Two seemingly unrelated commemorations occur within a span of a few days in October. The first, observed on 17 October, is the World Children’s Day while beginning on 21 October for a week is the National Environment
Week.
Children, as we all know and as we have heard for so many times, will inherit the world from us in the future. Concerns have been voiced out by many quarters that the children of tomorrow will not be fortunate enough to inherit a healthy world.
Many people argue that the blue gem which we live in, that is Earth, is dying. Pollution of all kinds, oil spills, mass deforestation, global warming, ozone depletion and many other environmental catastrophes have been brought to our attention time and again.
It is not surprising therefore when one reads the Holy Quran, God tells of how the angels were concerned with the creation of man (Adam). The angels asked why create a creature that will cause destruction and bloodshed. God replied that only He knows that which others do not.
The environmental cataclysms are indeed causes for concern. All these disasters will eventually lead to mankind’s own destruction if left unchecked.
When people talk about the environment, people would often speak of rainforests, endangered species, climate and widespread pollution.
Nonetheless, these are not the only issues that require attention. Methods to tackle these problems as well as to
avoid these catastrophes also need impartial and urgent attention.
One cannot help but notice that we have been always been reactive – rather that being proactive – when tackling issues of environmental concerns. Only when an oil spill occurs, for instance, would the relevant agencies act to clean up the affected area and compensating those affected.
What should be the practice is to ensure that the probability of a disaster happening as a result of negligence and ignorance is minimised.
Being proactive does not necessarily incur high costs. As a matter of fact, more often than not, this would help in reducing the cost incurred when disasters occur.
It is noted that there is no one right way to manage the environment. In this regard, there are as many opinions as there are people.
As rightly observed by R. Buckminster Fuller in 1969, “…there is one outstandingly important fact regarding Spaceship Earth, and that is that no instruction book came with it”.
Perhaps, a good example of proactive action vis-à-vis the rainforest issue can be seen carried out by some ASEAN countries including Malaysia. These countries have successfully subscribed to the idea of sustainable forest management.
From the statistics, the world has less than 28% of its land surface area covered by forests.
Out of this area, Africa has about 24% of its whole continent covered by forests, North America has 25%, South America has just a little under 49%, Europe has just over 32% and Southeast Asia has nearly 53%.
Rainforests cover approximately 7% of the world’s land area. Hence, it goes without saying that sustainable management of tropical forests needs to be practised.
Forests are invaluable living resources. They are known as the heart of protecting the sensitive natural balance of
the environment.
Forests act as water catchments or natural reservoirs that become the source of fresh water for agriculture, industry, household and recreation.
As an integral part of sustainable forest management, forest plantations are established while at the same time, rubber and palm oil plantations are increasingly used as additional and alternative sources for timber and fibre material.
As a consequence of extensive research and development, rubberwood is now a source of timber for export. In addition to all this, a large portion of forest has been gazetted as permanent forest reserves, national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and nature reserves.
Sustainable forest management is an example of proactive action. Although it is an undisputed fact that forests play a very important role in environmental and climatic stability, at the same time they have a major role in improving socio-economic development of a country.
This is the reason why there should be a balance struck between development and conservation.
Realistically speaking, some areas of the forests may have to make way for development, but all in all, forests should be here to stay as no one has the intention of losing the bio-diversity of the flora and fauna.
Smart management of the environment is required in order to ensure that the future generations would be able to live in a healthy environment that is rich with the diverse species of flora and fauna.
Realising this, the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM) has endeavoured to organise a seminar on “Smart Management of the Environment” on 27 and 28 October. The seminar will look at various cruxes in tackling the environmental issue.
Man is the vicegerent of God on this planet. Man is entrusted with the day-to-day running of Earth. Therefore, this responsibility – which includes the management of the environment – needs to be carried out with utmost prudence and care.
At this point in time, when due attention is given on tackling the economic and political challenges, we should also not forget to focus on issues pertaining to the environment.
There is no denying that mankind is part and parcel of the environment. We share the world with the other creations of God. Hence, we should not destroy that which is part of us lest we want to destroy ourselves in the process.
Surely we do not want to see our children and grandchildren live in a world where acid rain, arid land, polluted rivers, contaminated water, defiled oceans, choking haze, black smog and dying creatures are commonplace.
This dystopic and nightmarish vision of the future has been brought to our attention from time to time as a reminder.
It is almost certain that we want the best for our future generations. For that reason alone, we have to take all the necessary moves to ensure that the world we leave for our children is a world that is safe and healthy to live in.
Equally important is the need to educate our children on the need to take care of the environment.They have to know why the environment is an important aspect of our everyday lives. They need to be taught on how to safeguard the environment. Otherwise, they will end up destroying the source for living on this planet.
We should always heed the reminder of God as stated in the Holy Quran in verse 77 Surah Al-Qasas, “…but do you good, as God has been good to you, and seek not occasions for destruction in the land, for God loves not those who do destruction”.