Adopt a comprehensive plan for nature conservation

livemint.com:

For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver," said Martin Luther King Jr. Being in harmony with the environment and the importance of an ecological balance are ingrained in our culture and traditions. Our ancient scriptures propagate the importance of ‘ahimsa’ towards all living beings, highlighting how conservation of biodiversity is essential for a healthy and sustainable world.

Nature and its bounty are our true treasure, which we must nurture and preserve. Even India’s Constitution enshrines a fundamental duty of all citizens to protect forests and biodiversity—as our ecology and economy must develop together. Among the most prominent miracles of nature are the beautiful animals, birds and fishes that inhabit the Earth just like us.

However, very few of us understand the intertwined nature of human and animal health. We are connected by forests, water and food—by life itself. As a 10-year-old who would bring home injured puppies and nurse them, I did not understand this interconnection.

As I grew older and saw how areas with better animal-care facilities also witnessed improved overall health outcomes with lower vector-borne diseases, I realized that development had to encompass all—conservation of human life was directly linked to conservation of animal life. This is the basis of the ‘One Health’ approach. One Health is a major pillar for nations to achieve their sustainability targets.