510
J. A. Dar et al.
generate the natural resources and prevent them from being over-exploited. Following appropriate agricultural practices such as enhancing the efficiency of the nitrogen
fertilizers applied (to decrease the emissions of nitrous oxide), improving the soil
quality and enhancing soil carbon sequestration by modifying the tillage practices,
developing drought-resistant varieties, etc. would also help in climate change mitigation (Swart et al. 2003). Proper management of freshwater resources by improvising
the water supply and storage facilities, promoting efficient water-use (Swart et al.
2003) and interlinking of rivers could help overcome water deficits. Another important concern that needs to be addressed is the lack of awareness on the importance
of biodiversity and the impacts of climate change among people, especially in the
rural areas (Reed 2012). It therefore becomes necessary to reach out to those people
and spread awareness, to curtail the rates of factors that exacerbate climate change
like deforestation, land conversion, etc. People in rural and remote locations are the
victims of climate change. Hence, apart from educating them, proper measures are
needed to provide them with access to water, nutritious food, healthcare, and modern
eco-friendly technologies. Thus, climate change could be mitigated effectively by
synergistic implementation of various measures and people participation.
11 Conclusion
Climate change is a very pressing issue as it exerts a great deal of eco-biological and
socio-economic impacts on almost all the sectors of any nation. An efficient climate
change mitigation strategy would be to increase the resilience of forest ecosystems
and biodiversity to climate change. At this critical juncture, carbon sequestration by
forest ecosystems is of immense importance in climate change mitigation. Understanding the crucial roles of different forest biomes and the various ecological processes operating therein would help in framing management strategies that would
enhance their carbon sequestration potential. At the same time, it is also necessary
to cut back on the various anthropogenic pressures placed on the forests. However, a
country’s development inevitably places pressures on forest ecosystems. Therefore,
adoption of sustainable utilization of resources and energy and resource conservation practices would help climate change mitigation in the long run. Although several
important measures have already been taken by international bodies like UNFCCC,
periodic reviewing on the effectiveness of the undertaken measures and devising
of new strategies in accordance with the climate change-induced alterations in scenarios are essential. However, the effectiveness of the outcomes of climate change
mitigation projects depends on the availability of funding as well as the flexibility
and feasibility of mechanisms.
Funding The first author is thankful to Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) for
funding under National Post-Doctoral Fellowship Scheme (Ref. No.: PDF/2015/000447).
J. A. Dar et al.
generate the natural resources and prevent them from being over-exploited. Following appropriate agricultural practices such as enhancing the efficiency of the nitrogen
fertilizers applied (to decrease the emissions of nitrous oxide), improving the soil
quality and enhancing soil carbon sequestration by modifying the tillage practices,
developing drought-resistant varieties, etc. would also help in climate change mitigation (Swart et al. 2003). Proper management of freshwater resources by improvising
the water supply and storage facilities, promoting efficient water-use (Swart et al.
2003) and interlinking of rivers could help overcome water deficits. Another important concern that needs to be addressed is the lack of awareness on the importance
of biodiversity and the impacts of climate change among people, especially in the
rural areas (Reed 2012). It therefore becomes necessary to reach out to those people
and spread awareness, to curtail the rates of factors that exacerbate climate change
like deforestation, land conversion, etc. People in rural and remote locations are the
victims of climate change. Hence, apart from educating them, proper measures are
needed to provide them with access to water, nutritious food, healthcare, and modern
eco-friendly technologies. Thus, climate change could be mitigated effectively by
synergistic implementation of various measures and people participation.
11 Conclusion
Climate change is a very pressing issue as it exerts a great deal of eco-biological and
socio-economic impacts on almost all the sectors of any nation. An efficient climate
change mitigation strategy would be to increase the resilience of forest ecosystems
and biodiversity to climate change. At this critical juncture, carbon sequestration by
forest ecosystems is of immense importance in climate change mitigation. Understanding the crucial roles of different forest biomes and the various ecological processes operating therein would help in framing management strategies that would
enhance their carbon sequestration potential. At the same time, it is also necessary
to cut back on the various anthropogenic pressures placed on the forests. However, a
country’s development inevitably places pressures on forest ecosystems. Therefore,
adoption of sustainable utilization of resources and energy and resource conservation practices would help climate change mitigation in the long run. Although several
important measures have already been taken by international bodies like UNFCCC,
periodic reviewing on the effectiveness of the undertaken measures and devising
of new strategies in accordance with the climate change-induced alterations in scenarios are essential. However, the effectiveness of the outcomes of climate change
mitigation projects depends on the availability of funding as well as the flexibility
and feasibility of mechanisms.
Funding The first author is thankful to Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) for
funding under National Post-Doctoral Fellowship Scheme (Ref. No.: PDF/2015/000447).