What gifts does nature give to people?

Nature provides us with many gifts such as fresh air, clean water, fertile soil, diverse flora and fauna, and beautiful landscapes. It gives us signals and warnings about the changes happening in the environment, and it seeks to convey to us the importance of protecting and preserving the natural world. Nature wants us to appreciate its beauty and to understand the interconnectedness of all living beings.

On the occasion of World Environment Day, it is important to remember the gifts that nature has given us and to recognize our responsibility to protect and conserve them for future generations. We must work together to reduce our impact on the environment and to promote sustainability in all aspects of our lives. By doing so, we can show our gratitude to nature and ensure that it continues to provide us with its precious gifts.

Nature is a precious resource. There are numerous organisms in the living nature. Man is also an essential part of nature. All animals are beneficiaries of nature. However, humans benefit more by transforming and recycling nature. Nature creates opportunities for human intellectual, moral, social and spiritual development. Again the unplanned life of man is responsible for the destruction of nature.

Nature's form and natural beauty are unique. It cannot be compared with any artificial beauty. Again, almost all areas of economic prosperity, including employment and sustainable development, such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, tourism are deeply related to nature. Protecting nature from harm means investing in protecting human livelihoods and living well. The relationship between nature and people of various professions in rural areas and their employment is very deep. All the people of the world are dependent on nature's water and air. Besides, the water used in agriculture is also an important element of nature. The benefits of agriculture are enjoyed by the entire mankind.

That is why if nature is damaged by pollution or climate change or excessive intervention, it brings suffering to all animals including humans. World Environment Day 2017 is being celebrated worldwide on June 5, calling on people to know about nature, love nature, enjoy and protect nature's beauty, and build a connection with nature. The United Nations has set the theme of the day this year as 'Connecting People to Nature' with the idea of ​​connecting people with nature.

On June 5, 1972, the United Nations announced the opening day of the Human Environment Conference as World Environment Day, which has been celebrated since 1973. In the 11-day long conference, UNEP (United Nations Environment Program) was established as an independent organization to coordinate global activities in environmental protection, encourage different countries in environmental protection and provide technical assistance. Of all the days recognized by the United Nations in the world, this day is one of the most popular in terms of celebration.

The United Nations has recommended the world not to consider nature at monetary value. Because, nature's gift is priceless. For example: free and clean air, pollution-free and safe water, oxygen factories, trees and forest resources. The importance of these elements in human life is incomparable. But the financial importance of global nature, environment and environment is not less.

Globally, the 15-year Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been adopted from 2016 to 2030 with emphasis on sustainable development, which the governments of various countries are taking various steps to implement. Objective 15 of the SGD states, 'Encourage and protect the sustainable use of nature management, sustainable management of forest resources and prevent desertification, protect forest resources and halt the loss of biodiversity'.

Under this objective, conservation of fresh water bodies by 2020 in light of various international agreements; Rehabilitation and sustainable use of the affected areas, prevention of all types of deforestation and reforestation of damaged forests, sustainable management to increase forest area, inclusion of biodiversity conservation in all development plans and poverty alleviation programs and taking necessary steps to protect vulnerable and endangered species. Also desertification by 2030; drought; Prevention of floods and land erosion and restoration of damaged land and ensuring preservation of mountain environment and biodiversity are also called for.

Most of the goals of the SDGs directly focus on nature and the environment. Sustainable agriculture means natural agriculture, which guarantees good health and prosperous life by ensuring food security and meeting nutritional needs. But the use of harmful pesticides and chemicals is destroying water, agricultural land. 80% of what we eat comes from agricultural products. Water is the main element of nature. So sustainable development of water system will also protect nature. Water means surface (ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, seas and oceans), underground and rain water. All surface water is home to a variety of organisms including fish. Water is one of the most important nutrients for fish, and 20% of the protein for 3 billion people comes from fish. Water pollution means damage to the habitats of water dependent organisms including fish.

Fertilizers and pesticides used in agriculture have been blamed for the recent post-flood fish die-off in Haor area. Millions of people have suffered financially.

Aquifers capture rainwater, some of which goes underground - which is extracted to provide potable water for humans. Filling of reservoirs obstructs the flow of water into the ground, causing the water level to drop every year. Drinking water crisis occurs in many districts of the country during the dry season. About 2.6 billion people in the world are involved in the production of fish and agricultural products.

Forests are another major area of ​​nature. 80% of land species live in forests. Of the 8,300 animal species, 8% are extinct and 22% are threatened with extinction. The livelihood of about 1.6 billion people, including 7 crore tribals, depends on forest resources. However, taking into account the oxygen obtained from trees, all the people of the world are dependent on trees and forest resources. The role of trees in preventing negative climate change is immense. Of the 80,000 species of trees in the world, only 1% of them have been researched. Around 80% of the world's rural people use herbal medicines, which are mainly sourced from forest resources.

Sustainable energy means environmentally friendly energy and power generation. In this case hydro and wind based power generation has been encouraged and coal based power generation has been discouraged. Sustainable economic development and industrialization means nature-friendly industrialization.

The nature of Bangladesh is very rich. There are many types of ecosystems in this country of limited size. Green Bangladesh full of life and abundance. If the nature is damaged, the environment and biodiversity will be affected. Due to the lack of proper knowledge about the role of rivers, mountains, forests, etc. in nature, we are constantly destroying them. The environment of Bangladesh is disturbed today due to encroachment-filling-pollution of rivers, deforestation, mountain cutting, unplanned urbanization, industrial pollution. Added to this is the impact of climate change.

Due to aggressive development policies and greedy views of people, nature is threatened in Bangladesh due to various reasons. In giving importance to economic development, the rivers around Dhaka are severely encroached and polluted. In different parts of the country including Dhaka, many reservoirs have been filled and turned into buildings or roads. Besides, most of the rivers and canals of Bangladesh dry up due to India's withholding of water during the dry season. which is damaging agriculture and water-dependent biodiversity during the dry season.

Nature's wonderful gift Sundarbans is our wealth. The Sundarbans, rich in diverse fauna including the Royal Bengal Tiger, is under threat. Many such fishes are found here; which is not available elsewhere in the country. Being highly sensitive, protection of Sundarbans should be given utmost importance. But, the government has decided to set up a power plant at Rampal near the Sundarbans. The government says; Sundarbans will not be damaged. But who will be responsible for the damage?

Pesticides and fertilizers have to be applied more in tobacco cultivation. These pesticides mix with water and fall into the river and go underground. As a result, aquatic animals including fish and soil animals including earthworms are being damaged in the rivers of Chittagong Hill Tracts and Cox's Bazar. On the other hand, trees are being cut down indiscriminately for processing tobacco leaves. To hide their misdeeds, tobacco companies plant fast-growing and exotic trees such as ipil ipil, eucalyptus or acacia, which are adversely affecting nature.

In nature protection, dredging should be done to protect all the water bodies of the country from encroachment and pollution and to increase the water holding capacity. Use of all natural resources including gas, electricity, fuel should be moderated. Domestic (fruit, forest and medicinal) trees should be planted. Avoid the use of polythene-plastic products and focus on the use of jute-bamboo-cane products.

All living things (plants, animals and micro-organisms) including humans and their collective surroundings are nature. Rapid population growth, excess of luxury in human life and unplanned development are destroying the nature. Protecting nature is essential to build an eco-friendly livable world. That's why everyone should be responsible.

Our Constitution deals with the conservation and development of environment, conservation and protection of natural resources, biodiversity, wetlands, forests and wildlife. In the Seventh Five Year Plan (2016-2021) this matter has received importance. But every year the allocation of the Ministry of Environment and Forests is reduced in the budget, showing that the government is indifferent to the environment, nature and forests. For the sake of the next generation, this indifference should be avoided and all development should be environment and nature friendly. This is what people expect from the government on World Environment Day.