SAARC Initiatives: Geographically, the Indian subcontinent is a peninsular region in south-central Asia, rather resembling a diamond which is delineated by the Himalayas on the north, the Hindu Kush in the west, and the Arakanese in the east, and which extends southward into the Indian Ocean with the Arabian Sea to the southwest and the Bay of Bengal to the southeast. With all seven countries included, the area covers about 4.4 million km2 (1.7 million mo), which is 10% of the Asian continent or 2.4% of the world’s land surface area.
India, Pakistan, Bhutan share common rivers, watershed areas, mountains and parameters such as soil, climate and vegetation. Economic changes and population increases are threatening the ecology of the Himalayas. In recent years deforestation in the foothills and the Middle Himalayas and overgrazing on the high pastures have led to soil erosion and other environmental problems.
Disaster-proneness: Among various natural hazards, earthquakes, landslides, floods and cyclones are the major disasters adversely affecting very large areas and population in the Indian sub-continent.
These natural disasters are of:
(i) geophysical origin such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, land slides, and
(ii) climatic origin such as drought, flood, cyclone, locust, forest fire.
Though it may not be possible to control nature and to stop the development of natural phenomena but the efforts could be made to avoid disasters and alleviate their effects on human lives, infrastructure and property.
History: Since SAARC countries share a common history they share a set of socio-economic features. Due to colonial exploitation these have more or less similar problems such as depleted natural resources, poverty, low levels of technological development and skills, etc.
Socio-economic Conditions: The socio-economic conditions pf SAARC countries create enormous pressures on the natural environment of the region. These countries comprise 20% of the world’s population but generate only 2% of the world’s GNP. Environmental protection is of utmost importance here because of the high level of poverty. Since the resource population ratio is extremely low, the exploitation of resources at unsustainable levels is inevitable in this region.
Culture: Historically, great respect for plants, animals as well as an attitude of living in harmony with them prevails in the SAARC region. Thus, there is a tradition of conservation, environment-friendly lifestyles.
However, there are common environmental concerns of the countries in the South Asian region which include deforestation, loss of bio-diversity, population explosion, water availability and land degradation, atmospheric pollution, marine and coastal pollution, etc.
Therefore, it is necessary to coordinate and cooperate in the areas of law and policy regarding environment. At present, the SAARC Charter takes cognizance of the common problems, interests and aspirations of the peoples of South Asia and the need for joint action and enhanced cooperation.
However, it does not include any specific mention of environmental protection goals. At the third summit meeting of SAARC in Kathmandu, a collective effort for protecting the region’s environment was discussed for the first time. There is regional study, the most productive result of the SAARC initiative on environment. However, something concrete is to be done.
Environment Action Plan: Early implementation of the SAARC Environment Action Plan was called for at the tenth meeting in Colombo (1998) and members committed to prepare National Environmental Action Plans and State of the Environment Reports. Several meetings of expert/expert groups have been planned on various aspects of the environment to evolve a common approach for conservation of bio-diversity, trans-boundary movement of hazardous wastes, access to genetic resources, etc.
Moreover, networking and disaster preparedness were given high priority. At New Delhi in April 1992 SAARC ministers decided their stand at United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). Further, the SAARC ministers also met in April 1997 to consolidate a common SAARC position before the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS).
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