The demands are growing

Through various conversations and newspaper articles, it is devastating to hear about the environmental issues facing various regions. The Coorg region, known internationally for its rich biodiversity is threated by poaching, illegal forestry, deforestation by locals for farming, and water issues. Water from this lush region is piped into Bangalore, and as its population continues to swell, the water demands will exceed what the region can provide. This will threaten the livelihood of locals and the survival of the forests. The locals already talk of changes that they have seen as a result of climate change. The weather patterns are changing, with hotter dryer weather further compounding the issues facing the region. This is happening all the world over, but when I experience such a magical place like this, it scares me to think what will become of the area. 

Another issue is granite, which is being mined illegally in many parts of the south (and I am unsure about the north). During our visit to Hampi, we frequently heard blasts off in the distance as people blew up the huge beautiful boulders scattered across the landscape. The granite then is shipped off to the US and Europe to become lovely countertops...just feeding the demand. People are chased off their land by big companies that take as they wish without any sort of compensation. 

Before trekking we were in Mysore, which is known for its beautiful sandlewood carvings. Sandlewood is now very rare and is protected (at least here in India), however the local shops are full of extravagant carvings and inlayed pieces. No one mentioned where the sandlewood came from...

The biologist in me enjoys seeing these places firsthand to try to understand the regional threats in our increasingly globalized world...and hopefully can help make me be a wiser consumer so as to help preserve these special places and local cultures that have little or no voice against the goverment and big business.