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The Hindu
2 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Why must India recognise its open ecosystems?
The story so far: Deserts are often imagined as failures of nature, and barren wastelands in need of redemption. This worldview fuels grand ambitions to 'green' the desert, through afforestation, irrigation schemes, or even climate engineering. This gives way to the idea that deserts are broken ecosystems. So pervasive is this vilification, that land degradation is also known as 'desertification', and June 17 every year is celebrated as World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. Are deserts important? In truth, deserts are ancient, diverse, and resilient biomes, finely tuned to extremes. They occupy nearly one-third of the Earth's terrestrial surface, and are home to uniquely adapted plants, animals, and human cultures. It is ironic that humans disregard deserts, when several early civilisations were set in desert climates, whether in early Mesopotamia, Egypt, or the Indus valley. Indeed, some historians argue that it is these very harsh desert conditions that prompted humans to develop complex societies and technologies that could invent ingenious ways of irrigation to survive in otherwise inhospitable conditions. What about other open spaces? India's relationship with open spaces is full of contradictions. On the one hand, we fetishise them. Real estate ads routinely promise sweeping lawns with names like Savana or Utopia. But when it comes to the country's own vast open natural ecosystems such as grasslands, savannas, scrublands and open woodlands, we have done the opposite. These landscapes have been systematically ignored in policy or worse, actively erased. On official maps, millions of hectares of these ecosystems are classified as wastelands, a term inherited from colonial land-use categories. In policy terms, a wasteland is land waiting to be fixed, often by planting trees, converting it for agriculture or paving it over for industry. What should be protected and stewarded has instead become a target for transformation. India's deserts, grasslands and savannas are home to species found nowhere else: the Great Indian Bustard, the caracal, the Indian wolf etc. These ecosystems also store carbon, not in big trees above ground but rather, deep in the soil. Equally important are the communities dependent on them. Millions of pastoral groups such as the Dhangar, Rabari, Kuruba etc. depend on these ecosystems for grazing. When we fence off grasslands or plant 'forests' on them, it's not just ecology we damage but also livelihoods, mobility, and local knowledge systems. In many cases, pastoralist groups are also stewards of biodiversity and ecosystem health. However, Indian grasslands and pastoralist systems have not received the desired protection and management. What should be the road ahead? Rather than trying to turn deserts into forests, we should study how life thrives without abundance. This is not to say that land degradation should not be addressed. Reversing degradation in drylands requires careful restoration that respects native vegetation, focuses on soil and moisture conservation, and draws from indigenous knowledge of land management. Low-tech solutions like water harvesting, rotational grazing, and protecting natural regrowth often outperform greenwashing projects that aim to plant millions of trees to 'green' the desert. We need policies that recognise ecosystem diversity, reward soil carbon storage, and support pastoralist land use. A functioning desert or savanna, with its intricate food webs, seasonal rhythms, and cultural continuities, is far more alive than a failed monoculture plantation. Perhaps it is time to rename World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought to World Day to Combat Land Degradation, and give deserts their respectable name back. The authors are with the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment.
Time of India
16-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Surrounded by water bodies but not a drop to drink in Sattari
A community in Malpon receives water tanker service once in two days Keri: Despite having the Mhadei, its tributaries, and the Anjunem dam in Keri, villages in Sattari taluka continue to fall short of its water requirements due to overexploitation of groundwater, insufficient rainwater harvesting, and poor water resource management. This in turn, has led to increased human-wildlife conflicts and disruptions in daily life. Govt has established water treatment plants at Dabos (15 MLD) and Padoshe (40 MLD) to supply drinking water to most Sattari villages. However, road works, optical fiber installation, and power disruptions frequently interrupt supply. The water crisis has particularly affected villages in the mining belt, prompting legal action. 'Only after the directives given by the high court, govt took necessary measures for resolving our drinking water crisis. We are getting drinking water through the taps and efforts are in progress to provide irrigation water to agro-horticultural crops,' said Hanumant Parab, a resident of Pissurlem. In April, many villages experienced severe water shortages when heavy machinery damaged the main pipeline of the Dabos water treatment plant in Valpoi town. While the public works department (PWD) deployed water tankers, many residents struggled to receive timely water supply. Dhangar families near the Goa Institute of Management in Poriem also rely on water tankers for their daily needs. Remote hamlets where pastoral Dhangar families reside face daily struggles for safe drinking water. The Dalit community in Nimnichegaal, Malpon, receives water tanker service only every two days, highlighting the ongoing challenges in water distribution across the region. 'Presently, we receive water supply for 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening. However, when there is no electricity, we have to bring water from the local well or natural spring carrying pots,' said Sumiksha Gaonkar from Kasarwada-Morle. PWD executive engineer Rashmi Shirodkar in Bicholim stated, 'In Sattari, presently 9 tankers have been involved in providing drinking water in the interior areas. When there is disruption in the electricity supply, we make our best efforts to provide water through the tankers.' The situation remains challenging for many residents. 'We are struggling to get drinking water supply smoothly and regularly and sometimes get water after two days and that is only for one hour. Most of the time, our taps run dry,' said Jyotma Gaonkar, a homemaker from Bhuipal.
