T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India - International ...

From the above report, it follows that the deterioration and consequently preservation ofeco-systems cannot be area or state specific and that utmost attention is required to beaccorded to conservation of natural resources and for improvement of the status of ourenvironments. The report notices the need to tackle the environmental degradation in aholistic manner in order to ensure both economic and environmental sustainability.Forests play an important role in environmental and economic sustainability. It takes noteof the forests being consistently and seriously undervalued in economic and social terms.It recognizes that the economic value of the eco-system services of the forests is vastthough it is extremely difficult to quantify. It takes note of the fact that generally much ofthe land-use decision that presently drives forest change takes relatively little account ofthese values. The country's forest resource is under tremendous pressure. Note has beentaken of the fact that India's biological diversity is reflected in the heterogeneity of itsforest cover. It is one of the 12 'mega-diversity' countries of the world. India is also at themeeting zone of three major zone of three major bio-geographic realms, namely, theIndo-Malayan (the richest in the world), the Eurasian and Afro- tropical. India also hasthe two richest bio-diversity areas, one in the northeast and the other in the WesternGhats. The biological diversity is being conserved through a network of biospherereserves, national parks and sanctuaries, however, the challenges for conservationemanate from population pressures, adverse impacts of industrialization and intensifyingthreat from illegal trade.The importance of conserving and managing existing natural forest and forest soils,which are very large stores of carbon, has been emphasized as it will significantly reducegreenhouse gas emissions. To develop and protect forest, a scientific management isnecessary so as to enhance productivity, density and health. Forestry projects have to layemphasis on management and rejuvenation of natural forests. The fragile eco-systemsshould be properly managed in order to safeguard the livelihood of millions of people.The national development agenda must recognize the necessity of protecting the longtermecological security. The problem area is the growing population, high degree ofmechanism and steep rise in energy use which has led to activities that directly orindirectly affect the sustainability of the environment.It is recognized that the sustainable use of bio-diversity is fundamental to ecologicalsustainable. The loss of bio-diversity stems from destruction of the habitat, extension ofagriculture, filling up of wet lands, conversion of rich bio-diversity sites for humansettlement and industrial development, destruction of coastal areas and uncontrolledcommercial exploitation. It is thus evident that the preservation of eco- systems, biodiversityand environment whether examined on common law principle or statutoryprinciple or constitutional principle eying from any angle it is clearly a national issue tobe tackled at the national level. All initiatives are required to seriously pursue.Dealing with inter-generational justice, it has been rightly observed that posterity shallnot be treated like dirt. In an article published in 2003 Columbia Journal ofEnvironmental Law (28 Colum.J.Envtl.L.185), the author says that the way in which a30