Category Environtal Studies

What is the device of Ulta Chaata used for?

Ulta Chaata, a concave structure, collects rainwater in the monsoon and converts it into potable water. Find out how it’s done.

Ulta Chaata, as the name suggests, resembles an inverted umbrella. It is a large concave structure that collects rainwater in the monsoon and converts it into potable water, while the solar panels fitted alongside the canopy, produce energy in the dry season.

The rainwater collected in the bowl of the Chaata, trickles down the stalk to reach a filtering unit of activated carbon where it is cleared of impurities. A duster of ten or more Ulta Chaatas is connected to a common device where the water undergoes further filtration to remove microorganisms, making it fit for drinking. A single unit can harvest as much as 100,000 litres of water every year.

The solar energy harnessed in the dry season is stored in the battery and is used not just to light up the Chaata, but also the premises. Unlike a typical rainwater harvesting unit, Ulta Chaata’s attractive design lends itself well to the aesthetics of the surroundings, especially when lit up.

The device takes up to one sq. ft of area. Ulta Chaatas can be installed as sustainable workstations in open spaces. They can provide a green roof for reception areas, cafeterias, gazebos, car parks, bus stops and even railway stations.

Besides a number of corporates, Guntakal railway station in Andhra  Pradesh has installed six such structures on its premises.

Ulta Chaata is the brainchild of a Mumbai-based environmentally conscious couple Priya Vakil and Samit Choksy whose start-up ThinkPhi designs sustainable products.

Ulta Chaatas can be installed as sustainable workstations in open spaces. They can provide a green roof for reception areas, cafeterias, car parks, bus stops and even railway stations.

QUICK FACTS

  • A single unit of Ulta Chaata can harvest as much as 100,000. litres of water every year.
  •  Ulta Chaata’s attractive design lends itself to the aesthetics of the surroundings.
  • The solar panels fitted alongside the canopy produce energy in the dry season.

Picture Credit : Google 

What causes negative human-wildlife interactions?

Recently, a tiger was shot dead in Bihars Champaran region, after it is said to have claimed the lives of at least nine people. Such instances of negative human-wildlife interactions are neither rare not new. In fact, they are increasing, and at an alarming rate. But, what triggers it? Is there a way to effectively manage this global concern? Let’s find out.

While several reasons can be attributed to such interactions, at the heart of the problem lies human population growth. Our planet has only a finite space to be occupied or used by a growing number of humans. So, forests are constantly cleared to either house us, grow our food, or build factories to meet our lifestyle demands. Which leaves wildlife with lesser and lesser space to live. In addition, we also come up with development projects – such as building bridges or laying railway lines- that cut through natural wildlife habitats. Whatever little space they have is further fragmented, causing animals to come into close contact with humans, an extremely uncomfortable situation for both sides. Apart from this, climate change-related consequences such as floods, draught, wildfires, etc. too displace wildlife, pushing them into human habitations in search of food, water, and shelter. Curious and careless tourists venturing too close for wildlife comfort or feeding them bring about negative interactions when there exists none.

How do they affect wildlife?

The worst outcome of negative interactions is the death of the animal. The death can happen unintentionally (knocked down by vehicles) or the animal can be killed as a matter of precaution as in the case of the Bihar tiger killing or as an act of revenge by angry humans. When forest areas shrink, it gives poachers and hunters that much more access to wildlife, increasing the number of animal lives lost. If animals are injured severely, they may perish without treatment. If such animals are parents to young ones, the offspring could die too-one injury eroding an entire generation of wildlife. All these could mean the eventual loss of the species as a whole. When key species disappear, they have the potential to trigger an entire ecosystem collapse.

How do they affect humans?

As with wildlife, negative interactions could be fatal for humans too. Even in cases where it is not fatal, it can be negatively life-changing. Injuries can lead to temporary or permanent disability. In some cases, this can mean the loss of livelihood or job. In addition, the survivors might grapple with monetary deficit to foot medical bills for their treatment. Among those who both lose their jobs and tackle mounting medical bills, the pressure could spill over to the rest of the family, where young people are forced to quit their education and find a job to support the family-spelling an end to their dreams. Not in all instances are humans affected directly. Large predators could kill or injure livestock, hungry elephants could damage houses and plunder crops, etc. For a family dependent on livestock and crops for income, this could mean monetary loss, apart from a life of constant fear and the inability to leave whatever property they own. Living in a region teeming with predators could hamper the mobility of inhabitants, including children for whom it may not be safe to play outside after sunset or travel between home and school through dense forests.

How can they be handled?

One of the significant ways to avoid or tackle such interactions is to look for beneficial co-existence. Invariably, humans caught in this issue are economically weak. So, when there’s loss of human or livestock life or injury, or damage of property, fair compensation to those affected may go a long way in stopping revenge killing. Regular awareness campaigns on the vital role of wildlife in this world and the need to protect them, especially endangered ones, can result in community-led conservation initiatives. Further, crops can be raised to serve as a buffer where human habitation exists on forest fringes. Technology – such as warning systems, sirens, lights, etc. to keep off animals without harm- can be put to good use. It is equally important to create clear boundaries of protected areas and have strict laws in place to prevent infrastructure development, encroachment, poaching, and hunting. More than anything, it is crucial to understand that since the nature of each issue is different, the solutions should be too.

A WIN-WIN SOLUTION

For more than two decades, Ladakh-based Snow Leopard Conservancy India Trust, as the name suggests, has worked holistically towards protecting the species, its prey, and habitat. As part of this effort, it has been conducting research too. But one of its most significant initiatives is the community-based conservation.

Decades ago, when snow leopards in the region ventured into human habitation and helped themselves to livestock, an important source of income/sustenance for the villagers, some carnivores had lost their lives to revenge killing by angry humans. The Trust understood that it was important for the locals to be part of the big cat protection efforts because both humans and the wildlife shared the resources available in the region. So, the Trust helped convert many village homes to homestays that promised eager tourists a chance at spotting the elusive animal. Soon, the villagers realised a snow leopard alive was worth more than one that’s dead! Today, they are active participants in the conservation programmes.

The Trust also educates adults and children on the rich biodiversity of the region, its significance, and the need to protect them, making it one of the most heart-warming conservation stories.

Picture Credit : Google 

Why are astronomers concerned about light pollution?

Light pollution is very much a concern across the globe, something astronomers and skywatchers are trying to bring attention to. It not only takes away the right to enjoy the night skies and explore the celestial bodies with the naked eye but also affects the circadian rhythm of humans and wildlife.

Have you seen a sky spangled with stars winking at you from light years away? Have you ever spotted the Milky Way?

Well with the amount of artificial light strewn across the sky. it is a fact that dark skies that bring out the beauty of the cosmos are a rarity.

Light pollution is very much a concern across the globe, something astronomers and skywatchers are trying to bring attention to. It not only takes away the right to enjoy the night skies and explore the celestial bodies with the naked eye but also affects the circadian rhythm of humans and wildlife. So what is light pollution?

Light Pollution

Across the world, people have to deal with the nighttime glow caused by artificial light. This has been affecting humans, wildlife, and the environment equally. There is a global movement to reclaim the dark sky and reduce light pollution.

Sources of light pollution

The major cause of light pollution is misdirected light which scatters out into the open sky caused by human activities. From street lights to lights from buildings, boats, and outdoor advertising to illuminated sporting venues, every misdirected light leads to light pollution. High levels of sky glow mean fewer chances of seeing enough celestial bodies in the sky.

The circadian rhythm and light pollution

Artificial light can affect the circadian rhythm in both humans and animals. The circadian rhythm is the natural process regulating the sleep-wake cycle. The production of the hormone melatonin is linked to this. This sleep-inducing hormone gets released when it is dark. The presence of light inhibits it. If the ambient light is high at night, then it lowers the production of melatonin and leads to sleep deprivation, stress, fatigue, and anxiety.

Animal behaviour and light pollution

It has been proven that wildlife has also been affected badly by light pollution. The animal behaviours such as migration patterns and wake-sleep habits of animals have been affected. Birds and sea turtles have been found to lose their way and get confused due to the presence of increased ambient light. Light also affects the circadian rhythm of animals.

Picture Credit : Google 

How border wall affect wildlife?

Barriers of any kind affect movement and migration of animals. For instance, the wall could come in the way of an animal’s search for water and food nearby. It could also stop animals on their long-distance migratory paths.

When he was the U.S. President, Donald Trump set off the expansion of the border wall between the U.S. and its neighbouring country Mexico. While he’s not the country’s President any longer, the incomplete construction stretching miles on end stands today, silently bearing testimony to human prejudice. It divided people on both sides physically and emotionally. But it appears to have affected more than just humans as with barriers anywhere globally, it has affected wildlife too.

Wildlife has no concrete borders, created singularly by and for humans. When humans introduce these barriers, wildlife struggle, to put it mildly. It has come to light that the case is no different with the U.S.-Mexico barrier. According to Cuenca Los Ojos (CLO), a transfrontier wildlife organisation, “camera trap photos and the conservationists own observations have revealed deer, mountain lions and black bears pacing along the border wall, confused and unable to access their former ranges”. “One family of boars spent five hours trying to get past the wall in search of water, according to CLO. Barriers of any kind affect movement and migration of animals. For instance, the wall could come in the way of an animal’s search for water and food nearby. It could also stop animals on their long-distance migratory paths.

Apart from animals, such walls can harm birds too. When these barriers are lit up at night, it can disorient both nocturnal birds and those on their long migratory journeys. While it is easy to presume that birds can effortlessly cross such barriers in daylight, the reality is different. A few birds are low-fliers, and different types of interferences in a natural landscape can leave them trapped in one place due to their inability to fly from it. According to research conducted a few years ago on the U.S.-Mexico border, “not only large roadways but also big agricultural fields and other types of landscape disturbance and segregation” affected the movement of ferruginous pygmy owl, a low-flying bird.

Erecting walls or barriers is not new. However, with the natural world already under threat from climate change, these human structures, especially in places rich in biodiversity, are likely to put further pressure on wildlife.

Picture Credit : Google 

How can we fight climate change and stop the collapse of ecosystems?

 The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration that runs till 2030 calls for urgent action through a global mission. Here’s an outline of the agenda and how students can get involved in fostering the recovery of ecosystems.

The Decade

As we know, our planet is plagued by several issues, most of them triggered or worsened by human activity. And how do we resolve these issues? Since the problem is not linear, neither is the solution. But one aspect that’s crucial to restoring the health of our planet is its varied ecosystems. And that’s exactly what the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021- 2030) focusses on. This decade is contiguous with the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity from 2011 -2020, which aimed at bringing down biodiversity loss. The ongoing decade hopes to bring countries together “to prevent halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean.”

Triple environmental emergency

When the restoration decade was launched virtually last year, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cautioned us that by destroying our ecosystems, we “are reaching the point of no return for the planet.” But there’s still hope if we act now. And to improve the dismal situation it is imperative to at once begin addressing the triple environmental emergency – biodiversity loss, climate disruption, and escalating pollution. UN. agencies have said. “An area of land roughly the size of China needs restoring if the planet’s biodiversity and the communities who rely on it are to be protected.” So, what type of ecosystems are to be restored? All types! From farmlands, forests, freshwater, grasslands, and shrublands to savannahs, mountains, oceans, coasts, peatlands, and urban areas, all are focus areas. And when ecosystems are restored, they “can help to end combat climate change and prevent a mass extinction” For that to happen, each of us has a role to play.

How can the goal be realised?

The key to realising the goals is working together as a community at the global level. Looking at the type of local ecosystems, identifying, understanding, and adopting specific principles suitable for the restoration of each kind of ecosystem, and implementing them are crucial steps. Equally important is to have the insight that any impact one ecosystem can have a bearing on another, and to plan and execute initiatives accordingly. For instance, the restoration effort for forest and trees could involve planting of saplings while for rivers and lakes, it could be cleaning up the trash and adopting sustainable fishing practices. In towns and cities, the focus could be on starting off with small areas and steps such as setting up parks, adopting a tree, conducting awareness campaigns, etc. However, the most significant action will be an individual’s to make Earth-friendly choices in how we live. Does “Eat Right Live Light sound about right?

What can students do?

The United Nations suggests three important ways in which anyone can work towards the goal of ecosystem restoration. And these are something students can adopt too since it’s for their future.

Actions: Start your own on-the-ground initiative, join an existing restoration or conservation effort. or help build an alliance to give a bigger boost to nature’s comeback.

Choices: Change your behaviour and spending to shrink your local and global environmental footprint… Encourage others around you to do the same. Voices: Make your voice and ideas count in debates how to manage your local environment, and about how we can make our societies… fairer and more sustainable.

Picture Credit : Google 

Do air conditioners make it warmer outside?

Yes, an air conditioner takes the warm air from inside a room and transfers it outside.

An AC unit takes the warm air from inside a room and transfers it outside. It also consumes electricity which generates further heat.

A Japanese scientist found in 2007 that air conditioners in Tokyo raised the temperature in the city by about 1°C. Surprisingly, the heating effect was more at night than during the day when more air conditioners were used.

This is because the planetary-boundary layer, the part of the atmosphere touching Earth’s surface, is thickest during the day. The extra heat produced by ACS disperses upwards. At night, the same layer reduces from a thickness of 3 km to less than 100 metres! So the heat remains closer to the Earth’s surface.

Researchers feel the excess heat could be channelled through the city’s waste water pipes, since water can dissipate four times as much heat energy as air. This would reduce the heat on the street.

Picture Credit : Google