Earth is the only planet we know of with life on it. Animals, plants and microorganisms maintain a delicate balance with a variety of life forms we call biodiversity. Each species depends on other species for its existence. When we talk of life on earth, we also talk about the human species.

     If we want to understand and preserve our environment, we shall need to understand the interdependence of the species on each other and the importance of natural resources like air, water and soil for living beings.

    Life has continued to evolve on this earth over millions of years adapting to changing environment. Only those species have survived that have adapted to the changing environment.

     But today environment is changing very fast. There are threats to our planet arising from climate change, degrading environment, the growing rate of extinction of species, declining availability of fresh water, rivers running dry before they can reach sea, loss of fertile land due to degradation, depleting energy sources, incidence of diseases, the challenge of feeding an exponentially growing population, and so on. This has made humanity’s very survival at risk.

     Today, we are living far beyond our means. The human population is now so large that the amount of resources needed to sustain it exceeds what is available. Humanity’s environmental demand is much more than the earth’s biological capacity. This implies that we are living way beyond our means, consuming much more than what the earth can sustain; and that the well-being of billions of people in the developing world is at risk.

     To draw the attention of the world to these aspects and in an attempt to establish that environment is where we live; and development is what we all do in attempting to improve our lot within that abode, United Nations has declared the year 2008 as the year of the planet earth. It is hoped that with the cooperation of all we shall be able to save the biodiversity an0.lanet. A host of activities and programmes are being organized all over the world for this purpose. One of the important aspects is to make people aware about the challenges we face and the possible solutions to save this planet from heading towards catastrophe.

     It is with this aim that this 57-episode radio serial the Planet Earth(In Hindi Dharti Meri Dharti) is being produced jointly by Vigyan Prasar and All India Radio in 19 Indian languages and broadcast from over 117 stations of All India Radio from January 5, 2008 onward. Vigyan Prasar is an autonomous organisation under the department of science and technology, government of India, whose aim is to communicate science to the people and promote scientific thinking.

    In the serial various aspects related to the Planet Earth - its origins, lithosphere, oceans, atmosphere, biosphere and biodiversity have been discussed. How human beings have adversely affected the earth and what we need to do to once again bring joy and equilibrium on the earth is the special segment of the serial. Each episode talks about one issue related to earth in view of family in drama form. The serial has five independent segments. Each episode will be a standalone programme. Listeners can also participate in this programme by answering questions asked at the end of each episode for which Vigyan Prasar will give attractive prizes.

     I wish you a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year - The Planet Earth Year 2008 - to you. I do hope this serial – The Planet Earth – would inspire the younger generation to play a pro-active role to save The Earth – the only planet we know of with life in this Universe.