Sustainable management of resources

Sustainable management of natural resources is defined in

the Environment Act as: “using natural resources in a way
and at a rate that maintains and enhances the resilience of
ecosystems and the benefits they provide. In doing so,
meeting the needs of present generations of people without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
needs, and contributing to the achievement of the well-being
goals in the Well-being of Future Generations Act.”

Sustainable management of forest

• India is not only famous for its diverse architectural
marvels and culture, but also for its dense and
vast forest heritage. According to the State of India
forest report 2021, the total forest cover of the country
is 21.71% of the geographical area.
• But the rising demand for forest-based products and
resultant climate change, deforestation, and
encroachment has caused severe loss to this valuable
asset. According to NITI Aayog, around 13 million
hectares of forests are being lost every year.
• Therefore, it is the need of the hour to understand
that forest sustainability is not an option but
imperative.
• Forest sustainability is not an option but imperative.
 • One-third of the land on Earth is covered by forests,
which play a vital role in maintaining the hydrological
cycle, regulating climate, and preserving biodiversity.
• Forests are also important for poverty alleviation.
Forests provide more than 86 million green
jobs. Everyone on the planet has had some form of
contact with forests.
• They are also the homes of India’s submerged
humanity—the tribals. They are ecologically and
economically a part and parcel of the forest
environment.
• They also provide major and minor forest produce:
• Major such as timber, round wood, pulp-wood,
charcoal and fire-wood
• Minor produce like bamboo, spices, edible fruits
and vegetables.
Challenges faced in forest management
• Inadequate Forest Cover
According to the National Forest Policy of India, the ideal
percentage of the total geographical area under
forest should be at least 33% to maintain ecological stability.
But currently, it covers only 21.71% of the country’s
geographical area and is dwindling day by day.
• Unregulated Grazing
India possesses a livestock population of over 412 million
of which 270 million are bovine animals, about one-tenth of
which graze in the forests. Due to the lack of a strict grazing
regulatory framework, overgrazing in many parts of India is
observed to cause serious damage to forests.
• Menace of Climate change
• Climate change alters the frequency and intensity of
forest disturbances such as insect outbreaks, invasive
species, wildfires, and storms
• By 2030, 45-64% of forests in India will experience the
effects of climate change and rising temperatures.
• Many forest species in Himalayan region are already
migrating to higher altitudes and some species are even
facing extinction.
• Low Productivity-
The gap between the consumption and production of
timber and wood-based products in India is rapidly
increasing. Against the global average productivity of 2.1
m3/hectare/ year, the productivity of the Indian Forest is
only 0.7 m3/hectare/ year.
• Loopholes in the regulation of Forest Development
Corporations are a major factor in low productivity as
well as there is a considerable section of northeastern
forest in India that remains unexplored and can be
potential medicinal hubs
• Injustice with Tribes
The tribal communities, the hallmark of Indian
civilization, are based on forest areas for their
 survival. Although they live in isolation in forest areas,
they are having harmonious relationships with forests
and species.But the continuous deforestation,
development of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries
and eco-parks are negatively impacting their habitat and
displace their living leaving them with mental health
issues.
Solutions for forest management
• Dedicated Forest Corridor
Dedicated Forest corridors can be maintained for safe
intrastate and interstate passage of wild animals and
protecting their habitat from any external influence,
giving a message of peaceful-co existence.
• Resource Mapping and Forest Optimization
Potential resource mapping can be done in
unexplored forest areas, and they can be brought
under scientific management and sustainable resource
extraction maintaining density and forest health.
• Viewing Tribals as Forest Entrepreneurs
There is a need to revitalize Forest Development
Corporations (FDCS) to structure the commercialization
of forests and engage tribal communities as “Forest
Entrepreneurs” In the exploration, extraction, and
enhancement of forest-based products.
• Forest Waste to Forest Wealth
 Technology can be utilized for the reduction and
recycling of waste. Large quantities of inferior wood
that is dumped in forests as waste can be put to better
use through seasoning and preservation treatment.
• Comprehensive Forest Management
Forest conservation should include all components of
protection and sustainable management of forests such
as, forest fire control measures, timely survey, tribal-
dedicated policies, reducing man-animal conflicts and
sustainable wildlife health measures.
• Towards Nature-Based Solutions-
• Nature-based solutions such as blue-green
infrastructure, (green roofs, rain gardens, or
constructed wetlands) can minimize the impacts of
climate change by capturing CO2 from the air and
sequestering it in plants, soils, and sediments.
• It can also allow forests to regrow and restore wetlands.
• Also, the Dasgupta Review-Independent Review on the
Economics of Biodiversity reports that green
infrastructure is 2-5 times cheaper than grey
infrastructure (seawalls and water treatment plants).
Sustainable management of marine resources
• The union minister of science and technology and
earth science stated that the Blue Economy is the
sixth dimension of the Government of India’s
Vision of New India by 2030.
 • A Draft Policy document on Blue Economy has
been prepared by the Ministry Of Earth Sciences
taking into consideration the reports of the expert
working groups which emphasizes holistic
development and growth of India’s Blue Economy.
• In the Union Budget of India 2019 the finance
minister laid out Vision 2030 while highlighting
India’s transformation in the last five years.

BLUE ECONOMY
• The concept was introduced by Gunter Pauli in his 2010
book- “The Blue Economy: 10 years, 100 innovations,
100 million jobs”.
• It is the sustainable use of ocean resources for
economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, and
ocean ecosystem health.
• It advocates the greening of ocean development
strategies for higher productivity and conservation of
ocean's health.
• Blue Economy emphasizes on integration of the
development of the ocean economy with social
inclusion, and environmental sustainability, combined
with innovative business models.
 Steps to promote Blue Economy
• Deep Ocean Mission: It was launched with the intention
to develop technologies to harness the living and non-
living resources from the deep oceans.
• India-Norway Task Force on Blue Economy for
Sustainable Development:  It was inaugurated jointly by
both the countries in 2020 to develop and follow up
joint initiatives between the two countries.
• Sagarmala Project: The Sagarmala project is the
strategic initiative for port-led development through the
extensive use of IT-enabled services for the
modernization of ports.
• O-SMART: India has an umbrella scheme by the name
of O-SMART which aims at regulated use of oceans,
marine resources for sustainable development.
• Integrated Coastal Zone Management: It focuses on the
conservation of coastal and marine resources, and
improving livelihood opportunities for coastal
communities etc.
• National Fisheries Policy: India has a National Fisheries
policy for promoting the 'Blue Growth Initiative' which
focuses on the sustainable utilization of fisheries wealth
from marine and other aquatic resources.
• With its vast maritime interests, the blue economy
occupies a vital potential position in India’s economic
growth.
• It could well be the next multiplier of GDP and well-
being, provided sustainability and socio-economic
welfare are kept center-stage.
• India should look to adopt the Gandhian approach of
balancing economic benefits with sustainability for
meeting the broader goals of growth, employment
generation, equity and protection of environment.
Sustainable management of Mineral Resources
Mining is a significant industry in India.
India is a large producer of critical minerals, with 3527
mining leases for 40 key minerals covering a total lease
area of around 315,986 hectares.
Mineral resource development has the potential to
influence environmental sustainability, social inclusion,
and economic growth.
Since time immemorial, the mineral resource industry
has played an important role in the global economy and
human progress.
The sector is critical to the attainment of the United
Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the
implementation of the Paris Agreement.
Despite its diversity, the sector has the possibility and
capacity to positively contribute to all 17 SDGs and the
implementation of the Paris Agreement. The sector's
contribution to SDGs includes both its involvement in
advancing many SDGs and its role in impeding SDG and
associated objective attainment. The world's
population is expected to climb from around 7.8 billion
to 9.6 billion by 2050, posing significant problems for
the industry in addressing rising population and rising
per capita consumption.
Mineral Resources and Sustainable Development
The mineral resource sector has the potential to
significantly contribute to the achievement of the SDGs
through
 socioeconomic benefits,
 foreign exchange earnings,
 employment and livelihood,
 infrastructure development,
 communication,
 vital service provision, and
 supply of raw materials for green technologies.
The natural resource industry, as previously said, has
the capacity to influence environmental sustainability,
social inclusion, and economic growth. The effects on
water, land, climate, and humans, as well as flora and
animals that rely on these resources, have an impact
on environmental sustainability.
This sector has an impact on SDG6 (Clean Water and
Sanitation), SDG15 (Life on Land), SDG7 (Energy
 Access and Sustainability), and SDG13 (Climate
Action).
The mineral sector can pose challenges in terms
of impact on livelihoods and human rights,
provide economic opportunities to communities
near the mines and beyond. An inclusive and
equitable approach will help the sector towards
achieving SDG1 (End Poverty), SDG5 (Gender
Equality), SDG10 (Reduced Inequalities), and
SDG16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).
Generation of economic opportunities is also the
key towards achieving SDG8 (Decent Work and
Economic Growth).
There are several direct and indirect economic
benefits that can be accrued through this sector.
The sector can drive innovation and result in the
development of infrastructure for transportation,
communication and help to develop energy and
water infrastructure contribution to the SDG9
(Infrastructure, Innovation and Industrialization)
targets. As the sector provides raw materials
critical for development there is an opportunity
for collaboration (SDG17: Partnership for the
Goals) within and beyond the sector to minimize
waste and act as a driver for reuse and recycle
 (SDG16: Responsible Consumption and
Production) through a circular economy
approach.
The main challenge in the integration of sustainable
development in mineral resource extraction and
production is on account of the non-renewable and
finite nature of mineral resources further
exacerbated by the dependence on other resources
such as water, energy, land, etc., for
extraction/processing.
Despite India's longstanding institutions for
environmental protection, regulatory violations, poor
implementation of environment and community
rights, over-extraction, and illegal mining continue to
anguish the sector.8 Modest experience with benefit-
sharing highlights inefficient management of funds,
underutilization, inadequate participation of mining
communities, lack of transparency, and need for
enhancing governance.
To conclude, a holistic approach harmonizing all the
facets of sustainable development in the mining
sector must be aligned by the Government and the
Industry.