Deforestation: Mapping the Impact on Wildlife

Authors

  • Sonika Ahlawat Assistant Professor, Department of Legal Studies Trinity Institute of Professional Studies, GGSIPU Dwarka, New- Delhi

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48165/tlr.2024.4.1.6

Keywords:

Wildlife, extinction, habitat, climate change, ecosystem

Abstract

 

In the era of globalization, countries are making significant progress for the benefit  of their populations. Governments are taking necessary steps to advance and provide  facilities for the comfort of their citizens. However, amidst this progress, the welfare  of wildlife is often overlooked. From a legal standpoint, wildlife lacks rights against  governmental actions, and there is no provision for them to appeal against decisions,  as they are not recognized as human beings.  This article explores the multifaceted impact of deforestation on wildlife, emphasiz ing the profound consequences of habitat loss, disruption of food chains, and the sub sequent decline in biodiversity. As forests are systematically cut down, the intricate  ecosystems that support various species face severe challenges, leading to number  declines and, in some cases, species extinction. The article underscores the inter connectedness of ecosystems and the far-reaching implications of deforestation on  climate change. In response to these challenges, conservation strategies such as sus tainable forestry practices, habitat protection, and the creation of wildlife corridors  are discussed. In conclusion, the article calls for heightened awareness and collective  action to preserve biodiversity and foster a harmonious coexistence between human  activities and the natural world.

References

• Oladimeji Adebayo, “Loss of Biodiversity: The Burgeoning Threat to Human Health” Annals of Ibadan Postgraduate Medicine, Jun. 2019. Vol.17(1).

• Auffhammer, Maximilian. 2018. “Quantifying Economic Damages from Climate Change”. Journal of Economic Perspectives 32(4): 33–52.

• Sharma, E.; Tse-Ring, K.; Chettri, N.; Shrestha, A. IMBC Plenary Session 1: Climate Change and Its Implications for Mountain Biodiversity in the Himalayas-Trends, Perception and Impacts of Climate Change. In Proceedings of the International Mountain Biodiversity Conference, Kathmandu, Nepal, 16–18 November 2008.

• Shekhar, M.S.; Chand, H.; Kumar, S.; Srinivasan, K.; Ganju, A. Climate-Change Studies in the Western Himalaya. Ann. Glaciol. 2010, 51, 105–112.

• Rana, S.K., et.al., “200 Years of Research on Himalayan Biodiversity: Trends, Gaps, and Policy Implications” 8 Front. Ecol. Evol. 516 (2021).

• Kaul, R.; Kalsi, R.S.; Singh, R.; Basnet, H.; Awan, M.N. Cheer Pheasant (Catreus wallichii) and the Conservation Paradox: Importance of Unprotected Areas. Diversity 2022, 14, 785.

• Nagdeve DA, “Population growth and environmental deg radation in India” Asian Pacific Journal on Environment and Development, Vol.14 no.1, pp. 41-63 (2007).

• Bowonder B., “Deforestation in India” 18(3-4) International Journal of Environmental Studies 223-236 (1982). • Gupta A, et.al., “Impact of deforestation on Indian mon soon- A GCM sensitivity study” 9 Journal of Indian Geophysical Union 97-104 (2005).

• Chakravarty S, et.al., “Deforestation: Causes, effects and control strategies” Global Perspectives on Sustainable Forest Management 3-28 (2012).

• Pandit MK, et.al., “Unreported yet massive deforestation driving loss of endemic biodiversity in Indian Himalaya” 16 Biodiversity and Conservation 153-163 (2007).

• Damania R, et.al., “India’s forests- Stepping stone or mile stone for the poor?” World Development (2018) DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2018.11.007

• National Forest Policy (1988), Government of India, New Delhi.

• Forest Survey of India (FSI), “An Assessment Report on Forest Cover Status of India” Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), Government of India (2017).

• Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, “Forest Conservation” (2019). Retrieved from: http:// envfor.nic.in/division/forest-conservation;

• Tyagi N, et.al., “Assessing gender responsiveness of forest policies in India” 92 Forest Policy and Economics 160-168 (2018).

• A. Kothari, Report on Conservation of Biological Diversity in India, Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi,1993.

• Uma Shanker Singh, “State of Forests in India” International Journal of Development Research Vol. 07, Issue 03, pp. 12222-12233 (2017).

• N. Devaraju, et.al.; “Effects of large-scale deforestation on precipitation in the monsoon regions: Remote versus local effects” PNAS, vol.112; no.11, pp-3257-3262 (2015).

• Abhishek Lodh, “Stimulated Impact of Desertification and Deforestation on Indian Monsoon Rainfall and Surface Fluxes: RegCM4.0 Simulations” Journal of Ecosystems and Ecography Vol.7, Issue 1, pp-1-14 (2017).

Downloads

Published

2024-07-20

How to Cite

Ahlawat , S. (2024). Deforestation: Mapping the Impact on Wildlife. Trinity Law Review, 4(1), 30–35. https://doi.org/10.48165/tlr.2024.4.1.6