Kohima, October 27 (DIPR): Chairperson of National Biodiversity Authority, India (NBAI), Dr. B Meenakumari today stated Nagaland is the hotspot of biodiversity and has rich biological wealth and immense potential of producing not only food but medicinal plants as well.
She was speaking at a training organized by Nagaland State Biodiversity Board under the aegis of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of Nagaland for officials of the line departments at conference hall, forest office complex, Kohima.
Dr. Meenakumari also commended the cultural diversity of Nagaland. Stating that North East region will perhaps be the hotspot of insect biodiversity, she said insect species is the largest in the ecosystem. Nowhere in other parts of India there is 360 species of orchids, 22 species of bamboo,106 species of mammals, and 400 species of birds but in north-eastern part of India, Dr. Meenakumari added. She also warned that human actions now threaten species and ecosystem due to over exploitation.
“Biodiversity degradation of species and ecosystem is becoming a global challenge and if left unattended will cause irreversible damage and consequences will be innumerable,” the NBAI chairperson expressed.
In order to protect the biodiversity, she said, environment protection is enshrined in the constitution of India to protect, conserve and promote sustainable use of country’s biological resources.
Dr. Meenakumari highlighting the Earth Summit convention on biological diversity held in Rio in 1992 said major decision like conservation of biodiversity and sustainable use of its components were taken to protect the biological diversity.
On Biological Diversity Act 2002, she said the act covers conservation, use of biological resources and associated knowledge occurring in India for commercial or research purposes or for the purposes of bio-survey and bio-utilisation. She added the act provides a framework for access to biological resources and sharing the benefits arising out of such access and use.
Maintaining that understanding the values of biological diversity is very important, she further stressed on sensitizing the media, stakeholders and students on biological diversity and conservation.
T. Lotha, chairperson, Nagaland State Biodiversity Board (NSBB) in his opening remark said NSBB is still in its infant stage and with the cooperation of forest department and National Biodiversity Authority, India is able to sustain so far. Nagaland, he stated, has very small geographical area with unique traditional land holding system and any project taken up by the department or board needs the cooperation and support of the village or the communities. He further informed that with assistance from National Biodiversity Authority, 100 Biodiversity Management Committees are to be constituted, out of which 50 BMCs are yet to be constituted.
The resource persons for the programme were Dr. Sangita Mitra, senior consultant, NBA Chennai, Prof Sapu Changkija, SASRD & member NSBB. The topics for the training were Biodiversity Act 2002 & Rules 2004, biodiversity management committee & people’s biodiversity register, ABS mechanism & IPR, overview of the state biodiversity board and traditional knowledge system and Nagaland State Biodiversity Rules 2011 & Naga customary laws.
