THE WAYANAD TRAGEDY

The Wayanad tragedy that caused devastating destruction and loss of life, urges us to reconsiderunchecked exploitation of nature and natural resources. It emphasizes the need for an alternative vision that balances preservation of nature with sustainable economy, for the betterment of people.

The recent images of devastating landslides in the picturesque Wayanad district of Kerala are now indelibly etched in the collective memory of the state. Unprecedented rains triggered the landslides that caused hillsides to collapse, sending torrents of mud, water, and boulders crashing down on the villages in their path. In July 2024, Wayanad experienced an extraordinary 572 mm of rainfall in just 48 hours, leading to what is now considered one of the deadliest natural disasters in Kerala’s history.

The Impact

The landslides brought widespread destruction, resulting in significant loss of life and displacement of local communities. The villages of Punjirimattom, Mundakkai, Churalmala, and Vellarimala, bordering the Chaliyar river, were swept away by flooding, with what remained buried under mud and debris. As of now, 420 people are confirmed dead, 397 injured, and more than 118 missing. Additionally, approximately 150 cattle, 75 goats, two tigers, a sambar deer with its calf, and eight wild elephants perished, according to official reports.

A Visit to Wayanad

Wayanad, with its rolling hills and lush greenery, has long been a popular tourist destination. I had the privilege of visiting the district a few years ago. I observed large tracts of land converted to tea and coffee plantations, after clearing natural forests. Most of the settlers were plantation workers, while others were migrant labourers, small-scale livestock rearers, shopkeepers, and traders. Tourist resorts had mushroomed across the district, with every scenic spot teeming with visitors. Even then, I noticed landslides in some parts of the region, and wild elephants and other animals wandering into populated areas. From what I saw, the signs of an impending disaster were evident.

Why the Landslides?

Wayanad, a hilly district located in the Western Ghats, is particularly susceptible to landslides during the monsoon due to its steep slopes and loose, unstable soil. Similar landslides had occurred in 2018 in neighbouring villages like Puthumala, Meppadi, Vythiri, and Ambalavayal. The latest tragedy highlights growing environmental concerns in Wayanad and similar regions. Deforestation, unplanned construction, mining, quarrying, and other human activities have significantly increased vulnerability to such natural disasters. Unregulated tourism is also a factor; over 3,000 unauthorized homestays and resorts have sprung up in the district, while only 32 are officially registered with the government. The blame for the tragedy lies more with human intervention than with nature itself.

The Gadgil Committee

The Gadgil Committee Report, officially known as the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) Report, was submitted in 2011 and focused on the conservation of the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats. The panel, chaired by renowned ecologist DrMadhav Gadgil, classified the entire Wayanad region into ecologically sensitive zones (fragile, moderately fragile, and less fragile). The villages mentioned earlier fall within the most fragile zone. The report recommended strict regulations on development activities, proposing that 64% of the Western Ghats be declared an ecologically sensitive area. It also called for a ban on mining and quarrying, sustainable agricultural practices, decentralized governance, and eco-tourism promotion.

However, the report faced strong opposition from state governments, political parties, and industrial lobbies due to its stringent environmental regulations. In response, the Government of India set up another committee, led by Dr K. Kasturirangan, which submitted a more balanced report in 2013. The Kasturirangan Report reduced the ecologically sensitive area to 34% and allowed for more development activities. Neither report’s recommendations have been fully implemented, with disastrous consequences. Following the July 30 landslide, Dr Gadgil remarked that the Wayanad tragedy was a man-made disaster that could have been avoided, had his report’s recommendations been heeded.

Nature vs. Development

Before the tragedy, most people in Kerala prioritized livelihood issues over environmental protection. The appeal of rapid prosperity, even at the expense of nature, was compelling. However, in the aftermath of the Wayanad disaster, public sentiment seems to have shifted, though some still view it merely as an extreme climatic event. This raises larger questions: Aren’t human actions responsible for such climatic events? Should development be pursued at the cost of human life and destruction of nature?

Substituting coffee, tea, and other economic crops with forests raises pertinent issues about sustainable development. What are the global trends? How do forests contribute to economic and ecological resilience?

The Importance of Forests

While most vaguely acknowledge the importance of forests, the tangible facts are often overlooked. Natural resources, particularly from forests and wild ecosystems, play a crucial role in the global economy. According to World Bank, approximately 1.6 billion people rely on forests for their livelihoods, including food, medicine, fuel, and income. Forest ecosystems contribute an estimated $130 billion annually to the global economy through timber, non-timber forest products (NTFPs), and ecosystem services.

NTFPs such as medicinal plants, fruits, nuts, resins, and honey are vital to rural economies. In India, this sector generates around $3 billion annually, providing income for millions of rural households, particularly indigenous communities. Wildlife and nature-based tourism are also significant income sources for those living near forests.

Forests act as natural regulators of the environment, with a net carbon absorption of around 7.6 billion tons of CO2 per year. According to the World Economic Forum, the combined value of intact forests and their ecosystem services is estimated at $150 trillion, roughly double the value of global stock markets. Supporting services such as soil formation, nutrient cycling, and pollination have an immense economic value, with global pollination services alone worth between $235 billion and $577 billion annually.

Wealth from the Wild

The concept of "wealth from the wild" revolves around harnessing natural resources sustainably to generate economic value, while preserving biodiversity and ecosystem services. By tapping into the wealth provided by forests, wildlife, and other natural systems, societies can achieve economic development, without compromising planetary health.

Investing in Forests: Challenges and Opportunities

Although forests hold vast economic potential,they face significant challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and overexploitation. The incentives or compulsions for deforestation are high, with land conversion for palm oil, beef, and soy driving deforestation in Latin America and Asia. Meanwhile, timber extraction and forest fires plague boreal forests. The annual cost of deforestation in terms of lost ecosystem services is estimated at $300 billion. Over $44 trillion—more than half of global GDP—is at risk due to environmental degradation.

The Forest Declaration Assessment Report indicates that financing for forest preservation must increase up to 200 times to halt or reverse deforestation by 2030.

Incentives for Investments

Traditional economic indicators like GDP and corporate profits often overlook the wealth of forests and natural resources. Nature-based solutions could contribute up to 37% of the climate change mitigation needed by 2030, offering significant co-benefits for biodiversity and job creation. Sustainably managed forests play a crucial role in poverty alleviation, particularly in tropical regions where forest-adjacent communities derive a quarter of their income from forest resources. Additionally, preserving forests reduces the risk of zoonotic diseases—over 30% of new diseases since 1960 have been linked to land-use changes, including deforestation. For Kerala, which frequently reports cases of SARS, monkey fever, rat fever, dengue, and West Nile fever, investing in forests would be an added advantage.

As governments increasingly adopt regulations to combat nature loss and climate change, investing in forests offers businesses a competitive edge. Globally, top companies, driven by consumer choices, are now eliminating products sourced from deforested lands. This trend will likely influence countries like India as well.

Wayanad and its Future

Given Wayanad’s ecological sensitivity and its history of natural disasters, the only viable path forward is massive afforestation in place of tea and coffee plantations. Beyond government investments, private investments and public-private partnerships should be encouraged, with suitable incentives to attract investors. Existing employment generation schemes can be integrated, wherever possible. A comprehensive action plan, developed with the help of experts, is essential. Livelihood concerns and business needs must be addressed in all their dimensions.

With supportive policies, accessible financing, awareness campaigns, education, community engagement, and global cooperation, forests can address climate change, drive economic prosperity and ecological resilience in Wayanad, setting an example for others to follow.

                                                                    ---------------