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Things You Should Know About Sustainable Development



INTRODUCTION 

There is a close relationship between the environment and sustainable development. Living beings fulfill their needs from their surroundings. They depend on the environment for natural resources like air, water. soil, food, etc. According to the availability of these natural resources, the growth of organisms is also found different in different regions. Similarly, different varieties of animals and plans favor different types of climates. Due to it, the wildlife and the flora, and the fauna of the Himalayan Region and the Terai region are not of the same type.

Biodiversity

Different types of animals and plants are found in different regions. If there is a variation of climate in a country, varieties of flora and fauna are found there. The variety of plant and animal life in the world or in a particular, a high level of which is usually considered to be important and desirable is called biodiversity, it includes ecosystem, genetic and species bio-diversities. We have seen the different types of animals and plants are found in different regions i.e their types vary from place to place. In fact, the totality of number, type, and variations of organisms and their ecosystems is bio-diversity. It shows the total numbers of living organisms and the variation among them in a particular region.

Types of Bio-Diversity

  • Ecological diversity ( Ecosystem diversity)
  • Taxonomic Diversity ( Species Diversity)
  • Morphological Diversity ( Genetic Diversity)
1) Ecological Diversity
This type of biodiversity is also called ecosystem diversity. An ecosystem is an ecological unit that consists of different abiotic and biotic factors. Abiotic factors are non-living things found in a community and biotic factors are living things of that community. The existence of particular organisms at a particular place is closely related to the ecosystem of that place. Aquatic plants and animals can survive and grow well in water whereas terrestrial animals and plants survive and grow on land. In this way, there are two main ecosystems on the earth: water ecosystems and land ecosystems. However, they are further divided into different sub-groups according to their nature. It is because there are influenced by topography and climate.

The land of the Terai region shelters certain types of animals and plants whereas the Himalayan region favors other types of plants and animals from those found in the Terai region. Unlike the animals of the Terai and mountain region, the desert supports different kinds of life forms. So, only particular types of plants and animals are found in a particular region.

As Nepal has different landscapes and climate zones, many types of animals and plants are found there. The variation in the organisms found in our country is due to ecological variation.

2) Taxonomic Variation

It is also known as species diversity. Species are that group of organisms that can interbreed naturally. For example, dogs and cats cannot interbreed naturally so they are different species. The evidence shows that the first life was very simple like bacteria and other unicellular organisms. By the process of organic evolution, different types of species were originated. Evolution is the slow and progressive process by which living organisms of a simple change to a complex type.
All the present animals and plants were no as we see them today when they were originated. It is taxonomic or species diversity. Due to this diversity, cows are different from buffaloes and birds are different from butterflies. It causes dissimilarities among the different types of organisms on the earth.

3) Morphological Diversity
 
It is also called genetic diversity. Genes are the factors that may carry the parental offspring. They are found in the chromosomes inside the nucleus of cells. All organisms do not have the same genes. During the formation of their gametes, the distribution of these factors is not similar in all the gametes. Many organisms of the world reproduce by the sexual method in which the offspring get the characters of both father and the mother. All the above genetic causes bring a variation in organisms.

Variation in the same species of organisms is termed a genetic or morphological variation. Human beings are of the same species i.e. sapiens but we have genetic variation among our races like Caucasoid race (Aryans), Mongoloid race, and Ethiopian race (Negro). The diversity is found on a large scale in other animals and plants.            
                        
Principles of sustainable development

Sustainability is the long-lasting quality and development is the improvement of the human facilities. In this way, we can say that sustainable development is that development work that does not degrade the natural resources so that future generations will also be able to use them.
According to the World Commission of Environment and Development, sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the futures generations to meet their own needs.
Sustainable development conserves and promotes both the planet and human beings. The major principles of sustainable development are described below.

a. Conservation of Ecosystem

Humans and other living beings survive in the environment. Living Beings and non-living beings together form an ecosystem. The ecosystem may be aquatic or terrestrial. By conserving the ecosystems we can do sustainable development.

b. Conservation of biodiversity

All the organisms have their equal importance and roles in the community for the long-lasting food cycle. Thus, all the existing organisms have the authority to survive and reproduce on the earth. By the conservation of biodiversity only, sustainable development is possible.

c. Health and quality of life

For sustainable development, social development programs can play a very important role. In such programs, facilities like education, health, job, security, etc. are promoted for the people which helps them to improve their quality of life.

d. Population control
The main cause of natural imbalance on the earth is the overpopulation of human beings. Due to it, hazards like over-exploitation of natural resources, pollution, imbalance in the ecosystem, etc. appear. Thus, population control can contribute to sustainable development.

e. Development of human resources
All the professionals have their equal importance for long-lasting development. Thus, human resources should be perfect. Perfection can be developed in people by providing them education and knowledge. Thus, knowledge should be within the access of all. In this way, the development of human resources also supports and contributes to sustainable development.

f. Increment in public participation
A single person cannot contribute to sustainable development. Public participation is a must. Public participation should be increased in each development program. We can do it by developing a positive concept about sustainable development.

g. Conservation of cultural heritage

Cultural heritage is related to the identity of a community and it shows their civilization. They are developed after a long research of daily life and they are made for our happiness, health, and prosperity. Thus, by conserving the cultural heritage like our values, tradition, religious places, cultural festivals, etc., we can support sustainable development.

h. Limitation of development

Natural resources are not unlimited. They may vanish by their overexploitation. So development programs must be planned according to the availability of the resources on the earth by keeping in mind that overuse of resources causes natural imbalance. 

Importance of sustainable development

The importance of sustainable development has been presented below:
a. Appropriate use of resources--
 
The earth has a limited amount of natural resources. Sustainable development teaches us to develop those technologies which help to take more advantages by using less
amount of natural resources. It suggests to farmers to turn their dependence on
chemical fertilizers and insecticides towards organic farming which ultimately contributes
to people's good health. This also prevents soil from being degraded.

b. Sense of responsibility
Sustainable development makes people responsible for the conservation of natural resources, ecosystems, etc. It gives them the sense that by conserving natural resources and ecosystems they can transfer the gift of nature to the next generation. It also develops the concept that the earth is not for only human beings rather it is a common home to all living and non-living things. Thus, people do not only use and exploit natural resources but also participate in their conservation.

c. Unification of Environmental conservation and development activities.
 Sustainable development emphasizes social progress developing health, education, agriculture, tourism, and social development. To facilitate them, basic infrastructures are required. Sustainable development helps us to improve the above-mentioned human needs while constructing the infrastructures of development. We must think about their impact on environmental imbalance. Conservation and improvement of the environment are also unified with the development activities.

d. Participatory Development
Sustainable development empowers the public and ensures their participation in development activities. It increases the interest of the local people to participate in developmental work as well as environmental conservation. It supports the conservation of nature.

e. Limitation of development
Sustainable development gives a lesson to the people that unlimited development consumes more natural resources which is not long-lasting. So, our development activities should be limited so that they do not harm biodiversity, ecosystem, and natural resources anymore.

f. Long-term Vision
Sustainable development widens the vision of sustainability. It makes people think about the durability of development structures. Due to it, people become positive to conserve nature.

            Some other advantages of sustainable development
  1.  It protects technological resources.
  2.  It fulfills basic human needs.
  3.  It is an agricultural necessity.
  4.  It accommodates city development.
  5.  It helps to control climate change.
  6.  It maintains financial stability.
  7.  It sustains biodiversity.
Worldwide efforts on sustainable development
Many efforts are made by that world community in the field of sustainable development. Some of them are mentioned below:
  • In 1972 AD, United States Conference was held on Human Environment in Stockholm of Sweden.
  • In 1983 AD, the Secretary-General of the United States invited Dr.Gro Harlem Bruntland, a medicinal doctor and Prime Minister (Erna Solberg)  as the chairperson of the World Commission of Environment and Development. The commission in her chairmanship put forth the concept "our common future" through a report.
  • In 1992 AD, a meeting held in Rio de Janerio known as the earth summit adopted "Agenda 21". It was the blueprint for the protection of our planet and its sustainable development.
  • In 1994 AD, a global conference was held in Barbados ( a country in the Caribbean). It was about sustainable development of the small islands and developing states and making recommendations for the "Agenda 21".
  • In January 2007 AD, International Community met in Mauritius to conduct a 10-year United Nations review of the Barbados program and specify recommendations for its further implementation.
In this way, at global levels, the emphasis is given on the following things for sustainable development.
  1.  Conservation of nature and management of natural resources.
  2. Emphasis on the financing on environmental aspects.
  3.  Conservation of biodiversity.
  4.  Conservation of eco-system.
  5. Increment in public participation.
  6. Group formation of non-governmental organizations and community.
  7. Conservation for the future generation.
Things To Know

  • The totality of number, type, and variation of organisms and their ecosystem is called biodiversity.
  • Biodiversity is of three types: ecological biodiversity (ecosystem), taxonomical biodiversity (species), and morphological (genetic) biodiversity.
  • The development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs is called sustainable development. 
  • The main principles of sustainable development are ecosystem conservation, biodiversity conservation, population control, enriching human resources, public participation, conservation of cultural heritage, and limitation of development programs.
  • Sustainable development is very important for our planet and for all living beings.
  • Some advantages of sustainable development are an appropriate use of resources, a sense of responsibility, the development of basic infrastructures, participatory development, limitation of development, and long-term vision.

  • Many efforts are made at the global level for sustainable development.

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