I remember the day, about six months ago, when I had some of my friends decided to go for camping in a forest in a mountainous area. We had been living the metro life for years and due to busy routine, it hadn't been possible to break free and meet the Mother Nature. However, when the program was charted out this time, I couldn't resist and joined the gang for the fun.

Initially, to protect himself from the inclement weather and the threats of carnivorous animals, man started living in shelter and with fellow beings. Since then these shelters have developed from caves to ultra modern penthouses and small habitations have developed into metropolitan cities. That is the scale of development that mankind has witnessed.

As we moved on, we realized how much deforestation had taken place. The forests had been cleaned up to create cities, villages and agricultural land. The result-loss of habitat for wild animals, killings of animals, natural resources being exploited like anything, all round pollution- in water and air. This is what we have got from our development.

Can we survive with what we have been doing? Isn't it that after wildlife and forests, it's our number next? We are very much part of the ecological system that constitutes the other two. We all are a part of the same food chain. Some are at the higher rungs and others at the lower ones. We can't survive without each other. If the ecological balance has been disturbed, then there is no guarantee of human lives also. "We haven't inherited this planet from our ancestors but we have borrowed it from our future generations". Shall we be able to pass on the same Mother Nature to them or we will be blamed for our shortsightedness?

The precise and unpleasant answer is 'yes'. Imagine your visit to zoo. The teacher told you- Look at that animal- its Mammoth. It's not found any more. Same way, a day will come when the teacher will show a picture of Petrol can and tell that it's no more found. How you plan to run your vehicles?

The increased pollution levels are already serious matters of concern. During peak traffic hours, one might see some people wearing pollution masks. This is in contrast to what we felt at mountains. We are responsible for such high levels of pollution in air and in water.

International conventions like Kyoto Protocol have been aimed at sustainable development that preserve the natural resources and doesn't put unnecessary burden on our planet. We must recycle what ever that can be done. For example, recycling of paper can reduce the deforestation.

With our combined efforts, we still can restore the right balance of ecology. Only with a green earth, we can hope for a sustainable development.