Saving Our Hills: The Urgent Need for Conservation

The Youth Talent Development Society (YTDS) is an NGO based in Pune focused on tackling problems by promoting sustainability and developing solutions for environmental issues such as conserving the hills of India. These geographical regions are more than just ‘hills’ for certain ecosystems, but rather ‘biodiversity insurance’ – places which regulate climate and water. Nevertheless, the ill effects of urban development, mining, and commerce are causing rapid degradation of hills. Research also indicates that there has been considerable shrinkage of the vegetative cover of India, especially in recent decades, endangering the hills and the ecosystems within them.

The Beauty and Benefits of Hills

The hills are very pleasing to the eyes, and most importantly, they help maintain the ecological balance. Such topographic features support a lot of vegetation and wildlife, a percentage of which is unique to certain locations. The presence of the hills is important for the supporting of ecosystems and their services like even soil preservation and especially rainfall. They will, for instance, collect water and help create rivers or restore aquifers that help in irrigation and domestic purposes. Also, the hills provide a barrier to potential lands and mudslides which means saving lives and properties in areas at risk. For instance, research shows that there are characteristics of the hills that mitigate landslide and soil erosion which losses run into billions of dollars in the economies. The removal of each forest cover poses further risk of disasters such as landslides, floods, and droughts.

The Threat of Hill Destruction

The uplands of India are highly vulnerable to multiple stressors, especially due to rapid urbanization, construction of infrastructural facilities, and mining operations. As the population in towns and cities increases, hills are almost invariably leveled to pave way for access roads, buildings, and shopping centres. This leads to deforestation and destruction of the natural environment which in turn enhances environmental degradation, decreased variety of life, and increased global warming. The greatest toll, however, is suffered by local communities as they end up losing their homes and means of survival as well as their resilience over environmental hazards. For example, in Maharashtra alone, developmental activities have affected more than 35% of the hill areas resulting in pollution and environmental degradation. These figures show why such development is needed with a responsibility that projects will have a low impact in the long run.

Case Study: Vetal Tekdi, Pune

Vetal Tekdi ranks among the highest hills in Pune and has both environmental and cultural value. This is a landmark known for its diverse flora and fauna, and hence it is one of the centers for leisure and inner peace. Sadly, Urbanization and development plans, such as the High Capacity Mass Transit Route (HCMTR) corridor, are some of the factors endangering Vetal Tekdi today. The HCMTR development would seek to ease traffic congestion across the city, however, it is a serious risk to Vetal Tekdi. Both environmentalists and local inhabitants are worried about the project for its deforestation, possible fragmentation of habitats and pollution it may bring in. The developers have claimed several measures to countereffects but environmentalists are not convinced about the measures being sufficient. There are also other ways of protecting Vetal Tekdi through protesting, going to the courts, and community getting involved such as planting trees.

YTDS's Efforts to Protect Hills

Deforestation is a serious problem which has led to the Ugandan government and other institutions like YTDS engaging in initiatives such as the #PlantAMillionTrees campaign which seeks to rehabilitate the green cover on the hill topography. In addition to these the YTDS has also embarked on various tree planting and cleaning campaigns as well as organizing workshops for YTDS’s various projects to protect the hills and foster development. Indeed, YTDS seeks to protect the hills and their natural beauty and ecology in partnership with other local communities.

As an illustration, the #PlantAMillionTrees initiative has helped in the afforestation of several thousands of trees on the hill slopes which has aided in the conservation of biodiversity as well as soil erosion control. Additionally, with respect to YTDS, workers and volunteers of the organization also took part in the campaign, #CleanTheHills, targeted towards litter collection and waste management, and resulted in environmental restoration that improved the health of the ecosystem in the region.

The Role of Individuals and Communities

As an illustration, the #PlantAMillionTrees initiative has helped in the afforestation of several thousands of trees on the hill slopes which has aided in the conservation of biodiversity as well as soil erosion control. Additionally, with respect to YTDS, workers and volunteers of the organization also took part in the campaign, #CleanTheHills, targeted towards litter collection and waste management, and resulted in environmental restoration that improved the health of the ecosystem in the region.

Conclusion

The preservation of twenty hills is of utmost importance to enable the sustaining of life, even with the threats of natural calamities, and ensuring a better tomorrow. The #PlantAMillionTrees campaign of YTDS among other activities goes on to show how together, a collective can makes a difference in the conservation of such areas. We welcome all those who have the same cause, support the environmental protection policies, and participate in the ongoing YTDS campaigns for the protection of the hills for the future of this generation and all that will follow. If you wish to know how to make such changes in the activities you conduct, YTDS has more information on the subject matter and you can take that step forward into the green emancipation.