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Importance of nature highlighted

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI FEB. 25. It was celebration time at the World Wildlife Fund as the 10th batch of students got their diploma in Environmental Law. Present on the occasion was the Chief Justice of the Uttaranchal High Court, Justice A.A.Desai, who delivered the Sixth Green Law Lecture on "Environmental Sovereignty Issues and Challenges''.

Talking about the relationship between man and nature, he said "it is important to know who is more sovereign. Does the State and the humans who constitute the State have a right over nature or are they subjects of nature? Nature is an asset of man, its custody, and he needs to protect it. Global harmony between man and nature is the need of the hour. We don't have an identity independent of the environment. Environment is the patron and we are the beneficiaries.''

``Development over time has come to mean the mere development of material things around man, sacrificing nature and environment at its alter,'' he added. "The slogan `Develop or Diminish', which rose during World War II could well be modified in today's times to `Develop and Diminish.''

Mr. Justice Desai reiterated that development of the environment includes development of every human being. "Nature is a great disciplinarian. Whenever it is abused, the ill-affects are faced by none other than the humans themselves by way of natural disasters. The backlash of indiscriminate exploitation of environment over the years is evident all over: global warming, sea level rise, climate change, diminishing forest cover, are stern indicators that urgent measures need to be taken for a better tomorrow.''

The CEL's Diploma Programme, conducted every year since 1993, aims to promote greater awareness about issues in environmental law and policy among professionals with varied backgrounds. The Centre has successfully completed ten batches and 256 candidates have received the diplomas so far. The programme hopes to promote South Asian regional cooperation in environmental protection through legal education and training.

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