ecorestoration – Wise

Earth toDay

AS we speak, billions of people across the Earth are cooling heels at home, practicing own methods of social distancing based on their own understanding of the severity of the Coronavirus pandemic.

This unique situation imposed upon us by the potentially dangerous pathogen, proliferated by human excesses and abuse of nature, its resources and constituents or just stupidity. Now, whether it is man-made or nature’s gift is subject to speculation and various debates are on both scientifically and politically motivated. Whatever be the case, as on date 25+ lakh people are infected, ~7.5 lakh have recovered, and ~1 lakh have died, majority in the most powerful nation, the US followed by Europeans. All this mayhem in a just over 100 days since it was discovered in Wuhan, China, and ~80 days since WHO declared Covid-19 as a pandemic – the coronavirus has spread to every continent, except Antarctica, affecting 211 countries. Each country has reacted differently, few instructed with force, some advised its citizens to keep away from each other.

Social Distancing is the new normal. Covering up and practicing hygiene is not even an option any more.

World economy suffers terribly, Countries would lose Trillions, if not Zillions in trying to keep businesses afloat, to ensure people out of jobs are supported in some way, the poor and homeless would get food to eat – while fighting to keep the virus in check. The new Coronavirus isn’t as bad as it is made out to be – with an infection rate of 4k/ml in Spain to XX% and a death rate ranging between 13.3% in Italy to 0.56% in Iceland; common seasonal influenza virus claims 6.5 lakh people worldwide.

The rainbow in this worldwide storm: Nature, undisturbed by human activities and interventions, aided by countries under various stages of lockdown in the past month, is cleaning up, and the environment starts to feels fresh again. Rivers, flowing with urban wastewater for decades and declared dead, are now clean and water is fit to drink! Air pollution is at its lowest, with clear skies. Hopefully, once the virus’ imperious march stops in its tracks, humans will emerge healthy, fit and immune to Covid – and more importantly, very concerned to protect and improve the environment.

Meanwhile, the world is continuing to witness the impact of unsustainable and sometimes dangerous practices – vanishing rainforests and graveled hills, drying up lakes and under groundwater streams, polluted air- water-land, farming, (agri-poultry-aqua), soil degradation and beach erosion, ethnic tribes losing ancestral abodes, hundreds of species staring at extinction, dying bees and butterflies, man-wild conflict, unbridled change of land use, waste generation, unsegregated disposal and landfills, hoarding essentials, excess consumption, plastics manufacture, usage and unethical disposal, burgeoning cities scrambling to feed increasingly migrating labour and what not!

Is Coronavirus the catalyst that our Earth desperately needs, to mitigate centuries of misuse and exploitation, to rejuvenate?

The Arctic Ocean in summer will very likely be ice free before 2050, at least temporally, according to new research. A new study says a megadrought worse than anything known from recorded history is very likely in progress in the western United States and northern Mexico. Himalayan glaciers are melting faster than previously thought,

Actually, it could be worse. Powerful companies, from developed countries, impoverished with weeks of lockdown and Govts with economic inactivity in addition to sustaining their economies will look to rebuild on the rebound and capitalise the increasing demands of markets. Environment conservation and related budgets take a back seat, since in the short term the resources visible at hand are perceived to have improved. The climate could become even more degraded than it was in December 2019.

It will be challenging, as it has been over the years. Now, with the respite provided by Coronavirus, Govts could be influenced with concerted efforts by the society, combined with great political will, the environment can be further improved and clean climate can sustain. We must realise the and take advantage of this unexpected window of opportunity that has been provided to humankind.

On the 50th anniversary of the Earth Day, let us take the pledge to adopt sustainable lifestyle, adopt earth friendly products and practices,

Respect Nature, Plant native trees, Conserve water and energy, Buy local, Stop buying/using plastic, Use public transport or Car pool, Use renewable energy, Reduce dependency on fossil fuels, Build with sustainable materials.

Stay Home, Stay Healthy, Be Positive!

*A new dawn for a cleaner greener future!*

Photo credits: Blue Marble – courtesy NASA; New Dawn: From own archives. Statistics from internet, text in parts adapted from NASA.

Poems, Parrots and Palash

Truly, nature ‘spring’s to life in all its glory – a riot of colours, a heady blend of fragrances, chirping of birds, humming of bees, frolicking butterflies… Gurudev couldn’t be wrong, it is truly intoxicating!

Ektuku choya lage, ektuku kothai shuni

Tayee diye mone mone rochi mamo phaalguni.

Kichchu palasher nesha, kichu ba chapaye mesha

Tayee deeye shure shure range rashe jaal buni

A light touch do I feel, a few words do I hear

And I conjure in my mind spring’s full moon

The intoxicating red of ‘palash’, blend with fragrance of champa

I weave with music into a net of colour and fervour

– Rabindranath Tagore *

Driving through India’s dry deciduous forests during this season, across the Deccan (Telangana-Marathwada), the Western ghats of Sahyadris, Aravallis at NCR, Rajasthan and Gujarat, and gardens of Bangalore, an unmistakably common view of scarlet horizons. n bloom now, the forests and many urban gardens appear to be afire! The flowers of Palash and Spathodea splashing scarlet across the horizon…

Here, a Purple Sunbird is about to take a sip off the flowers nectar; birds like this one and are the major pollinators of the Palash, including the Indian Rose-ringed Parakeets.

Vasant rtu starts shortly after Makara Sankranti, the harvest festival and the movement of Sun God into the zodiac sign of Capricorn. After the winter solstice in December, the days become longer, sun starts shining brighter and winter chill is on the wane. Hindu Gods are awake now in Uttarayan, and Vasant Panchami is celebrated heralding the official arrival of spring, across India.

Flame of the Forest, Tesu/Dhak (Hindi) Muttuga (Kannada), Moduga (Telugu) is the state flower of Jharkhand (literally meaning-an area of trees!) and Madhya Pradesh. Historically, Palash forests are said to cover much of the doab between the Ganga and Yamuna rivers, central and western India; these were cleared for farming in early 19^th century, for East India Company’s increasing tax demands on the farmers. It’s variously used for timber, resin, medicine, and dye.

As Latin is common in Botany, its referred to in as frondosa (leafy) monosperma (single seed) and Butea, after John Stuart (3^rd Earl of Bute, PM of Britain 1762-3), finally named Butea monosperma. Two other colours of this flower occur – white and cream-yellowish – which are quite uncommon.

The medium-sized (15m), fast growing, long living native Indian tree, needs little water, can tolerate drought, frost and saline soils; It has a greyish bark, crooked stem and irregular branches. The wood is white and soft, being water-durable used for well-curbs and water scoops and boats; produces good quality charcoal. Trifoliate (3-leaf-cluster, believed yo be the Holy Trinity), its large leathery leaves are unfit for fodder, but are put to good use as food plates and cups. Bengal Kino is a red-gum extruded from the tree (infested with lac-insect produces shellac) used in tanning leather and polishes, and as an astringent in pharma. Orange-colour obtained from flowers used to dye cotton fabric (of monks traditionally). Flowers are collected, soaked and the pale coloured water is used to play Holi in North India; now it is making a comeback as organic colour in powder form. Its wood is also used to make implements for sacrificial fires for initiating the fire itself. Leaves are also used to roll bidi.

Quite modest all year round, Jan~Mar is when it comes alive – in bright crimson! Sunbirds of all colours and sizes, Parrots, Mynas, Squirrels blearily running up and down the branches in gay intoxication, butterflies and bees buzzing around – pictures a whole ecosystem that’s thriving on the tree during this season! Trees like Palash, Semal, Coral tree, that rely mostly on birds for pollination are early in the flowering season, have large reddish flowers and mostly do not compete for attention; even if climate plays-up as in recent times, there’s so much in abundance that it hardly makes a difference. The trees that flower in purple, blue, yellow, pink and other colours follow and rely largely on insects like bees and butterflies for pollination, of course small birds.

Kimshuka (Sanskrit), means like a parrot, it is mentioned in various literary works and puranic legends, and as early as 4 BCE by Panini; many parts of the tree are used in vedic rituals and sacrificial fires and is considered sacred for Pointiffs. In Ayurveda, the tree is referred to as Brahmavrksha. The tree and its flower have numerous medicinal properties. For eg. Bathing in water boiled with the flowers can cure skins problems. Various parts are used for stomach ailments, The reddish-orange flowers are offered to Kali and to Shiva.

The tree is referred to as “Susravas”, meaning a tree with the best hearing ability. In Vedas it is mentioned, “DevAvai brahmannavadanta tatparna upAsruNot susravAvai namh”, meaning: A student should be able to grasp the teachings of the Guru in the Gurukula, just as the Palasa tree.

Palash is beneficial to ecology. It reduces about 75% of dust from one cubic litre of the atmosphere. It also acts as an air conditioner by liberating 10-20 litres of water per day per tree of average height through transpiration. A fully grown tree of 15+ yrs is a good carbon-sink and since it sheds leaves adds to biomass that enriches and balances the soil composition. It is also used to stabilize field bunds (said to hold water and so not cut-down)? and make saline soils suitable for other trees! Palash also can aspire 10~20 liters of water daily into the atmosphere, and so its environs are cool.

Tribal wealth: Tribals, the natives of India’s jungles place a lot of importance to nature, especially trees and water. in Jharkhand, Santhal and Sabar tribes value Palash immensely. Santhals make ropes of its fibrous back and roots and in making boats. In Manipur, a piece of wood is buried along with the dead, or if the body isn’t available, a log of the wood is buried/burnt! Tribal areas of Maharashtra and adjoining Chhattisgarh, value Palash as the best coolant, with nutritional and healing qualities; the tradition of consuming flower’s extract is forgotten, few older people still reminisce. During summer, cold infusion of the dried flower is consumed as sherbet, while a tea prepared with dried flower and leaves can be consumed all year long (beneficial for urinary and menstrual problems). Fresh leaves are placed on the head and secured to avoid sun-stroke.

Lakhs from Lac: Tribals in MP’s Shahdol dist were taught to harvest Lac from the Palash trees, which then grew in popularity and has revived as a popular farming practice. Historically, the princely state of Rewa, which gave refuge to Mughal king Akbar as a kid, was the first to establish India’s a Shellac factory, in 1903 by Raja Gulab Singh at Umaria in Shahdol district. Now, since its revival, Jharkhand and MP vie with eachother in its produce. India is the global leader in exporting Lac (used widely in wood polish, ornaments like bangles, ammunition, airplanes, perfumes and little toys). commercially, a kg of Lac costs Rs. 800, and yearly revenues rustle up to US$43.3 million in 2018-19! 90% of Lac resin is produced from Palash, Ber and Kusum trees, as well as blackseed grass.

‘Dhak ke teen paat’ in Hindi refers to its trifoliate (3) leaves cluster. A Marathi proverb translated means – one will not become poor as long as the tree is alive – referring to its immense value in native knowledge.

In literature: Many poets were inspired by the Palash, and referred to it as a symbol of love from Valmiki to Jayadev to Tagore; Chanakya, referred to beauty and lack of fragrance says:

रूपयौवनसम्पन्ना विशालकुलसम्भवाः। विद्याहीना न शोभन्ते निर्गन्धाः किंशुका यथा॥

Though people be endowed with beauty and youth and born in noble families, yet without education they are like the Palas flower devoid of fragrance

Shantiniketan, where Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore spent a lot of his childhood, had a many flowering trees, so unsurprisingly, ~60 trees are mentioned in his poems; of them, Palash in ‘Ore Grihobashi’ written in 1931 exhorts people to enjoy the Spring season – an excerpt:

Ore grihobaasi! Khol, daar khol, laaglo je dol.	Oh people! Open the doors! There is a spring stir!
Sthale jale banotale laaglo je dol!	On soil, in water and the forests, there is a mad, spring stir!
Daar khol, daar khol!	Open the doors!
Ranga haasi rashi rashi ashoke palaashe,	A ruddy, laughter in abundance, amongst the ashok and palash flowers.
Ranga nesha meghe mesha probhato-aakashe, Nobino paatay laage ranga hillol.	An intoxication amidst the clouds of the morning sky With new leaves leaving a bright splendor,
Daar khol, daar khol!	Open the doors, open the doors!

The song is still played, during Vasanta-utsav, in Bangla regions, and esp Viswabharati Univ. established by Tagore.

Palashi is a village in east of West Bengal on the banks of Hooghly (Bhagirathi tributary) river, named due to a large grove of the Palash trees. The legendary Battle of Plassey (anglicized of Palashi) occurred near this village on June 23, 1757, where Nawab Siraj-ud-daulah lost to the treachery of Mir Jaffar and Robert Clive’s army of British East India Company – paving the way for their Empire and to rule India for the next 190 years.

Maharshi Valmiki in his epic, The Ramayana, Rama converses with Sita

AdIptAniva vaidehi sarvataH puShpitAnnagAn .
svaiH puShpaiH kiMshukAnpashya mAlinaH shishirAtyaye

O Sita, behold the Kimshuka trees, with their brilliant flowers blossoming all over as if they are blazing up this winter!

From setting fire to forests, to hearts, and to sacrificial havis, from resembling the blood of Rama, Lakshamana and Indrajit, to the soulless beauty dyeing saints’ clothes, to mirthful colours of holi, to parrots and poets, from medicines to pleasing the moon, Palash has appealed variously with intensity since time immemorial.

This brilliant tree must furrow back into our gardens, into the urban landscape, rather than being relegated to folklore.

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Blue Mormon – The Stately

Butterflies are the candies of nature. They not only appear beautiful, but also help the ecology – by pollinating flowers and ensuring continuity to the nature’s cycle.

The butterfly featured here is Blue Mormon, Papilio polymnestor. A large swallowtail butterfly (wing-span of 12~14 cms) commonly found in South of India and Sri Lanka. (Australasia / IndoMalaya ecozone). They are recorded as pollinators of Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum).

Blue Mormons, the second largest and commonly sighted butterfly in India occur through the year, most prolific after rains during Sept~Nov. These butterflies – with rich velvety black wings, large light blue / white hindwings with spots – are found in gardens, landscapes and orchards with Citrus and Murraya trees – most common in heavy rainfall areas such as rainforests; also found woody urban spaces due to availability Larval host plants. Flowers like Ixora, Jasmine, Foxglove and Indian atlantia are a few favourites. They fly rapidly in unidirection hopping and changing course abruptly.

Blue Mormon is the State Butterfly of Maharashtra – the first such butterfly to be accorded such status, and the first state in India to declare one such, on June 22, 2015.

Female mormons have a light red stripe near its neck, the only differentiator between the genders. These are one of the butterflies known for mud-puddling (suck nutrients out of mud/soil). It was identified in 1775 by Cramer.

National Animal

November 18 is a red letter day for our national animal.

It was on this day in 1972, The Royal Bengal Tiger was conferred the title of National Animal. Panthera tigris as it named in Latin, has the combination of grace, strength, agility and enormous power earning its pride of place as the national animal of India.

The largest in cat family, it has eight sub-species – Royal Bengal, Indo-Chniese, Sumatran, Amur/Siberian, South China, Caspian, Java and Bali, with last 3 being extinct.

In 1972, when the Tiger was elevated to a national symbol, its population was ~1,827 (using pugmark method, which is not considered as reliable). Thirty-eight years later, in 2010, camera-trap method was utilised to conduct a nation-wide census, which recorded just 1,706 across India in an area of 72,800 sq.kms, setting off alarm bells – both for tiger’s numbers as well as the dwindling area (of ~20,000 sq.kms) in reserve forests.

In 2014, the National Tiger Conservation Authority declared that India’s tiger population had bounced to 2,226, from a low of 1,411 in 2006 when the entire tiger population in Rajasthan was wiped out; in South, the forests of Western ghats in Mudumalai, Bandipur, Nagarhole and Wayanad, have the world’s largest tiger population concentrated in a single region, estimated at ~570 tigers. India now has 70% of world’s tiger population. The extent of land area occupied by Tigers is estimated at less than 11,84,911 sq kms, consisting of both reserves and non-reserved areas.

Tigers have ~100 black stripes, each one distinct, and no two tigers share a pattern – like a human thumb. Seen here – an adolescent at Bannerghatta National Park. (Photo from own collection)

There is a 33% jump in numbers (latest count ~3,000 declared by PM Modi on World Tiger Day, July 30, 2019). 50 tiger reserves in 18 states account for 80% of world’s tiger population. The census, an extensive exercise is considered to be the world’s largest wildlife survey. It covered 381,000 sq. km of forested habitats in 18 states where tigers are found in India. A foot survey of 5.22 lakh km was done for tiger signs and prey abundance estimation. A total of 26,838 camera traps resulted in 34.8 million photographs of wildlife, of which 76,651 were of tigers and 51,777 of leopards (livemint.com). In about 2 waking days in the southern-wild, I have seen one pug mark… so deep are our jungles? Mowgli?

While the spurt is a cause for rejoicing, wild animals have to grapple for space not only amongst themselves but also with human greed. Diminishing forest areas including special reserves, due to encroachments (living and farming), transport (rail and road), and Govt grants not to mention poaching – resulting in increasing conflicts and loss of livestock, humans and hunted wild animals. MoEFF’s recent fast-tracking of projects for highways through forests, reducing eco-sensitive zones, green zones, reserve zones, allowing night travel in sensitive areas, etc., aren’t encouraging – however SC has put paid to these efforts by striking down few of the orders passed. Unequal area allocations, lack of proper vegetation in the forests, reduced feedstock in jungles, are also equal cause for concern. Climate change affects them as well – periodical flooding of Kaziranga has taken its toll on the animals within its forest, notably the single-horned Rhino. There are few ngo’s fighting for the cause of these wild ones, increasing awareness among public, and trying their hand in conservation – like cwsindia.org, wti.org.in, wcs.org, www.wpsi-india.org and of course, popular ones like wwfindia.org, bnhs.org, et al.

MoEFCC needs to step in, take cognizance of ground reality and formulate rules for proper administering their policies, empower the Forest dept personnel to fight with with poachers and timber gangs.

As an individual what can you and I do? Next time when travelling to a forest, to stay or a sighting / photography trip, please take care to be responsible – not throw waste, not to feed/leer/jeer/call or disturb any wild animal in its territory, especially not venture near the young ones, if you are lucky to find any. Never buy products related to or sourced out of wild animals, its not only illegal, its unethical. Identify a known organisation and support their cause in wildlife conservation, not necessarily by donating funds. Report an abuse or trade to the nearest police-station / conservator of forests. One Veerappan (dreaded poacher of Western ghats) eliminated will not save the world’s wild!

Some astonishing, fun-facts:
Tigers grow upto 3.3 mtrs, weigh 300 kgs, and can jump upto 6 mtrs height
Unlike cats, they like to play in water and are good swimmers
Tiger cubs are born with all the stripes, and the cutesies are very vulnerable, taking upto 2 weeks to see properly (they’re actually blind)
Though in 2 months they stop milk and can eat meat, cubs rely on their mother to provide food until around 2 years, while picking up instinctive tricks to hunt/kill
Half the cubs born survive beyond 2 years of age, when they move away from their parent, and if they do manage, live for 25 years
Not known to be the swiftest, they can still run at 60 kmph!
Tigers, though ferocious, are humble beings, hardly roaring unlike Lions
Chivalrous males allow their female mate and her cubs to eat first (ironically can kill cubs just to mate with a female) and sometimes, re-hunt for themselves
Just 10% of their hunting efforts are successful.
A group of Tigers is called an ambush, even if its just a mum with kid.
Its said that many tigers are in captivity as there are in the wild (I haven’t counted!)
A mix of Tigers and lions are called Liger or Tions, whichever appears obvious – many exist in USA, Czech Republic, China, Iran, Russia, India (?), UAE and Argentina (not just in NatGeo TV channel)
A paw swipe can crack a bear’s skull or its back, you’d never want to be on its side

Tigers are graceful, solitary creatures, and just let them be – Our National Icon!

Environment Day

It’s a fad nowadays to celebrate various ‘day’s, both national and international. Nevertheless, World Environment Day is special. Started in 1974, the initiative has grown into a world movement, spearheaded by the United Nations. The UN persuades Governments of various countries to mitigate degradation of ecology and work towards sustainable practices.

The subject for 2019 is Air Pollution, and theme chosen is ‘Beat Air Pollution’. This we will look at in subsequent posts. For now, we talk about our environment and sustainable choices that anyone can follow which can create a huge impact, to our only Earth.

This world actually needs a better environment and every citizen needs to act each day.

Just one ‘World Environment Day’ every year – where millions of people send messages, become more aware, feel sad, may be shed a tear, and return to routines next day – isn’t enough! Ecology restoration isn’t limited to planting trees, which of course is a part of the larger cause.

Few sustainable initiatives for all:

1. Stop using single use plastics.

2. Segregate waste at source/home.

3. Compost wet and kitchen waste at home.

4. Grow plants or kitchen garden.

5. Switch to vegetarian food options.

6. Avoid plastic water bottles, paper cups, tissue paper.

7. Recharge groundwater.

8. Collect rainwater and RO-water for common use.

9. Recycle grey water if possible.

10. Use public transport, car-pool.

11. Use clothes and items made of natural fibres.

12. Use fuel efficient vehicles or switch to electric.

13. Instal rooftop Solar power plants.

14. Avoid items made of acrylic materials.

15. Use natural locally available materials for consumption or construction.

16. Plant at least 5 native trees and ensure they grow.

17. Avoid spray-products that contain aerosols, paints and cleaning products that contain harmful chemicals.

18. Avoid carbonated drinks and packaged drinking water.

19. Switch to reusable personal hygiene products.

20. Avoid a/cs, floor carpets, false ceilings, facade glass, vinyl floorings, laminates.

Every decision is a matter of choice; once chosen, it’s easy to follow! Becoming aware is a good start. Action will provide results!

Ecology is the responsibility if all, where each one must be aligned to the same thought and work towards the common goal of a safer environment for our future generations.