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AGENDA-2: ENVIRONMENT STATISTICS
2.1 Need Scope and Utility vis-à-vis status of Environment Statistics in
India
(By Dr. S.P. Sharma, Statistical Advisor
Ministry of Environment & Forests)
1. Introduction:
Natural resources provide the basic infrastructure for producing goods and
services for the use of human and other species on the earth. The stock and flow of
amount and quality of Natural Resources guide and direct the level and scope of bio-
diversity and standard of eco-system services in a region. With the advancement in
Research and standard of living of human and growth in high degree manufacturing,
communication, services with use of advanced electronics and computing techniques, the
use of natural resources in the process of production directly and indirectly has increased
manifold. Besides, the level of consumption of Natural Resources per capita has
increased very significantly over the decades particularly during the last fifty years. This
has happened especially due to the high growth in population, urbanization and
industrialization during this period. While Research and Development has taken into
account the needs of human in the form of food, shelter, health, transport,
communication, and entertainment related requirements, the needs of the other species of
earth are not adequately considered. It has resulted in skewed and imbalanced use of
Natural Resources resulting in depleting and deteriorating quality of eco-system services
and undue pressure on earth, water, air, forests, and wildlife. As such it is imperative to
plan for balanced use of Natural Resources while planning for growth and development
of economies.
2. Scope
As per UNSD, the media of the natural environment (air/ climate, water,
land/soil), biota found within these media, and human settlements are within the purview
of Environment Statistics. The quality and availability of natural resources, human
activities and natural events that affect the environment, the impacts of these