Nature’s reaction to man’s folly

The disaster caused by climate change

Indeewara THILAKARATHNE

The media workshop conducted by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources to raise awareness on the disasters caused by climate changes was an eye opener for man’s folly in attempting to control nature.

Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Patali Champika Ranawaka said that entire world has to pay dearly for the plunder of natural resources in the name of development. If no global action is taken immediately to stop environment pollution, entire mankind is in danger of extinction.

The man’s action and undue intervention in the harmonious and complicated systems has caused climate change resulting in natural disasters of unprecedented magnitude. In a presentation titled “Climate Change and its impact on Agriculture” by Dr. B. V. R. Punyawardena, Head, Agro-climatology in the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Peradeniya, it has been pointed out that increased temperature has resulted in drastic reduction in yield.

The temperature increased especially in the areas where paddy is grown, has caused “Ehela Pussa” in rice, a phenomena by which the harvest is rendered useless. Increased temperature also causes increase pet and disease occurrences, less tuber production (Potatoes, it is observed that quality of potatoes has been reduced due to increase in temperature), low quality yield, reduction sugar translocation to fruits resulting in less sweet fruits.

For instance, reduced sweetness of tomato has been observed due to increase in temperature. Land degradation in terms of increasing soil erosion and salinisation also occurred in addition to Cold Spell (Seethala Bolwima in paddy) and frost damage in up country crops.

Dr. Punyawardena emphasised the fact that Sri Lankan only experiences in formation of frost and not snow as reported in media.

Another factor which adversely affects agriculture is change of rainfall regime which rendered century’s old weather-infused farming activities useless. Climate change has also caused more and more intense rains and droughts and intense mid season dry spell.

Increased variability of rainfall has resulted, among other things, more pets and diseases and reduced fruit settings in tree fruit crops such as Rabutan.

According to recent findings, it has been observed that higher carbondioxide (CO2) level leads to the reduction of plant uptake of Nitrogen and trance elements such as Iron and Zinc resulting in crop yields with lower nutritional value.

Dr. Punyawardena pointed out the fact that climate change has adversely affected overall food production and all three elements of food security namely Availability, Accessibility and Affordability (3 As in food security).

Additional Director Coastal Conservation Department, Anil Premaratne, highlighted the environmental and socio-economic issues in coastal areas.

Taking Negombo Estuary Area as a case study, he pointed out that main issues in the Estuary are increased pressure on land and natural resources, proliferation of water pollution, maintenance of favourable shoreline morphology, ecosystems and natural hazards management.

He particularly stressed the fact that a segment of the population has reclaimed the Estuary Area in the name of conservation by even planting mangrove across the lagoon.

Establishment of inter-agency committee, training of different agency members in coastal resource management, improved infrastructure facilities, living conditions, rehabilitation of boat landing sites, improvement of health and sanitary facilities and economic interventions such as introducing alternative income sources for those who depend on Estuary Area should be introduced as effective interventions for addressing issues in the Negombo Estuary Area.

Dr. W. L. Sumathipala, Director National Ozone Unit and Climate Change Division emphasised on the overall impact of global warming on agriculture, health, water resources, human settlement (Sea level rise), industry and infrastructure and transport.

The crust of the presentation was that man’s interventions have created climate change and seriously disturbed the natural equilibrium resulting in disasters of unprecedented magnitude.

Sanoja Seneviratne in her presentation pointed out how climate change has led to natural disasters. Ensure Food Security, raising awareness, exchange of information at regional level and use of media in propagation of disaster-related information have been some of the measures she advocated in the presentation. R. M. S. Bandara, Sectional Head Landslide Studies and Services pointed out climate change affect the land and soil.

He stress the fact that the impact of climate change on soil should be taken into consideration when constructing buildings and human settlements and methods that have to be employed in conserving soil.

All in all, workshop on disasters caused by climate change strike home the fact that climate change has an adverse impact on life on earth.