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What does 'living in harmony with nature' imply? Why do our forefathers frequently refer to the glory days of nature as a thing of the past? Can’t we see or experience this pristine form of nature any longer? Every time my mind stumbles upon these questions, I wonder if we’ll ever be able to experience nature the way our grandparents did. I also try to understand the difference between then and now. Living in harmony with nature means that we respect all life around us. It fosters the well-being of the planet, humans, animals, and plant life simultaneously. Today, many people would agree that we have a greater understanding of nature than previous generations; we no longer advocate chanting to the rain Gods or praying for miracles. Our in-depth understanding of science and technology has helped us make sense of the natural world, how it works, and why maintaining ecological balance is crucial. However, if we take a step back and consider it, we've merely used this knowledge to comprehend better how human activities might thrive. Many critical resources, such as fossil fuels, are nonrenewable, but they are being utilised excessively. Increased air, water, and soil pollution have resulted from unrestricted human activity, posing a serious threat to human health and safety. We realised that the human-centred development model was to blame when global warming and climate change unleashed their wrath in the form of unprecedented natural disasters and diseases. We began to feel a sense of superiority over nature as we burst myths and misconceptions about the environment. We forged an unhealthy relationship with nature, which involved stepping on our wildlife, natural habitats, and natural resources to thrive in this ever-changing world. Rather we should have advocated the harmonious coexistence of humans and nature, rationally developing and utilising resources and paying attention to environmental issues. <keyword id="6359982" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="earth" source="Orion">Earth</keyword> and its <keyword id="590126" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ecosystems" source="Orion">ecosystems</keyword> are our common home. Every individual should remember that the Earth does not belong to just us. It is vital that we live in harmony with nature to create a balance between the economic, social, and environmental requirements of current and future generations. According to scientists and researchers, our current way of life, particularly our consumption and production habits, has significantly impacted the Earth's carrying capacity. Our disregard for nature has manifested in the form of loss of biodiversity, desertification, climate change and the disruption of natural cycles. For several years now, nature has been seen as a commodity that exists primarily for the benefit of humans, and environmental issues have been downplayed or dismissed as 'solvable' through technological means. The first step towards living in harmony with nature involves letting go of ideas that encourage science and technology to overpower the natural forces and environment. A more sustainable model for production and consumption is required to meet the basic demands of a growing population while remaining within the constraints of the Earth's finite resources. Advances in science and technology have enabled us to create and discover solutions to difficult problems, efficiently track climate change, and predict natural disasters. All of these advancements have boosted our faith in scientific knowledge. However, we cannot ignore the difficulties that these advancements have caused, such as pollution, global warming, habitat fragmentation, and so on. These issues and their effects can only be avoided if indigenous knowledge is encouraged to cohabit with science and technology. We must follow the fundamental laws of being a part of nature while also applying our knowledge to enhance living conditions. We must realise that we will never be able to live without the help of other natural elements such as animals and plants. For example, efforts are on to integrate the expertise of rural and tribal populations with the modern and scientific knowledge of forest departments and other seasoned environmental experts during planting programmes in various parts of the country. As an environmentalist and the CEO of an organisation dedicated to restoring our ecosystems, I've realised that changing people's attitudes toward nature is the key to solving the problem. When we realise that there is #OnlyOneEarth that supports life, that there is only one planet that offers us space to dream, aspire, and create, we will begin to make modest changes in our lifestyle almost unconsciously. It will eventually pave the way for us to live in harmony with nature. <keyword id="14114652" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="bikrant-tiwary" source="Orion">Bikrant Tiwary</keyword> is the CEO of <keyword id="11075570" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="grow-trees-com" source="Orion">Grow-Trees.com</keyword> Disclaimer: The opinions expressed are of the author/interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of Business Insider India. The article has been partly edited for length and clarity. This column is part of June 2022’s month-long awareness campaign on the theme “<keyword id="14112362" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="only-one-earth" source="Orion">Only One Earth</keyword>: Sustaining People, Planet and Prosperity” by <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sustainability">Business Insider India’s Sustainability Insider</a>.

OPINION: Time to remind ourselves that there’s #OnlyOneEarth and we must live in harmony with nature

“A small spark can start a great fire,” quipped author <keyword id="2592903" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="emmet" source="Orion">Emmet</keyword> Fox! Former President Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was one such spark who gave wings to the fire among millions of Indians. As one of the first ambassadors for a greener future, he took an oath, "I will plant and nurture 10 trees and will ensure that my family and neighbours also plant 10 trees each!”. His vision was "Billion Trees for Billion People". The primary duty of an Indian president is to protect and defend the constitution. But they also serve another critical role in being an inspiration to the entire country through their actions and words. On Thursday, <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> elected <keyword id="14514860" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="smt-droupadi-murmu" source="Orion">Smt Droupadi Murmu</keyword> as the country’s first tribal woman president. Born in Uparbeda village of <keyword id="58912" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="mayurbhanj" source="Orion">Mayurbhanj</keyword> district in <keyword id="6357961" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="odisha" source="Orion">Odisha</keyword>, she has been a champion for environmental causes throughout her shrewd political career. "Environment cannot be protected by only depending on the government or the forest committees, but a collective effort is needed to protect it," she had said a few years ago when she was serving as the Governor of Jharkhand. In fact, the social organisation <a target="_blank" class="c-link" href="http://grow-trees.com/">Grow-Trees.com</a>’s project ‘Trees for Tiger’, which has planted over 50 lakh trees in Odisha, was a brainchild of <keyword id="2848422" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="droupadi-murmu" source="Orion">Droupadi Murmu</keyword>. <div type="image" title="Tree plantation drive in Odisha" msid="93029084" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Tree plantation drive in Odisha&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> “I had met Draupadiji at the Raj Bhavan during her tenure as the Governor of Jharkhand, and she proposed planting trees around Similipal National Park in Mayurbhanj district and other sanctuaries in Odisha. She has close ties with the Santhal community in Mayurbhanj and suggested we include tribal areas in our ‘Trees for Tiger’ plantation drive. We did so, and during the pandemic, the project helped to create sustainable livelihood opportunities for prominent tribes like Bhumij, Santhal, Gond, Mankidia, and Kolha," recounts Bikrant Tiwary, CEO of <a target="_blank" class="c-link" href="http://grow-trees.com/">Grow-Trees.com</a>! Similipal National Park, covering 2,750 square kilometres, is one of India's oldest tiger reserves and has been part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves since 2009. It hosts a rich biodiversity zone and serves as the habitat for Asiatic elephants and the melanistic black tigers as well."The purpose of this project was to help repair wildlife habitats, restore biodiversity and support local communities. We have planted 50 lakh trees on the foothills of the National park, including in the gram panchayats of Asana, Kendua, Kuchilaghati, Gundihudi, and <keyword id="1469591" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="rangamatia" source="Orion">Rangamatia</keyword>. <a target="_blank" class="c-link" href="http://grow-trees.com/">Grow-Trees.com</a> has also been coordinating with the local tribal groups and forest departments to plant a mix of around 20 tree species," explains Bikrant. These trees will also help control soil erosion, enhance the water table and help mitigate floods, droughts, and forest fires, says Bikrant. He concludes, "we are glad to have acted on the suggestion of Draupadi ji and are happy that the expanded forest cover in the buffer zones is not only providing a natural shelter for tigers but is also helping to control human-animal conflict and enhancing biodiversity on which so many lives and livelihoods depend." Despite stringent regulations, India is losing lakhs of hectares of forests every year due to land use change, deforestation and illegal tree-cutting. As per the Global Forest Watch, India lost 1.27 lakh hectares of natural forest in 2021 alone, equivalent to 64.6 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions. While plantation forests may not amend such large-scale destruction of fragile ecosystems, afforestation and reforestation can entail numerous socio-economic and environmental benefits in the long term. As passionate environmental champions like Droupadi Murmu ascend to the highest office in the country, we can only hope that she will inspire millions of people to commit to a greener future for India.

Droupadi Murmu's vision once led to plantation of 50 lakh trees in Odisha! Can she inspire a greener future for India?

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OPINION: Time to remind ourselves that there’s #OnlyOneEarth and we must live in harmony with nature

Bikrant Tiwary

Droupadi Murmu's vision once led to plantation of 50 lakh trees in Odisha! Can she inspire a greener future for India?

Deekshith Pinto

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