Biodiversity & Environment

Influence of Impact of Assessment Environmental (EIA) on Sustainability Development

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is without doubt one of the most vital techniques that has be employed for sustainable development. It can predict possible effects of any project on environment, and / or, avert it, thus achieving sustainable economic development without compromising on environment. The EIA helps in the protection of ecosystems:

1. Protecting Ecosystems: EIA finds that developers are not detrimental or manage to reduce their impact on BIODIVERSITY or natural habitats in order to sustain them.
2. People make effective use of the resources, with the least proportion of wastage or polluting the environment, other than developing it.
3. Stakeholders’ involvement: The Application of processes through EIA has in one way been made respondant to the local communities and people involved themselves to foster and enhance care and sustainability.
4. Avoidance of long-term costs: EIA can be most effective in avoiding costly controls and restorations measures of the long term since environmental questions are dealt with in the best time possible.

The Indian Himalayan Region: Needs for a Special EIA

Indian Himalayan region is vulnerable academically having diverse ecosystems ranging from the sub-tropical to the desert type in the high altitude pastures. Such distinctive aspects of environment, social and climatic structure make it to warrant a specific EIA strategy. Here’s why:

1. High Seismic and Landslide Vulnerability : The IHR is severely located in an area of frequent earthquakes, landslides and flash floods. They are youthful areas and seismically active re gions exist in the area. Main sources of hazards involve big projects like dam constructions; highway constructions; mining activities which reduces slopes and increases seismicity. Moreover, to prepare a specific EIA for such a region some impacts on geology peculiar to the mountainous territory have to be evaluated.

For example the Kedarnath floods 2013 established how river was dammed and flow paths have been manipulated and that has worsened disaster impacts. An IIA may require an above-distraction risk assessment that targets the peculiar slope area of the IHR.

5. Climatic Vulnerability: The Himalayas are more vulnerable with climate change. It is self explanatory, through revealing that with increase in temperature, the process of change in cycles increases with a higher rate of disasters. Overally, the IHR requires another EIA that is more climate adaptation and resilient.

Example: The temperature is increasing due to, melting glaciers and gangotri is one of the melting glaciers due to temperature checks and tourism checks pollution. Climate based EIA can support the regulation of pollution and sustainable tourism.

Conclusion:

The proposed framework of EIA specific to the Indian Himalayan Region would combine those aspects with the Indian concern of development along with the sustainable conservation of environment. In fact, it could turn out as a useful instrument to provide EIA with an approach to sustainable development and conservation of environmental and cultural diversity of the Himalayas.

2. Biodiversity Hotspot: The IHR is habitat to diverse and highly conserved plant and animal species, some of which are endangered and restricted to this habitat type only. Such diversity may not receive adequate consideration in standard EIAs; but a particular EIA can adequately capture the need to conserve bio-divance.
Example: For example, the Char Dham highway project in Uttarakhand was adopted as construction work taken up by the state governments. Threats of habitat fragmentation and to a species like the Himalayan musk deer were on the agenda. An EIA may be regional so that an accurate evaluation of the presence of species can be done and other options which are more favorable from the ecological point of view can be considered for construction.

3. Sensitivity of Water Resources: The Himalayas are particularly reactive to initiatives to supply fresh water and millions people rely on the glaciers and rivers of this area as their main water dispensers. In addition, hydroelectric projects, and other tourism development have an impact on water quality and glaciers. In addition to the points stated above, an EIA can include aspects such as; glacier effects and checking on use of water so as to prevent overuse.
For instance: Glaciers in the Satluj and Beas basins are partially affected by the extensive hydroelectric development work carried out there hitherto. Specialized EIA can also put stiff measures on glaciers and water supply that is so crucial for sustainable supplies of water.

4. Cultural and Indigenous Community Concerns The cross-sectional nature of the IHR harbors many different indigenous populations that are naturally culturally connected to the topography. Some projects lack attention to social factors might slow down development of traditional economy and disrespect the legacy.
Example: The current intervention under the Pancheshwar Dam project construction is posing serious questions about displacement and livelihood of the affected people. EIA of a region can therefore contain more elaborate socio economic impact study to ensure that the locals are fairly compensated and their standards of living enhanced by the project as well as their culture.

• Benefits of GMOs in Increasing Ecological Diversity in Degraded Ecosystems:
  
• Soil Restoration: GMOs could be used to improve the quality of soil through nitrogen-fixation and phytoremediation that diverse plants and animals can live within it.
• Pollinator Resources: GMO plants with pest resistance will decrease the use of pesticides; this, in turn, opens up resources for bees and butterflies to flourish upon.
• Prevention of Erosion: GMOs are deep-rooted and drought-resistant which allows them to stabilize the soil; and on this basis, stable habitats are prevented from further degradation.
  

It leads to more diversity of plants with GMOs that mimic the characteristics of native species, provide shelter to specialist species, and prevent invasive species from flourishing over them in order to regain ecological balance.
It increases carbon sequestration through carbon-fortified GMOs, thereby supporting plant as well as microbial diversity.

• 
  Climate-resilient: This GMO, with climatic adaptation and disease resistance, sustains the ecosystems in conditions of extreme variations.
  Nutrient-enriched GMO ensures food and shelter to sustain higher biodiversity at various scales.
  

High-Risk Controversies Associated with Genetically Modified Organisms:

1. Unintended Effects on Organisms and Ecosystems

Metabolic and Growth Change: Genetic manipulation of an organism can alter the metabolism and growth, and interaction with the environment.
Influence on Ecosystem: GMO can influence the ecosystem. Its changes can be passed to the wild populations, resulting in the transformation of local biodiversity.

2. Human Health Issues
New Allergens: The introduction of GMOs could also introduce some new allergens, hence the major threat to consumers who may face allergic reactions especially with allergenic genes of common allergens like nuts or milk being used.
Antibiotic Resistance: Transfer of antibiotic-resistant genes from GM foods to the gut flora is still another health risk
3. Gene Transfer Hazards
Horizontal Gene Transfer: The risk of transferring genes to non-target organisms is negligible, but it might cause ecological imbalances and enhance resistance to pesticides or antibiotics.
Vertical Gene Transfer: If the GMOs cross-breed with the wild species, new transgenes may change the survival rate of the GMOs besides affecting the wild populations as well as in the experiments conducted with transgenic fish.

4. Super Pests and Weeds Evolution
Development of Resistance: The selective pressure allows pests and weeds to develop resistance, making them “superbugs” and “superweeds.”
Increased Herbicide Intensity: The complexity can lead to higher dosages or different herbicides that may damage adjacent ecosystems and raise their chemical content.

5. Impact on Beneficial Organisms and Ecosystems
Impacts on Non-Target Organisms: Aggression effects can be triggered to advantageous insects and other species due to GMO traits associated with pest resistance.
Soil Quality: Residues from herbicide or pest-resistant plants can impact key soil organisms, including bacteria, fungi, and nematodes.
6. Viral Resistance and Disease Spread
Novel Virus Reassembly: The emergence of transgenic viral resistance can lead to new viruses assembled from existing viruses, which may introduce new plant diseases into a region.

7. Food Biotechnology Safety Issues
Allergenic and Toxic Components: Gene transfer may also lead to new allergenic proteins or toxins, such as those already identified to be linked to some GM bean varieties.

Mutation Potential: Gene insertion may also cause new mutations that do not express any predictable impacts on human health.

8. Ethical and Socioeconomic Concerns
Tampering with Nature: Ethical concerns and long-term effects of manipulating organisms in nature
Food Labeling: Should GMO food be labeled for public awareness?
Intellectual Property: Corporate players control ownership rights over GMO seeds, which can indirectly affect the rights of farmers and the marketplace at large