Termites, Water shortage and humus-less ravine soil were main challenges but the continuous hard efforts by Ms Neha Sharma ( an I.A.S. Officer & the then District Magistrate of Firozabad), her team of officers & Mr Rambabu ( a farmer & grassroot caretaker of the project) helped in transformation of a barren land into a micro- forest. It was really a challenging dream project of Ms Neha Sharma. Initially, forest department was not very hopeful but dedication and determination of Ms Sharma made this project successful. Biodiversity is flourishing, successfully. A must visit place. This flourishing micro-forest is located on the Yamuna Riverbank near Agra-Lucknow expressway in Block & District Firozabad (Uttar Pradesh, India). Idea, Dedication & Determination are essential for the success.
Now, a Saint Pagal Das Baba, his followers and Mr Rambabu are looking after this place.
On December 07, 2021 former head of UNEP Mr Erik Solheim appreciated the successful efforts on his Twitter account.
At present, only one species has dominated the Earth, i.e., Homo sapiens or Humans. The future of the whole world is being decided by humans. Humans are using their dominating global status & power only for the benefit of humankind, not for other species. Humans are not serious about the damage caused to the environment due to their activities. Humans remain unaware even knowing that their own existence is in danger along with other living beings in the near future, due to climate change and other destructive anthropogenic impacts. Humans should stop this foolish and lethal way of life on Earth. This planet is not solely for humans but also equally belongs to other living beings; we humans can’t decide or limit the future of the whole biodiversity and environment. We all are on the verge of “worst future”, which we (humans) have been continuously making for self pleasure, since the first industrial revolution.
Video: Now, the newly elected Village Council Aasayi Headman Mr Ravindra Dixit has started revival of ponds, forests & biodiversity. Great Climate Action by him, For Nature.
Pics: Act For Nature, For Better Future.
We will have to change it to tackle this coming “existence crisis” for the whole biodiversity. Our efforts will only be completed by acting, working and living “with nature” and “conserving nature”. We have to choose the path of eco-friendly lifestyle and sustainable development and create a world in which all living beings have safe habitats and workplaces (ecological niche).
Pic: Respect The Nature.
Our climate action should be inclusive to successfully protect the whole biodiversity from the climate crisis. We humans have to bear responsibility to protect biodiversity and the environment; without this our motto to work “for nature” will not be successful. For example, every year world governments do plantations to increase green area, to save depleting biodiversity and for the wellness of citizens but the success rate of transformation of saplings to trees remains low. This is due to the lack of collective responsibility and duty “for nature” by both citizens and the government. So, if governments ensure citizens’ participation in plantation and “care after plantation”, the results would be very positive. Citizens’ participation would help the governments to create a carbon neutral and biodiversity friendly society. Such strategy is the need of the hour in all nations or in all parts of a nation. Without involvement of citizens, all actions for a better and sustainable earth would be in vain.
Pics: Both, plantation & care after plantation, are equally important to increase green cover & biodiversity. #ForNature
All living beings are on a cosmic journey of the universe through planet Earth, with a limited time to live on Earth. In this stipulated time, it should be our responsibility to make the Earth a good and habitable home so that we can give a better future to our coming generations and whole biodiversity.
Behave like a friend, son, daughter of Nature; Nature nurture us.
Care for Nature is the responsibility of Homo sapiens, only; we will have to fulfill this responsibility. We should continuously try to make this world better for all living beings so that whenever we leave this earth forever, then we should not regret at all that while living on this earth, we did not take any step to save nature; while we could did that and could make planet earth habitable for generations to come.
Pics: Our efforts, “For Nature”, should be impactful and long lasting.
Behave like a friend, son, & daughter of Nature; Nature nurture us. We are existing because Nature is existing. Without Nature, Earth will be a lifeless planet like millions of millions planets are existing in Universe. Our duty and deed should be like an intelligent species of Earth, as we humans are. Our anthropogenic impacts should be ecofriendly and sustainable, not destructive. Only then we may dream about a better future.
Pic: Stop Blindness Towards Nature; Save Nature.
Note: In this article, pics, video and views are my own. – Prabhat Misra
World is facing Covid19; it is caused by the coronavirus SARSCoV2. Coronaviruses (CoVs) are single-stranded positive sense RNA viruses and were first reported in 1960. In humans, only seven types of human-CoVs (HCoVs) exist that can infect humans; these are- Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-CoV (MERS-CoV), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-CoV (SARS-CoV), HCoV-229E, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-NL63, HCoV-HKU1, and latest novel SARS-CoV-2. CoVs can infect mammals including humans and cause respiratory, hepatic, neurological and gastrointestinal diseases. SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) is destroying the world economy, social life, and human lives with an increased mortality rate each day.
Plants are source of antiviral bioactive compounds
There is no specific drug currently available to cure COVID-19 infection. But, there are many medicinal plants which have bioactive molecules having antiviral properties. Bioactive compounds of several medicinal plants have excellent ability to work against coronaviruses because these compounds are known to act on viral protein targets namely ACE-2 (Angiotensin-converting enzyme-2) receptor, 3CLpro (3 Chymotrypsin-like protease), PLpro (Papain-like protease), RdRp (RNA-dependent RNA polymerase) enzyme and other known factors through which coronaviruses gain entry into the human cell and complete the life cycle. The bioactive compounds of these medicinal plants are a ray of hope to develop drugs against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Role of trees in controlling Covid-19 cases in South Italy, in the year2020
In northern Italy, particulate matter (PM) played important role in spreading Covid-19 where COVID-19 disease provoked the highest number of victims in the country, as well as one of the most worrying situations worldwide, and where PM concentrations of ≥ 50 µg/m3 as PM10 daily averages were often recorded. Fine PM penetrating into the respiratory system can easily provoke inflammatory responses as well as cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, thus resulting into respiratory distress.
In a recent study on lower COVID-19 mortality in Italy’s forested areas explains a surprising role of immunoprotection by Mediterranean plants. In southern Italy, the Mediterranean plants played a protective role and reduced the graph of Covid-19 cases. In South Italy, the forested areas mitigated air pollution by intercepting PM onto plant surfaces, and bolstered the human immune system by emitting bioactive volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These trees act as unique sources of useful metabolites and volatile organic compounds (VOC) displaying positive effects against various pathogens, including viruses and positive effects on the human immune system. Persons living in southern Italy received positive effects on the human immune system. Study found that Mediterranean trees Laurus nobilis, Quercus ilex, Olea europaea, Daucus virgatus, Onopordum illyricum, Pistacia vera, and Nerium oleander played important roles in releasing VOCs. Important VOC reported from South Italy’s forests were Borneol, bornyl acetate, 1,8-cineole, terpineol, α-pinene, β-caryophyllene, β-pinene, oleuropein, lauricides, ethyl acetate, methanol extracts, monoterpenes, sesquiterpene, Kaempferol, flavonoids, phenolics, sabinene and megastigmanes.
It was also found that the pandemic’s severity was generally lower in southern regions, especially those areas which have more than 0.3 hectares of forest per capita. The lowest mortality rates were found in southern Italy, mainly in regions like Molise (0.007%) and Basilicata (0.005%) where the forest per capita ratio is higher than 0.5 Ha/person.
Mild climate, higher average sunlight exposure and the Mediterranean diet, which includes the consumption of foods containing polyphenols and natural compounds with potential antiviral activities, all contributed to the defence against the pandemic.
According to the study, the evergreen Mediterranean forests and shrubland plants have protected the southern population by emission of immuno-modulating VOCs and provision of dietary sources of bioactive compounds.
Several Indian mangrove plants including Ceriops decandra, Excocaria agallocha, Rhizophora lamarckii, Rhizophora mucoranata, Rhizophora spiculata have been reported to exhibit potent antiviral activity.
So, Protect Earth’s Biodiversity
Trees release life saving antiviral bioactive compounds and VOCs. Foliar emission of VOC has been reported in many plants of angiosperms, bryophytes, ferns and gymnosperms (conifers). But anthropogenic activities are destroying the ecosystem of Earth, forests and biodiversity.
According to Global Forest Watch, the tropics lost 12.2 million hectares of tree cover in 2020. Of that, 4.2 million hectares, an area the size of the Netherlands, humid tropical primary forests are important for carbon storage and biodiversity. The resulting carbon emissions from this primary forest loss are equivalent to the annual emissions of 570 million cars (2.64 Gt CO2), more than double the number of cars on the road in the United States. Primary forest loss was 12% higher in 2020 than the year before and the second year in a row that primary forest loss worsened in the tropics. This is really worrisome and not good for our future. Forests are our hope for life; land biodiversity totally depends on forests. Forests are biosequesters of carbon dioxide and climate change warriors. Save them.
Nature loves you and works for you; it is our fundamental duty and fundamental right to work for nature and a better earth, where all biodiversity lives with love, peace and unity. Trees are the soul and source of life on Earth, save trees.
Note: This article has been written only to cause awareness.
For Nature, For Future 