ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION
One planet.
One home.
6 billion reasons
To save it.
JOSEPH T.Ling quotes …
“There is only one land, mass, one atmosphere and a finite
supply of water for us to share, to survive, let alone maintain a
dignified life, requires that we make best and least use of these
resources, if we do not sustain them, they will not sustain us….”
VALUE OF A TREE
The tree that lives for 50 years generates
Rs. 5.3 lakhs worth of Oxygen
Recycles Rs.6.4 lakhs worth of fertility
Facilitates Rs.6.4 lakhs worth of soil erosion control
Creates Rs.10.5 lakhs worth of air pollution control
Provides Rs.5.3 lakhs worth of shelter for birds and animals
Besides, it provides flowers, fruits and timbers.When one tree falls or is felled, we loose
something worth more than Rs.32 lakhs.
Courtesy: Waste Land News
Think Before You Cut a Tree…….!
MASS AFFORESTATION
GREEN BELT DEVELOPMENT IN BHEL
Made a Policy of Planting 5% Trees every year
VTPS IN ANDHRA PRADESH
NTPC - RAMAGUNDAM
BHEL TRICHY LAND 3000ACRES
TREE PLANTATION DETAILS
Fully grown trees 7 lakhs
Tree Plantation during 2000 - 2001 1.50 Lakhs
Tree Plantation during
2001-2002 1.50 Lakhs
Tree Plantation during
2002-2003 0.30 lakhs
TOTAL TREES AVAILABLE 10.30 LAKHS
Forests play a crucial role in our environment, and thus
in our life support systems:
FORESTS
Species: Forests provide vital habitat. Rainforests alone are home
to about half of the 5 to 10 million plant and animal species on the
planet. Scientists estimate that there are at least 30,000 as yet
undiscovered plants, most of which are rainforest species.
Air: Forests clean the air we breathe by taking carbon dioxide out of
atmospheric circulation. They also provide oxygen, on which humans
and other species depend.
Water: Trees regulate floods and droughts. They also provide shade
and nutrients that are critical to many river and stream habitats.
Soil: Trees greatly benefit the soil. Tree roots prevent soil erosion. In
addition, trees fall and (unless claimed for firewood) decompose when
they die, adding their nutrients back into the soil.
BIODIVERSITY
Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth. It includes
all living organisms and the ecosystems that sustain
them. It is every organism from the smallest bacteria
to the greatest whale. It is the genes that allow life to
evolve as the world changes. When scientists talk
about biodiversity, it is often broken down into four
different categories;
Species diversity Eco system diversity
Genetic diversity Cultural diversity
As a result of human activity,
we are losing biodiversity at an alarming rate. Already, thousands of
species have disappeared forever.
Extinction is a natural process on Earth. However, as a result of
human interference, the current rate of species extinctions is
occurring at 100 to 1000 times the natural rate. Approximately
10,000 to 25,000 species disappear every year.
Causes of Biodiversity loss;
•Habitat destruction •Introduction of
invasive species
•Pollution •Over Exploitation
WATER POLLUTION
Nearly 70 % of India’s water is polluted and unfit for human consumption .
14 rivers in India cater to the need of 85% population
Human and industrial waste, urban runoff, agricultural fertilizers, sewage,
heavy metals and pesticides poison our oceans and contaminate our
rivers and groundwater
Cholera, dysentery and gastroenteritis are responsible for 60% of the total
urban deaths. All these diseases are water-borne and claim a large number of lives every year in spite of better health facilities and
increased expenditure on health.
Huge ground water extractions have caused our water levels to drop
Paving and development prevent groundwater from recharging when it rains
Recycling of treated sewage water for Industrial purposes in MRL, MFL and GMR Vasavi (Chennai).
RAINWATER HARVESTING CHECK DAMS
CHECK DAM
No.
LOCATION CATCHMENT
AREA [Sq m]
ANNUAL RUN-OFF
PER YEAR
[Cum/year]
CD1 HELIPAD SITE 78000 41,184
CD2 ARV SITE 2,27,600 1,20,173
CD3 MHD [SOUTH] 94,600 49,950
CD4 WEST OF CCDP 1,33,000 70,224
CD5 WEST OF CCDP 27,000 14,256
CD6 WEST OF CCDP 37,000 19,536
CD7 WEST OF RPS 1,40,000 73920
CD8 BURIAL GROUND 80,000 42,240
TOTAL 8,17,200 4,31,483
AVERAGE RAIN FALL 880mm
TOTAL CATCHMENT AREA 8,17,200 Sq m
TOTAL RAIN WATER HARVESTED PER YEAR 4,30,000 Cum/year
B. ROOF RAINWATER HARVESTING – R & D BLDG. B.H.E.L.
Roof Rain water Harvesting system was provided in R & D building to
collect around 350 cum of rainwater annually and reuse for Horticulture purpose.
The combustion of fossil fuels and their products is responsible for sizable amount of anthropogenic air pollution, and this problem is particularly acute in urban areas.
Environmental problem of great concern, which is related to sulphur in fossils fuels, is the ACID RAIN.
Acidity in the lakes due to acid rain kills off fish, bacteria and algae, and the aquatic ecosystem collapses into sterility leaving a clear but ultimately dead lake
25 percent of the world’s population living in developed countries consume 80 percent of the world’s energy resources., including fossil fuels. They also emit more greenhouse gases.
According to data released by the International Energy Agency based in Paris, the G-8 countries account for almost half the world’s CO2
emissions which is a green house gas responsible for global warming
AIR
Chlorofluorocarbons (cfcs) and related industrial gases such as nitrous oxide and methane, have thinned the ozone layer in many places.
The original discovery of the hole was in 1984, in 1987 it became the size of the USA
Ultraviolet light passing through the thinning ozone layer can harm many forms of life on Earth, including both humans and animals.
In both cases skin can age quicker and immune systems reduce. Some humans can develop skin cancer and cataracts
THE OZONE LAYER IS A BLANKET OF GAS IN THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE
THAT SHIELDS THE EARTH FROM THE SUN’S HARMFUL ULTRAVIOLET
RAYS
Human activities are intensifying the natural greenhouse effect, as we release billions of tonnes of heat-trapping gases in to the atmosphere. These include:
Carbon dioxide (from industry, cars, deforestation, etc),
Methane (from cattle, landfills, fossil fuel production, etc)
Nitrous oxide (from fertilizers, sewage treatment plants, etc)
Fluorocarbons (from refrigerants and other industrial products).
GLOBAL WARMING
Global warming is another important issue related to human environmental impact
Inevitably, the Earth will respond to global warming in a number of
damaging ways.
* Climate Changes
* Disappearing of plant and animal species
* Raise in Sea Level
Measurements during the past 100 years reveal that sea level has risen by 10 to 25 cms worldwide.
According to a recent article in The Times, by the year 2100,
Indonesia and many of the Pacific Islands will be reduced to
mountain tops.
IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON INDIA
A. AGRICULTURE
Rice yield shall decrease :-
At the rate of 0.71 ton/ha of the minimum mean temperature rises from 18°C to 23°C
At the rate of 0.41 ton/ha if the mean temperature rises from 22°C to 23°C
Wheat:- For a rise of 0.5°C in minimum mean temperature wheat yield could decrease by 0.45 ton/ha
A more generalised estimate is that for a rise in mean temperature of 2°C – 3.5°C, the net revenue loss from farm level activities could be of the order of 9 – 25%
B. FORESTRY
Under the climate change scenario, the net productivity of forests could decline from 5.40 m3/ha to 5.01 m3/ha (Biomass)
C. IMPACT ON COASTAL ZONES
In case of 1 metre rise in sea level,
7 million people could be displaced in Coastal Zones
5,764 square km area could be inundated 4,200 km of roads could be lost
Coastal ecosystems are likely to be seriously effected and bleaching of coral reefs may be observed
D. IMPACT ON WATER RESOURCES
The glaciers in Himalayas could show significant recession.
In the initial period, the average flow of snow fed rivers could go up; however
there shall be significant decline in mean flow of Himalayan rivers by 2030
and large parts of Gangetic plains could come under severe water stress.
Parts of South India are also predicted to come under water stress
HUMAN HEALTH
Malaria and dengue are highly sensitive to climate change and are likely to
spread into new areas.
Water borne diseases, already a cause of concern, could increase rapidly
ENERGY
Currently, most of the energy is produced from Coal, Oil,
Natural Gas, and Uranium.
These energy sources pollute our air and water, change
the Earth’s climate, destroy fragile ecosystems, and
endanger human health.
Energy use – effect on Environment
*Acid rain and mercury pollution from coal power plants damage
forests, wildlife and human health.
*Oil spills and energy-related toxic wastes destroy marine
ecosystems and contaminate soil and water.
*Nuclear power produces radioactive wastes that will poison the
environment for thousand of years.
We can meet our energy needs while protecting human health, our climate, and other natural systems.
The solution is a rapid transition to energy efficiency
and the use of clean, renewable energy sources such as the sun and wind.
Renewable sources of energy are virtually inexhaustible and are
naturally and quickly replenished. They are called “Clean” because
they generate energy without producing pollution.
Solar Photovoltaic (PV)
Solar thermal energy
Wind Power
Biomass
Geothermal power
LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT
It asks three basic question
* Where does the product come from ?
* What is its effect on Environment ?
* Where does it go ?
In LCA, we are looking for Sustainable Development. Any over exploitation of a resource, beyond its regenerative capacity, will ultimately skew the ecological balance.
Ways to mitigate global warming ?
•Energy Conservation & Management.
•Use of clean fuels (5% shift from coal to Gas)
•Use of Renewable Energy resources.
•Management of resources.
•Green Technology.
•Green Life style.
WHO is RESPOSIBLE FOR PROTECTION OF
THIS ENVIRONMENT?
It is the job of the Government to protect their citizens. But
government cannot do the job alone. We need every individual
citizen to help ensure strong environment protection.
Joining together is not a matter of choice – it is a necessity. Let
us use this occasion to remind every citizen, communities,
business and the industry that “the Earth is in our hands”. By
joining together, we can take the common sense steps need to
take – and be proud to pass along a safe, clean world to our
children and our children’s children.