ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION

The theme of this year’s World Environment Day is Ecosystem Restoration. World Environment Day 2021 will see the launch of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

This means that there are ‘TEN MORE YEARS TO RESTORE THE PLANET,’ and the best time to start is ‘NOW!’

Ecosystems support all life on Earth. The healthier our ecosystems are, the healthier the planet – and its people. The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration aims to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean. It can help to end poverty, combat climate change and prevent a mass extinction.

Leo Tolstoy is known to have remarked, “One of the first conditions of happiness is that the link between Man and Nature shall not be broken.

It was with this intent that the Coonoor Municipality, Clean Coonoor, The Wynter-Blyth Association and INTACH came up with the idea of restoring a portion of the Waste Management Park to its original state, to mark this year’s World Environment Day.

It is said that it’s much easier it to ruin an ecosystem than to run one, but yet, the latter is worth an attempt. The chosen spot has been cleared of rank vegetation and planted over with native tussocky grass, native shrubs, and a few native trees. A butterfly garden has also been laid down with the guidance provided by The Wynter-Blyth Association.

It is hoped to extend the operations over an acre stretch before the end of the monsoons.