Tales from Nature 6

SAIKUT BASU

Can BIMSTEC play a significant role towards conservation of biodiversity in South and SE Asia?
Bangladesh is a gateway to SE Asia that can connect South Asia (SAARC member nations like Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives) to SE Asian economies (ASEAN). A logistic connection of the Indian subcontinent to SE Asia through Bangladesh and Myanmar into Thailand, Indo-China (Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos), and to the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia could transform the trade and commerce perspective of the entire region. Hence, BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) could play a significant role in transforming South and SE Asia in thus new millennium.
An important point to remember is that South and South East Asia has very rich biodiversity; hence, there ISCA need to develop a comprehensive BIMSTEC plan for cross-country conservation initiative. There is huge opportunities for all the member countries to develop close ties and include others in South Asia (SAARC) and SE Asia (ASEAN) in realms such as: medicine and pharmaceuticals, agriculture, forestry and biotechnology, research, development and higher education, ecology and  environment, tourism, handicrafts, manufacturing, hospitality industries, transport and communication, marine, naval, space and nuclear technology, military cooperation and selling of defence items, reducing trade deficits, increased socio-cultural, political, geo-strategic and diplomatic engagement and establishing better people to people contact. The combined resources of the countries in South and SE Asia via BIMSTEC can therefore greatly help towards effective conservation of the rich forests, ecosystems, wildlife and biodiversity in this vast region.
BIMSTEC could address challenges of illegal international poaching and wildlife trade
It is sad that illegal poaching and wildlife trade has been growing at an exponential rate. The main culprit is the illegal wildlife markets operating in China and and in some countries of Southeast Asia. These operators are pumping money in this trade and due to high demands for traditional medicine and other wildlife parts, this trade is expanding and has established the hunting grounds in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Particularly, poor developing and under developed countries from both hemispheres are targeted precisely by wildlife traders promoting poaching. The abject poverty, poor economy, high level of corruption, unstable political system and ethnic clashes have made these countries can easily penetrate by such international wildlife  traders. No wildlife across the planet is safe now due to this vicious cycle of poverty and ruthless exploitation.
Unless this human equation is incorporated into conservation priorities no conservation efforts will ever be successful in any country. It is time for the world to unite against such mass murderers sitting on another country and safely operating the illegal global trade. The wildlife and the poor communities are just victims of the situation. Hence, strong actions are taken now; we are moving towards a major global disaster. Everyone enjoying the short term fruits of this malicious trade and heinous crime will have to pay back to nature one day in the not so distant future. Global leaders around the planet are not doing enough to take this issue of illegal wildlife trade and black markets. People being arrested are pawns, while the master minds living safely. This issue is only showing the top o the iceberg. The real truth is more shocking and gruesome!
BIMSTEC, could play a significant role in controlling this massive illegal poaching and wildlife trade; if all the member nations show some determination and strong political will. This illegal trade has been happening across international boundaries. Hence if member nations unite and decide to work together in sharing border intelligence and practice joint patrolling and monitoring in sensitive border areas and crossings, it will have a positive impact in protecting vulnerable wildlife as well as major and minor forest resources.  Strong cooperation, collaboration, coordination and communication between BIMSTEC member nations could certainly make positive impacts in curbing the illegal wildlife trade as well as put a strong check on international poaching.
Selfish netizens and their destructive actions
If you are a regular social media user, you will often come across shocking photos and videos of live painted chickens, ducks and pigeons! This looks very nice. Netizens will be appreciating too. However, a quick food for thought. Attention living netizens who painted the feathers of these helpless birds, are not aware that these birds have oil glands under the feathers; and they need to preen constantly to keep their feathers oil rich and moisture proof. This is a daily health ritual for most birds. By painting the feathers this process is grossly hampered and impacts their physiology. Furthermore, by pecking on the feathers they will transfer paint fragments into their mouth to their stomach. This is toxic to their digestive abs circulatory systems. The videos may fill in human aesthetics and romantic imaginations; but for the birds it is a cruel punishment for our selfish entertainment. Will you appreciate if someone paints you to dance in front of camera? It is important for netizens to seriously reflect on the content they are making and how damaging  they are to the nature. This is no criticism; but, a humble reminder to all of us to be reflective, responsive, thoughtful and being responsible towards nature. The joy for one should not transform into saga for others who co-inhabit our planet with us.
We must have also seen numerous video clips or reels of animal abuses on social media platform too; such as beating, torturing, irritating  or abusing animals of all kinds from across the planet. The number of views. shares and likes such objectionable posted videos receive in various social media platforms run into millions! It depicts our lack of understanding, education, awareness as well negligence towards our ecosystem and environment. This ignorance is actually pushing a group of people to kill and abuse helpless animals for few likes and sadistic appreciation. Very few people comment of protest against such shocking and morbid videos. But this is for us to understand how wildlife is being exterminated due to our own selfishness, ignorance, intolerance and hypocrisy. The social media platform authorities are equally responsible as they do not take any serious actions against people posting videos of animal abuses at all. The very structure of the social media platforms and our lack of empathy towards wildlife and biodiversity is further promoting this brutal act.
 The other damage done by ignorant netizens is by spreading fake news abs misinformation on biodiversity and conservation issues. People post pictures of local vegetables and fruits identifying themselves as local flora or vegetation. We need to understand that these are crop plants and not really constitute part of any local flora. Local wild plants or native and/or endemic plants will constitute local flora of a specific biogeographical regain. Local weeds unless not exotic or introduced species could be part of the local flora. Since there is no scientific review process in the social media platforms such wrong information is percolating among our youths who have more faith in social media than books and lectures these days.
People are looking for medical advice and even asking for guidelines on serious matters like a bee swarm in their garden. Please contact your local bee keepers association or society for expert help. Please don’t wait. You need professional help and guidance to tackle this not social media likes. Please avoid doing anything that will agitate the bees. Also for bee safety kindly don’t spray any pesticide. But I have noted damaging suggestions like spraying hot water on bee swarm or suggestions for spraying them with toxic chemicals or even fuming them or running a loud rock music to push them out! Such misinformation’s and unsolicited, unscientific suggestions could be more damaging to the nature than helping an individual. We need to think where we are going with such non sense on the social media platforms!