by Raakhee Suryaprakash
Earth Day is observed on April 22. This Earth
Day, when we are living through mass extinction of species, mostly as a result
of mankind’s actions and greed, the theme aptly is “Protect Our Species.”
Climate change, deforestation, poaching, trafficking, habitat loss,
unsustainable agriculture, pollution and pesticides are some anthropogenic activities that have
resulted in multiple extinction events, “widespread
and rapid decrease in the biodiversity on Earth.” What mankind has caused,
perhaps mankind can work to actively reverse. Here’s where the action of
Earth’s Sheroes comes in.
These Sheroes of Mother Earth, some prominent,
many lost in the annals of time, are those who have worked tirelessly to ensure
a place in the sun for species other than humans. They have epitomized all
that’s humane, where “being human”
has destroyed flora and fauna indiscriminately. Monoculture has been the bane
of biodiversity ever since agriculture was formalized. “Slash and burn”
expansion of agricultural land into virgin forests have put biodiversity at
risk as well.
From the original tree-huggers, the women of the
Himalayan foothills who started the Chipko Movement in what is today the Indian
state of Uttarakhand, who hugged trees and put their bodies before the axe, to
Vandana Shiva the founder of the native seed bank Navdanya to Greta Thunberg and
her “Fridays for Future” protest to make governments take climate change
seriously there are many working to protect the earth, the bounty of nature:
biodiversity, and her environment.
Rachel Carson, the American Marine Biologist and
ecologist, helped take the environmental movement global with her powerful
writing. Dr Jane Goodall’s work with chimpanzees helped familiarize a larger
portion of society with them giving them a better chance for survival. Inspired
by Dr Goodall’s work Dr Supraja Dharini of Chennai’s Tree Foundation (which is
also associated with Roots and Shoots International Network, of the Dr Jane
Goodall Institute) has worked tirelessly to converse the turtles that nest on
the shores of Bay of Bengal by involving local fishing communities in the
Turtle Taskforces which have given Olive Ridley sea turtles a fighting chance
to survive our invasion of their nesting sites and marine habitats. Tree
Foundation’s Community outreach and enhanced environmental awareness building
and education have helped make it easier for many marine species and
biodiversity to survive.
Many
winners of India’s fourth highest civilian honour the Padma
Shri have gone to women who have planted trees, protected
native species and protected forests – the home and foundation of biodiversity.
Most recently, Jamuna Tudu a.k.a. Lady Tarzan of Jharkhand who has worked to
prevent deforestation and conserve forest from the timber mafia and the greed
of miners and corporations with her "Mahila Van Suraksha Samiti” a private band of women forest guards.
Karnataka’s Saalumarada Thimmakka is another such “Mother of Trees” who has
planted many avenue trees. Odisha’s Kamala Pujhari has helped preserve
traditional and native crops such as paddy, cumin, sesame and is another award
winning “protector of species.”
Also
from Odisha is Sabarmatee, who through the NGO Sambhav has created a food forest
over 90 acres in just three decades while also conserving native seeds.
The
power of these Earth’s Sheroes is in the ripple effect they’ve inspired. Many
urban professionals have been inspired to do their bit to help conserve nature
and natural resources and preserve biodiversity. Apps for monitoring one’s
personal carbon footprint, such as Mumbai’s Sunita Rajesh’s OnyPlanet.In have helped
create awareness of our impact of the planet. Urban farmers and terrace farmers
have taken on the cause of preserving native seeds and champion organic farming
and even finding markets and networks for rural organic farmers like Divya
Shetty of Indian Super Heroes. Also through her other initiative Pepaa, Divya
Shetty is making products from 100% recycled palatable paper, such as pencils
and pens and corporate gifts such as calendars.
Zero-waste lifestyles, composting as well as vertical
gardening, backyard forests and forest gardens have grown in popularity
exponentially due to inspiring Eco-Sheroes.
