Introduction :

India is a mega diversity country with an enormous repository of biological wealth in terms of flora (45,000 species), fauna (75,000 species) and microorganisms. It is also endowed with a rich and invaluable, cultural and traditional knowledge, and practice systems. Our country is well known for its indigenous systems of medicines like Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, etc. New pharmaceutical products are being identified based on this and their effects are to be validated. We need to plan to conserve and sustain this biological wealth for our next generations.

Conservation of this biodiversity through sustainable ecosystem management approaches is important to humankind for various reasons. Ecosystems are the life supporting systems. It facilitates mankind with several services like extractive benefits (such as foodstuff, fibres, timber, biomass fuel, precursors to various industrial and pharmaceutical products, etc.) and non-extractive benefits (such as water purification, renewal of soil fertility, climate regulation, pollination, pest control, etc.). In addition, it also provides intellectual, aesthetic, cultural, religious and spiritual values. Human health and well-being is directly proportional to the environmental conditions that prevail in a particular geographical region.

Human beings have been interested in ecology since the beginning of civilization. Even our ancient scriptures have included practices and values related with ecological and environmental conservation. The concept of ecological and environmental conservation “enters into every form of religion…. It rests on the earliest conceptions of the unity of life in nature, in the sense of communion and fellowship with the divine centre and source of life…”. The protection of forests as sacred forests and of several tree species as sacred trees belongs to the religion-based conservation ethos of ancient people all over the world. Although such practices became extinct in most parts of the world, basically due to changes in religion, and during recent times due to changes in resource use patterns, conserving sacred forests continue to be of much importance in religion, culture and resource use systems in many parts of India. Indian nationalism has grown out of the amalgamation of scores of nature-based local cultures and practices, evident from the worship of plants, groves, animals and natural objects like rivers, mountains, ant-hills and rocks. Ancient Indian scriptures, while advocating conservation of sacred forests, do highlight the importance of planting trees and groves. For example, the Vriksotsavavidhi of the Matsyapurana attaches great importance to the planting of trees and even to the celebration of the tree festival or ‘vana mahostav’. It emphasises the importance of planting a tree thus: "A son is equal to ten deep reservoirs of water and a tree planted is equal to ten sons". A tree laden with flowers and fruits saves its dependents (birds, humans, etc.) from distress, just as a good son saves his family.

One of the most widespread conservation practices in India is the protection given to trees of the genus Ficus (Ficus religiosa; pipal tree or ashwatta), which dot the countryside and are often the only large trees in the midst of towns and cities. These trees have a conspicuous position in the cultural landscape of India for more than 5,000 years. It was depicted even on Mohenjo Daro artefacts. Buddha had attained enlightenment under a pipal tree. Ficus sp. are now recognised as keystone resources of tropical forests, ‘fruiting’ often at times when most other species are without fruits. Thus, humans are inextricably linked to and dependent upon ecosystems for their very survival. However, enhanced human activities during the recent years have induced stresses on ecosystems, necessitating the understanding of ecosystems.

The life supporting systems of the planet’s biosphere are being threatened due to deforestation, destruction of habitats, overuse of energy resources and environmental pollution¹. Changes in the Earth’s climate, decline and deterioration of natural resources, the accumulation of waste products, soil exhaustion and the destruction of ecosystems, are already apparent. In the recent past, the anthropogenic activities triggered by the burgeoning human population, ever expanding industrial and urban growth, changing values, lifestyles, and many other factors have led to the overuse of natural resources, accumulation of waste products, pollution, soil exhaustion, deforestation, destruction of natural habitats, etc. These have altered ecosystem structure in terms of its function and distribution resulting in the extinction (gone forever or irreversible) of a large number of plant and animal species, many more are in the verge of extinction, while others are threatened or vulnerable. Consequent to this, changes in the Earth’s climate has also lead to global warming, stratospheric ozone depletion, bioaccumulation of toxic chemicals, and increase in the natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, droughts, etc., that have made everyone aware of the growing environmental concerns. The process of degradation and species loss could be arrested through an understanding of ecological processes. It is essential to adopt several different approaches for managing the ecosystem and biodiversity, in order to bring about conservation of natural resources through sustainable management approaches. The need for sustainable development is a key to the future of humankind^2,3.

It is even more critical than ever before for the humankind as a whole to have a clear understanding of environmental concerns and to follow sustainable development practices now. The degradation of our environment is linked to the continuing problems of pollution, loss of forest, solid waste disposal, and issues related to economic productivity and national as well as ecological security. Environmental management has gained momentum in the recent years with the initiatives focussing on managing environmental hazards and preventing possible disasters⁴.

Environmental education focusing on real-world contexts and issues often begins close to home, encouraging learners to forge connections with and understand their immediate surroundings. The awareness, knowledge, and skills needed for these local connections and understandings provide a base for moving out into larger systems, broader issues, and a more sophisticated comprehension of causes, connections, and consequences. Thus, environmental education will certainly help us to recognise the importance of investigating the environment within the context of human influences, incorporating an examination of economics, culture, political structure, and social equity as well as natural processes and systems. The ultimate goal of environmental education is to develop an environmentally literate public. It needs to address the connection between our conception and practice of education and our relationship as human cultures to lifesustaining ecological systems. For each environmental issue there are many perspectives and much uncertainty. Environmental education cultivates the ability to recognise uncertainty, envision alternative scenarios, and adapt to changing conditions and information. This knowledge, skill, and mindset translate into a citizenry who is better equipped to address its common problems and take advantage of opportunities, whether environmental concerns are involved or not.