Focus on participatory approach to conservation

Thiruvananthapuram,  
The Hindu, February 24, 2015

The second National Biodiversity Congress organised by the Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) began here on Monday with a call to adopt participatory approach to conservation and natural resource management.

In his inaugural address, K. Muraleedharan, MLA, highlighted the health hazards caused by the relentless assault on the environment. “Many epidemic outbreaks and incidence of cancer have been traced to urban garbage accumulation. Vector-borne diseases are on the rise as urban waterbodies turn into garbage dumping grounds,” he said.

Mr. Muraleedharan blamed the fast-food culture for the poor health profile of the younger generation of the State. KSBB Chairman Oommen V. Oommen, who presided over the function, said biodiversity conservation was the duty of every citizen and not that of the government alone.

The concept

Conservation had to be recognised as part of natural resource management, he said. Pointing out that people’s empowerment held the key to successful conservation, Dr. Oommen called for strengthening the panchayat-level Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs).

KSBB Member Secretary K.P. Laladhas; Director, Department of Environment and Climate Change Yalakki; CEO, Kerala State Medicinal Plant Board K.G. Sreekumar; Director, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute P.G. Latha; and KSBB senior programme coordinator S. Rajasekharan were among those present.

The five-day congress, based on the theme access to biological resources and benefit sharing (ABS), includes interactive sessions with scientists, traditional farmers, tribal healers, BMCs, environmental groups, and functionaries of biodiversity boards of other States.

A children’s biodiversity congress and a biodiversity expo are other attractions of the event.