I am hopeful despite all the exploitation

My question is from the younger generation that can remember the beginning of this century or they were old enough to remember their surroundings in the year 1999. Do you still recall those days when the world around us used to be a little greener lacking vegetation than what we see today? I am sure most of you, barring few exceptions will answer in affirmative.

I am looking at the fast changing surroundings with wide open eyes, I can remember the road that lead to my parental home merely 14 km away from my present residence had lots of trees, one or two story houses with large boundaries now converted into multistoried apartment houses. The big field behind the local market where we used to play cricket vanished and now converted into a big nursing home and a full-fledged market. 

Water scarcity- A serious problem

 We do not see any ponds anywhere in almost all villages in our surrounding rural areas but all of them being converted into housing societies, small or big markets, bus stands, grain and fruit markets etc. I think we have overburdened the land to the limit of torturing it and the result is for everybody to see. But if something is obvious that is change in weather which cannot be ignored any further but will have to be dealt on priority basis before it’s too late. 

We witnessed some of the strangest incidents in our area in last couple of years. I hope the indecisive era we saw in last decade or especially in last couple of years will not go on forever and there will be positive changes in coming years. If the present trend of changing weather so abruptly having many sudden changes from hot to cold and cold to hot any indication that is sure sign of the serious problem that we shall be facing in near future.  

Global Warming 

The agriculture sector throughout the world is suffering worst due to global warming since the beginning of the second half of last century and if the trend continues there are chances it will further reduce. According to researchers the agricultural output was worst hit during 1960-2005 reducing the total production at least by 10%. And the corps like maize, wheat and rice topped the list of produces most hit due to hot weather especially drought in several areas. 

The global warming has hit developed countries especially North America, Europe and Australia more than under developed countries. The farmers had to sustain loss of crops due to drought during this period to the tune of 20% in the areas stated above and countries in Africa and Latin America the losses were close to 10%.

The difference in loss of produce is according to agricultural methods as the farmers in developed countries grow in larger areas. Farmers in under developed countries sustain comparatively lesser loss as they grow various produces in smaller areas so it’s all about farming methods of developed and under developed countries and quantity of losses.

The reduction in output of agricultural products is bound to have its effects on prices as we have already seen in the sharp increase in world market in recent times. If the situation further deteriorates the chances are the world grain market goes up by 20% in next 2 years.     

The most recent studies on El Nino which is associated with warm ocean water in the central and east-central equatorial Pacific Ocean show that it has disturbed the atmosphere to a great extent. In the year 2014 a climate scientist Nick Bond found out that blobs have increased the temperature of ocean 2 to 7 degrees Fahrenheit (average 5 degrees Fahrenheit).  The scientists have named it as sun blob which is causes growing poisonous weeds in hot water that will further increase problem due to lesser sea-food availability.    

Increasing Population and Deserts

It’s hard to believe but according to reports of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) greenery or fertile land of more than 100 countries is under the threat of increasing sand, which is affecting the life of 1 billion inhabitants of those areas. And this effect is apart from existing deserted areas of one third of Asia and half of African countries. The UNEP has specifically pointed out at the reasons behind this, the increasing population in these countries, their increased needs of food and urbanization reducing the forest areas. 

Conversion of farms and landscapes to areas where there was greener (Desertization) taking place mostly in Asian countries in a very slow process which is defined as the irreversible extension of desert land forms and landscapes to areas where there was greener until sometime before. For Example Thar Desert in Rajasthan is extending towards other states of India. In India alone 30% fertile land is losing its fertility and almost 24% of that affected area is around Thar Desert itself. 

Thar Desert also known as the Great Indian Desert which was spread over in 196150 square kilometers by the year 1995 has increased to 208110 square kilometers by now. Let’s have a look at the total desert area in India, out of total of 328.7 square kilometers land area 105 million square kilometers is already in deserted category and 82.1 million is on the verge of slow conversion of Desertization which means that one fourth of fertile land will be further converted into deserts over the period of next 100 years or so.

Conclusion

The increasing population of our part of the world has added problems to already existing problems of pollution and other environmental changes due to increased needs of agricultural lands, too much abstracting of water for various purposes. Keeping the present situation in minds we have no alternative left but to return to old methods of preserving the water and depending upon natural resources of water like ponds and wells instead of abstracting water from the land and making the earth dry. The increase in deserts can cause extinction of many species including humans from the earth. Let's come forward and make the world greener or it will be too late and our future generations will never forgive us.