Although there may be 10 to 30 million life forms on earth, yet there is only one species - Homo sapiens - the man who can change the environment according to his needs. It is perhaps this ability of the man which has now posed a real question as how to plan his future survival.

The grand industrial development, the successful green revolution assisted by advances in Science and Technology, the transport explosion, the rapid growth of cities and haphazard management of natural resources have adversely affected environmental balance. Environment has become the concern of all leaders, intellectuals, philosophers and citizens across the continents during the past 25 years.

Contaminated land is a widespread problem of unknown dimensions in most industrialized countries. Millions of tonnes of tars, solvents, pesticides and domestic wastes created each year by the modern technological society is mainly dumped into landfill sites. Leaks from such sites have contaminated soil and underground water and in some cases threatened public health. Health survey carried out in these regions showed that people had respiratory diseases, digestive disorders and skin diseases.

The status of health in India has been influenced profoundly by water pollution. The main water pollutants are petroleum, DDT, insecticides, pesticides, heavy metals like cadmium, mercury, arsenic, fertilizers, nuclear wastes, dyes, soaps, detergents, sewage etc.

Effluents from factories does not find a proper outlet and very often such effluence is allowed to flow into a nearby lake, stream or river. This has seriously contaminated the fresh water and ground water. Most of the wastes created on land end up in the sea and remain trapped near the shore poisoning the marine environment. WHO estimates that 7,50,000 people are poisoned by pesticide every year, 14,000 of which are fatal.

Use of nitrate fertilizers, discharge from sewage works, and intensive live stock farming cause increase of nitrates in water. Nitrate can cause stomach cancer. Nitrate is responsible for ‘Blue baby syndrome’ and ‘Eutrophication’.

Plastic is the pollutant getting the most attention these days. Everyday tonnes of plastics are thrown on the land and sea water. It is said to cause deaths upto two million sea birds each year and as many as 1,00,000 marine mammals.

Industrial waste water is not susceptible to biodegradation as it contains a wide variety of inorganic and organic pollutants. Huge quantity of detergents used annually throughout the world causes oxygen depletion of the surface water.

Forest provides millions of people with fuel, building materials, foods, fodder, medicine, fibres and employment and maintain proper climate.

India being rich in biodiversity has been identified as one of the twelve ‘mega biodiversity’ countries of the world comprising of 55,000 plant species and 81,000 animal species.

Deforestation due to increased requirement of firewood, timber and industrial wood, expansion of cropland and grazing land, mining industries and river-valley projects, causes interrelated harmful impacts such as soil erosion floods and droughts and loss of precious wild life.

Increase of sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen causes acid rain. The acidification of streams and lakes affects aquatic animals and plants. Soil becomes acidic which in turn reduces the growth of crops. The acid rain even eats away the surfaces of buildings and monuments.

Increases in road traffic have produced unsustainable levels of congestion and pollution . The effects can be felt at local level through poor air quality, noise, low road safety and at global level through climate change. Journeys by road are becoming slower and more unreliable.

The release of chlorofluro carbons (CFC) used in refrigeration, air conditioning and aerosols into atmosphere will erode the ozone layer shielding the earth from UV radiation which can cause skin cancer and cataracts. Excessive radiation of UV rays weakens the immune system.

1995 was the warmest year since 1865. It is believed that in the year 2050 the mean temperature would increase by 1.5° to 4.5° C. Since the last century, fossil fuel burning has raised the green house effect and resulted in an increase on the average global temperature. Global warming has far reaching effects on the climate such as rainfall, storms, ocean currents and sea level.

Noise level in our metropolitan cities has reached 90 decibels . A World Health Organisation study warns that daily exposure to noise level of 75 dB can cause lack of concentration , loss of sleep, headache, irritation, hypertension, fatigue and several other pathological reactions in the body.

The radioactive radiation may bring about genetic changes, mutations, cancer shortening of life span, cataract etc. The melting of nuclear reactor at Chernobyl power station is a warning to humanity.

The man made rockets, satellites and space crafts have been polluting space for the last 35 years. So far 2500 space flights have been made. It is believed that there are about 6 tonnes of waste present in space.

According to a study done by the US National Academy of Sciences, the worlds major mineral resources such as iron ore and tungsten may not last beyond 2000 at the present rate of utilisation. The coal reserves and oil will disappear by 2050. Stress should be laid on the use of non-conventional energy sources such as solar energy, wind energy, tidal power and biogas etc.

Exorbitant use of chemical fertilisers should be reduced. Use of organic manure should be encouraged.

· Waste water from industries should be treated accordingly.

· Reverse osmosis is the latest technology for treating waste water.

· Industrialisation and urbanisation have to be regulated.

· Major projects involving destruction of rich diversity habitats should be discouraged.

· Environment friendly technologies should be developed.

· Recycling of non-biodegradable wastes such as glass, plastics will reduce load on environment.

· Heavy withdrawal of ground water near the coastal regions should be curbed.

· Top priority has to be given to afforestation to preserve biodiversity.

· Rapid economic development coupled with conservation is a necessary condition for restoration of the ecosystem.

· As Gandhiji advocated, "Nature should only be used to satisfy our NEED. It should not be exploited for the sake of human GREED".