Question

Explain the role of public awareness and community participation in environmental conservation.

Answer 1

1. People will conserve and restore natural resources only when they are sensitive to the environment and realise the importance of ecological balance.
2. Environmental sensitivity in people can be created only through major public awareness programmes.
3. The public must learn to act as a watchdog to protect its environment from deterioration and destruction.
4. Well-informed citizens and environmentalists have the duty to take the initiative in making the common man aware of the need for ecological restoration and conservation.
5. Most of the local people in villages and indigenous tribes possess an intimate knowledge of nature and wildlife.
6. Traditions, taboos and religious beliefs deeply rooted in native people have been an effective instrument for conserving nature and wildlife since time immemorial.
7. Ancient traditions protect several plants, such as peepal and Banyan, as well as birds, monkeys, snakes and animals.
8. In fact, some people worship some trees, birds and animals.
9. Milk is offered to snakes, bread is fed to cows and dogs, bananas are fed to monkeys, grains are fed to pigeons, and flowers are fed to ants as a matter of religious beliefs and rituals.