Perceptible improvement in the quality of air and water during COVID-19 lockdown has taught humanity several lessons and brought realization which might otherwise have been missed or taken several experiments to come to it. This study is aimed at understanding whether our approach towards holistic environmental protection needs rethinking by appropriate positioning of man as a species in the context of the biosphere and commensurate responsibility he has towards it. The technique used for the study is doctrinal research which shall take into account available primary resources, such as report as well as secondary resources, such as articles and books. The study focuses on the ancient wisdom available in the Hindu philosophies and literature in order to understand the relation between man, other living organisms, plants as well as the abiotic components of the earth. The study has shown that humans, by being at the top of the evolutionary ladder, has seeming dominance over the environ, and accordingly has formulated norms which are anthropocentric. However, new approaches to environmental protection and conservation are required to be adopted which recognize the interconnectedness, interrelatedness and interdependency of the biotic and abiotic components of this earth.