Aizawl the 5th June, 2021 : Prof. S.K Barik, Prof. S.P.S Kushwala, Prof. B.K. Tiwari, Prof J.K. Patnaik, Prof. Lalnundanga, Prof U.K Sahoo, Prof B.P Mishra, Prof. Lalnuntluanga, Prof. O.P. Tripathi and all other participants of webinar, Good morning to you all. I am delighted to have been invited for this webinar and I hope that the discussions will be fruitful towards a better environment.
Research and studies have documented continued increases in greenhouse gas concentrations, land and ocean temperatures, sea level rise, melting ice and glacier retreat and extreme weather. Impacts of climate change on socio-economic development, migration and displacement, food security and land and marine ecosystems are being observed with increasing concern all over the world.
India is facing many environmental issues such as, air pollution, solid waste pollution, water pollution, growing water scarcity, falling groundwater tables, noise pollution, loss of biodiversity, degradation of forests, loss of resilience in ecosystems, etc. Further, India's population growth adds pressure to environmental issues and its resources. Rapid urbanization in the country has also led to build-up of heavy metals in the soil, polluting underground waters. These heavy metals are also being ingested through contaminated vegetables, which are hazardous to people's health and are known carcinogens.Environment pollution and degradation is seriously undermining the clean food production and thereby threatening livelihood security of the people.
Ecosystem restoration can happen through active planting or by removing the pressures, so that nature can recover on its own. Degradation may result from harmful policies such as intensive farming or weak land tenure laws that encourage deforestation, lakes and coastlines can become polluted because of poor waste management. Restoring ecosystems protects and improves the livelihoods of people who depend on them. It also helps to regulate disease and reduce the risk of natural disasters. Restoration can be launched by anyone; government, communities, individuals, etc. because the causes of degradation are many and varied.
The people of the North East, including Mizoram heavily depend on agriculture and forest resources for livelihood, especially in rural villages. Ecosystem services play a vital role in securing clean air, water, nutrient recycle, etc. for the livelihood and well-being of the people. However, in recent years, the development of roads and communication, shifting cultivation, commercial cultivation of horticultural crops, mining of stones and minerals, extraction of forest produce, etc. has left large tracts of natural forest degraded. Sustainable land use and eco-restoration of degraded areas must form the core priority of all land-based development in the region.
Education is an essential element of the global response to climate change. It helps people understand and address the impact of global warming, increases “climate literacy” among young people, encourages changes in their attitudes and behavior, and helps adapt to climate change. Education and awareness play an essential role in increasing adaptation and mitigation capacities of communities, and empower them to adopt sustainable lifestyles.
Mizoram University, especially the department of Environmental Sciences and Forestry has great potential to promote better understanding of climate change issues, while simultaneously addressing the critical knowledge gaps on causes and impacts of climate change of the region. Research and documentation on impacts of climate change on flora and fauna, impacts on social and economic development, etc. can significantly aid policy decision, development planning, etc. for dovetailing the intervention packages for effective mitigation and adaptation.
I hope Mizoram University will continue to innovate, disseminate and guide the people of the North Eastern States with knowledge which will usher in development and economic prosperity.
Thank You
