Port Blair, Sept 13: A national work shop on Value of Biodiversity in Island Biosphere Reserve has begun at Port Blair yesterday (13th September). This two day workshop is being organised by National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), a nodal agency for the implementation of National Biodiversity act, in association with the Port Blair centre of Zoological Survey of India.
Delivering key note address, the Chairman of the NBA, Dr Balakrishna Pisupathi stressed the importance of preserving the rich biodiversity in Andaman and Nicobar islands. He categorically stated that the hazardous effects of the climate change can be reversed by taking proper measures, but the damages done to the biosphere reserves cannot be reversed. He sought the cooperation of every one for the preservation of the biosphere reserves in the country. Highlighting the role of children as decision makers in every family, he said the children need be educated about the importance of the bio-diversity so as to involve them in the task , besides convincing their parents to do their due role in it. He called upon the students attending the workshop to develop interest and passion towards bio-diversity.
Addressing the participants, the Principal Chief conservator of Forests, M Madhawa Trivedy informed that the tropical rain forests are extremely rich in bio diversity and the biosphere reserve in Great Nicobar hosts a large number of flora and fauna including rare animal species and medicinal plants. He emphasised on the need for concerted efforts by all concerned to preserve the same.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Veronic Albuja from UNESCO centre , New Delhi informed that the Great Nicobar Biosphere reserve has been recognized as one of the Biosphere reserves in the UNESCO world net work. The International Coordinating Council of Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB-ICC) under the United Nations Organisation for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) designated the 103,870 hectares Great Nicobar reserve as protected, in its meeting held in Paris on 27th May this year, she added.
The Director General of Forest Survey of India, R K Srivastava dwelt on the importance of the biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
Earlier, the Director of Zoological Survey of India, Dr Venkatraman welcomed the gathering.
Moderating the workshop, the Officer in charge of ZSI Port Blair, Dr C Ragunathan informed that Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre of ZSI was established in April 1977 at Port Blair and so far the centre conducted more 600 long term surveys and a large number of short term surveys, resulting in a total of 8403 animal species reported from these islands, contributing about more than 8 per cent of total Indian faunal diversity. He revealed that Dr Veronica Albuja, Expert from the Natural Science Division of UNESCO suggested for organizing a workshop in the islands to spread awareness about the Great Nicobar biosphere reserve , one of the biodiversity hotspots of the world, as recognized by the UNESCO.
The present workshop is held exclusively for the Higher secondary students and Biology teachers as they are the ambassadors for the conservation of biodiversity in future. It has four technical sessions on Bio-diversity, Biosphere Reserve, Environment & Health and Conservation & Management. Altogether 19 lectures will be delivered by the eminent speakers and the recommendations based on the outcome of the workshop will be submitted to the Union Government of India for necessary action(PIB).
