Conserving Bio-diversity
With Cultural Perspective

By Rukmagat Aryal (Avay)

DIVERSITY is the law of nature. Recently, there are concerns world-wide about the loss of bio-diversity along with the loss of cultural values and beliefs. The chemical based modern agriculture, deforestation, encroachment of marginal lands due to population pressure, industrialisation and many other human activities leading to environmental pollution, ecological imbalance, soil erosion and landslides, etc, are responsible for the degradation of bio-diversity. Similarly, Westernisation, globalisation, market-oriented economy and the so-called modernisation are leading to a loss of cultural diversity. It is well understood that the natural environment and cultural environment strongly influence each other, the concept goes beyond bio-diversity towards bio cultural diversity.

Diversity in crops and animals is the reflection of their genetic make up. Due to this, species react differently with different biotic and a-biotic environments and adopt them accordingly and thus make agriculture possible in a wide range of environmental conditions. A diverse and balanced ecosystem is flexible and resilient because there are many species with overlapping functions that can substitute each other. In a more diverse network the patterns and relations are more complex and peoples’ livelihood, specially in rural societies, are enmeshed within these complexities. Isolation of groups and individuals in a society leads to fragmentation and can be a source of conflict. Similarly, isolation and fragmentation in ecological systems can threaten the survival of species and the complete ecosystem.

Bio-diversity as gene bank is important for developing high potential varieties for better crop production at present as well as in future. It has emerged as a major global resource for supplying the raw material for biotechnological innovations. Biotechnology is expected to contribute 30-40 per cent to the global economy in the 21st century. Bio-diversity allows better exploitation of environ-mental variability or niches differentiation and efficient use of resources. It provides diversified products, spreads risks of crops and production failure, stabilises yield, makes production possible with low or minimum use of external inputs, causes less damages to the ecosystem and environment matching the agricultural systems sustainable. Conservation of bio-diversity has therefore been identified as a major issue on both global and national agenda, in sustaining the growth of the biotechnology industries as well as developing new drugs and crop varieties.

The loss of natural bio-diversity goes hand in hand with diminishing cultural diversity. Many rural societies are confronting the loss of bio-diversity and cultural diversity. Rural peoples’ livelihood is built within and upon the natural and cultural complexities and their existence is strongly influenced by their environment. Their social structures and cultures are largely determined by nature and vice-versa. This intricate interrelationship between nature and culture takes us a step beyond the concept of bio-diversity to bio-cultural diversity. Globalisation has contributed to fast communication and greater knowledge about the different societies, cultures and ecosystems in the world. At the same time, cultural expressions like songs, dances, arts, rituals and ceremonies are being forgotten or considered outdated by the younger generations. Priests, traditional leaders, local herbal healers and cultural rules are increasingly neglected or depreciated. Indigenous people are attaching less value to their own cultural context. The market economy and globalisation of material need has resulted in an increased homogeneity in culture and values. In this process the linkages between culture and nature get lost.

Some people blame Westernisation and globalisation as solely responsible for the environmental pollution and the loss of bio-cultural diversity. But it is the attitude of people towards nature and culture which is responsible for such erosions. Westernisation and globalisation may be partly responsible but it will be an injustice to blame them for sole responsibility for such degradation. Westerners have done their best in the time of need through Green Revolution and/or technological innovations. People in the west are also increasingly making efforts to preserve and protect the environment, for example, through stimulating ecological farming, natural farming, organic farming and/or permaculture. Westernisation and globalisation are not straight roads to hell, not to paradise either. So, in spite of blaming Westernisation and globalisa-tion, it would be better to develop one’s own strategy for the conservation of natural and cultural environment to ensure a sustainable ecosystem and continued existence of human beings. Further, globalisation is the need of time; one cannot remain unaffected with its impacts whether good or bad. So, it would be better to cope with globalisation minimising its bad impacts to the possible extent rather blame it and shirk one’s own responsibility.

Bio-diversity conservation cannot be effective simply by collecting and breeding rare species but we must have a holistic concept that comprises the whole spectrum of conservation activities dealing from the in situ conservation with the population, communities and ecosystem, and ex situ conservation involving zoos, botanical and zoological gardens and gene banks. It is a complex process and involves not only maintenance of ecological balance but also protection of environment through reduction of green house gases, control of global warming, protection of forest and conservation of genetic resources. All the plant and animal species are the scenic beauties of the earth.

Once the environment is protected and ecological balance is achieved it should be sustained for the conservation of bio-diversity and derive various benefits at local level. Some ways towards this direction would be the concept of protected areas, buffer zone management, achievement of self-sustaining agro-ecosystem and participatory watershed management programme. A single effort would be nothing and thus it will require an integrated effort of individuals and groups involved in conservation activities including NGOs, INGOs, research institutes and educational institutes. The National Agricultural Diversity Conservation Committee could lead the way in developing the strategies, formulating necessary laws and co-ordinating the activities towards bio-diversity conservation in the national context. All the ways towards nature and bio-cultural diversity conservation must be integrated and based on people’s active participation; all the development based on the strength of the local knowledge, culture and ecosystem, with the openness to discuss and experiment with traditional as well as innovative knowledge and practices.

Diverse agriculture and living with nature is the best way to safeguard the food supply and way of life for the present as well as for the future. Rather than fighting with nature we must strive to adapt to its dynamics. Let us not forget that diversity is the law of nature, to violate any life form is to violate ourselves. Let’s start using the natural judiciously for a safe present and a safe future too. Let’s use these resources with love and respect. Let’s not forget that the earth environment is the interwoven mesh of various components including human beings, plants, animals and other biotic and a-biotic components, and disturbance in any of the components will disturb the whole system. Let’s maintain a harmony with nature for the sustainability of the system and continued existence of human beings in this lovely planet.

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