered to affect the very existence of life on the

beautifully blue planet earth. It was as the result of the awareness of the fact that the emission of certain gases ,the GHGs, into the atmosphere

could result in a global temperature rise and in turn global warming. The issue thus demanded attention beyond the political borders of the

globe. The milestone in this direction has been laid by the establishment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), by United

Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1988.

INDIA AND CLIMATE CHANGE

As observed by Kanlikar & Ambuj [1], the climate change issue arrived in the international stage when India was undergoing monumental shifts

in economic policies and institutional structures in the early 90s which diver ted its attention from the environmental issues to some extent

though Indian economy was significantly dependent on climate, for its economic growth. But today India has to face the challenge of a

sustainable economic development as well as to face the global climate change and hence a National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)

has been formulated.

Impacts of Climate Change in India

The projections of climate change in India as per, Dr. N. Chattopadhyay, Director, Indian Meteorological Department [2], showed an average rise

of surface temperature by 2-40C during 2050s, marginal changes in the monsoon months and increase in the frequency and intensity of cyclonic


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storms. From this fact it is obvious that these changes are going to leave a lasting impact on Indian agriculture , economy and numerous other

realms of life as well.

CHANGE IN AGRICULTURAL PATTERNS

Sinha and Swaminathan (1991) showed that an increase of 2oC in temperature could decrease the rice yield by about 0.75 ton/ha in the high

yield areas; and a 0.5oC increase in winter temperature would reduce wheat yield by 0.45 ton/ha. Rao and Sinha (1994) showed that wheat

yields could decrease between 28 to 68% without considering the CO2 fertilization effects; and would range between +4 to -34% after

considering CO2 fertilization effects. Aggarwal and Sinha (1993)using WTGROWS model showed that a 2oC temperature rise would decrease

wheat yields in most places. Saseendran et al. (2000) showed that for every one degree rise in temperature the decline in rice yield would be

about 6%-these findings as cited by Wani et al. [3], clearly indicates the depth in which a majority of Indian population and economy that

depends on agriculture is going to be affected.

Impacts in Food Production and Health

Visibly from the agricultural impact it is sure that climate change would affect the food production in India. And the worst part is that the rural or

population that falls in the category of the poor is going to be victimized. As mentioned by Dr. Anitha Chaudhary and PK Aggarwal [4], climate

change is linked to food production directly and indirectly. The change in temperature and humidity affects it directly while catastrophic changes

like floods or droughts would also affect it indirectly. This in turn leads to an impoverished and malnutrition affected society which is susceptible

to diseases.


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Climate Change and Women

Climate change on close observation reveals itself as something that leaves unequal impact on men and women. Reports show that women

especially belonging to the rural and mountain areas are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.As climates change, a ccess to basic

needs and natural resources becomes a challenge. And natural disasters often reinforce traditional gender roles. Rural women in developing

countries are still largely responsible for securing food, water, and energy for cooking and heating. Drought, deforestation, and erratic rainfall

cause women to work harder to secure these resources. Women, therefore, have less time to earn income, get an education, or provide care to

families. *5+.

FACING THE CHALLENGE

Securing the future of the country in all levels from the impact of climate change calls for an urgent attention in the present scenario. Adaptationin the agricultural sector is possible by introducing new varieties of crops which would be drought / heat resistant, introducing new farm

management practices, effective land use, and thorough efforts in watershed management [2].Mitigation is also essential through measures

such as reduction of emission in GHGs, Clean development mechanism, carbon sequestration etc. As well as enhancing food security, carbon

sequestration has the potential to offset fossil fuel emissions by 0.4 to 1.2 Giga tons of carbon per year, or 5 to 15% of the global fossil-fuel

emissions*6+. Projects like Joint forest Management which is analogous to Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (UN-

REDD) would also help India to maintain its forest cover with the involvement of the local population for a better future.


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BHAWANI SHANKARBITS - Pilani

Climate change is defined as a change which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the compositi on of the global

atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods*1+. Today climate change is no more

an environmental concern. It has emerged as the biggest developmental challenge. It has several aspects and inter-linkages namely, science and

technology, economy and trade, diplomacy and politics.

INDIA AND CLIMATE CHANGE

India should be concerned about climate change since this phenomenon might have substantial adverse impacts on it. Not all possible

consequences of climate change are yet fully understood, but the three main categories of impacts are those on agriculture, sea level rise

leading to submergence of coastal areas, as well as increased frequency of extreme events. Each of these poses serious threats to India.

ENERGY ISSUES WITH CLIMATE CHANGE

Indias main energy resource is coal. With the threat of climate change, India is called upon to change its energy strategy based on coal, its most

abundant resource, and to use other energy sources (e.g. oil, gas, renewable and nuclear energy) instead, which may turn out to be expensive.

[2]


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CLIMATE CHANGE AND INSURGENCY

The number of environmental refugees that would be forced by concerns over food, land, employment, and meteorological disastersto move

further inland and into India would increase dramatically. Even with the relatively few Bangladeshis that have entered India so far (compared

with prospective numbers), conflicts have arisen in India; the mere presence of Bangladeshis in India has become an explosive political issue [8],

while receding insurgencies in Indias north-east have resurged in response to migration from the Ganges delta states [9].

IMPACT ON LIVELIHOOD

What climate change will undeniably do is cause or amplifies events that hasten the reduction of resources. Competition over these diminishing

resources would ensue in the form of political or even violent conflict. In turn, competition over scarce land for farming or industrial projects

would rise as well; rifts between Jharkhand tribal and Arcelor-Mittal Steel [10] or Essar Steel mineral extraction and tribal farmers in

Chhattisgarh [11] may be just the tip of the iceberg. These difficulties will also force struggling rural populations to cities en masse in search of

respite. Migration increases population densities in cities, amplifying competition over the finite resources therein.

CONCLUSION

From the above predictions it is clear that climate change is the defining issue of our times. It is perhaps, the greatest challenge to sustainable

development. It should be addressed with a shared perspective, free from narrow and myopic considerations. We should look beyond our

narrow selfishness and work jointly to evolve cooperative and collaborative strategies on the issue of climate change, which is of immense

relevance for the future of mankind.


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IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE FUTURE OF INDIA

POONAM SAINI

India is a nation of extraordinary diversity. It is subjected to a great variety of climatic conditions.. But in recent years these climatic conditions

have changed drastically.There is now strong evidence that climate change is a reality*1+.Today, it has been scientifically established that

significant global warming is occurringaccompanied with widespread melting of snow and ice and rising global average sea level.[2]

In IPCC usage climate change refers to any change in climate over time, whether due to natural variability or as a result of human activity.

IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON INDIA

The climate change will have adverse impacts on water resources, ecosystems, food security, human health and coastal settlements of India.

IMPACT ON AGRICULTURE

Agriculture is the backbone of Indian economy. As a large part of the arable land in India is rain-fed, climate change has immense potential to

adversely affect it. Summer rainfall accounts for almost 70 per cent of the total annual rainfall. Hence it is crucial to Indian agriculture.

However, studies predict decline in summer rainfall by the 2050s*3+. Semi-arid regions of western India are expected to receive higher than

normal rainfall as temperature soars , while central India will experience a decrease of between 10 and 20 per cent in winter rainfall by the

2050s[4]. In a recent study, the International Commission for Snow and Ice (ICSE) reported that Himalayan glaciers are shrinking and that if


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current trends continue they could disappear by 2035[5]. Consequently productivity of crops especially in Indo-Gangetic plains will decrease in

absence of Himalayan rivers. With rising temperature fertilizer requirement would also increase, resulting in higher GHG emissions, ammonia

volatilization and cost of crop production[6].

IMPACT ON WATER RESOURCESClimate change will result in decline in mountain glaciers and snow cover. This will reduce water availability, hydropower potential, and would

change the seasonal flow of rivers in regions supplied by melt water[7]. A serious environmental problem has also been witnessed in the Indo-

Gangetic Plain Region (IGPR) in the past whereby different rivers (including Kosi, Ganga, Ghaghara, Son, Indus and its tributaries and Yamuna)

changed their course a number of times. The recent devastating floods in Nepal and Bihar due to change of course of River Kosi are supporting

examples. In coastal areas, sea level rise will increase salinisation of groundwater supplies ,deteriorating their quality.

IMPACT ON COASTLINE

Sea level rise under warming is inevitable. Sea level rise is both due to thermal expansion as well as melting of ice sheets. The present scenario

clearly indicates that the sea level will definitely rise[8].

Satellite observations available show that since 1993, sea level has been rising at a rate of around 3 mm per year.[9] People living in the Ganges

Delta share the flood risks associated with rising sea levels[10]. The coastal states of Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat face a grave risk from the sea

level rise, which could floods. Sea water percolation can diminish freshwater supplies making fresh water scarcer.

IMPACT ON ECOSYSTEM AND BIODIVERSITY

The Himalayan Ecosystem will suffer Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in the eastern and the central Himalayas, causing catastrophic

flooding downstream [11] .Indo-Gangetic Ecosystem which is an agricultural ecosystem will be seriously affected by the melting of glaciers.

Desert Ecosystems have also shown signs of expansion. Its climate patters have also started changing. For example: the flood in district of

Barmer in Rajasthan in 2006.


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REFERENCES

1 Joint statement by 11 National Science Academies to world leaders, 7th June, 2005.

2 Climate Change 2007, Synthesis Report (A Report of the IPCC), p.2

3 Climate Change and its Impact on India

4 Impacts of Climate Change: Western and Central India (http://www.cseindia.org/programme/geg/pdf/western.pdf)

5 Khoday, Kishan. Climate Change and the Right to Development

6 Effect of Global Warming on Crop Productivity

7 Climate Change 2007. Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability (Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC, Geneva, 2007, p.11)

8 An Assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report, p. 20

9 IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, p. 111

10 UNDP Human Development Report 2007-2008, p.78

11 ICIMOD Technical Paper: The Melting Himalayas, p.6

12 Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability IPCC

13 Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report (A report of the IPCC, Geneva, 2007)

14 UNDP Human Development Report 2007-2008


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DEVELOPMENT

SANTANA BAISHYA

Tezpur University

The Brundtland Report on Sustainable Development, which was issued in 1987, was the modern catalyst for discussions of global sustainability

(World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987). Sustainable forest management (SFM) paradigm, which embraced the notion of

sustainable development: development to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generationsto meet their

own needs popularized by the Brundtland reportOur Common Future (WCED, 1987).

Launched in 1994, the "Montreal Process" is one of nine regional and international processes whose member countries are seeking to

implement criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management to guide the monitoring, assessment and reporting on their forests and

improves forest policies and practices. The seven Montreal Process criteria for sustainable forest management of forest ecosystems are (1)

conservation of biological diversity; (2) maintenance of the productive capacity of forest ecosystems; (3) maintenance of forest ecosystem health

and vitality; (4) conservation and maintenance of soil and water resources; (5) maintenance of forest contribution to global carbon cycles; (6)maintenance and enhancement of long-term socio-economic benefits to meet the needs of societies; and (7) development of the legal,

institutional, and economic framework for forest conservation and sustainable management.[1]
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1389934105000912#ref_bib61http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1389934105000912#ref_bib61http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112708003721#ref_bib105http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112708003721#ref_bib105http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1389934105000912#ref_bib61


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any of the aspects could mar the sustainability of a forest. In India, where the rural population overwhelmingly depends on firewood for

domestic energy, where the fodder for millions of cattle comes from forests, and where customs and traditions are as important in forest

management as the considerations of ecological laws, a minimum of socio-economic data is a must for sustainable forest management.

For India, this data must comprise:

1.per capita annual requirement of firewood at a reasonably efficient level of utilization;2.carrying capacity of a forest unit in terms of its use as grazing land;3.per capita annual requirement of small timber for agricultural implements and for housing;4.per capita annual requirement of non-timber forest products (NTFPs);5.customs and traditions prevalent in a community in terms of the use of forests;6.rate of growth of population, both human and cattle [8].

Fuelwood is the principal source of energy, especially in rural households in develop

united nations iyf 2011 book on climate change

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