"Team of scientists" from "Institute of Environment" advocates Horses and mules for transportation
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Horses, mules reducing greenhouse gas emissions: scientists
New Delhi (PTI): Animals like horses and mules, which are an important mode
of transportation in the hilly regions are doing their bit in reducing toxic
greenhouse gas emissions too, scientists said.
In a sample study in the Uttarakhand's Garhwal region, the experts found
that the emissions worth 14.5 lakh kilograms of carbon dioxide (CO2) every
year could be reduced by utilising the services of animals for
transportation in the entire division.
"We found that by using pack animals --mules and horses for transportation,
the carbon emission could be reduced in a large amount," Nehal A Farooquee,
a member of the research team told PTI.
Carbon emission is the major reason for global warming. The leaders from the
G-8 (developed countries) countries recently in a summit in Japan pledged to
halve carbon emissions by 2050.
"We used standards of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for
estimating the emissions which are a standard these days," Farooquee said.
Forty per cent of the villages in Uttarakhand are less than one kilometre
away from road network, 35 per cent are located between one to five
kilometres and 25 per cent located more than five kilometres from the road
network.
In these villages, people have to mainly depend on the animals for ferrying
their supply and transportation.
The team of scientists from GB Pant Institute of Environment and Development
and HNB Garhwal University had conducted study in 60 villages and two
pilgrimage sites of six valleys - Kedarnath, Bhyundhar, Pinder, Urgam,
Nandaprayag and Nizmulla - Garhwal division.