Scientists, elected public representatives and activists from across India and abroad will participate and share their views in the three-day International Biodiversity Congress to be held in Dehradun form Thursday.
Addressing the media, noted environmental activist Vandana Shiva said that the IBC 2018 is a joint initiative of Thiruvananthapuram based Centre for Innovation in Science and Social Action (CISSA), Navdanya, Forest Research Institute (FRI), Uttarakhand Biodiversity Board and Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST). It will be inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Sikkim, Pawan Kumar Chamling on Thursday at FRI.
At a time when biodiversity and its conservation has become all the more essential for survival of humans, women from various Himalayan States will also be joining hands for a biodiverse Himalaya during the IBC. About 700 delegates from across India and 100 foreign delegates will participate in the deliberations focused on the theme of biodiversity for ecological civilisation.
The discussion will be around the idea that fulfilling all the commitments to conserve biodiversity is possible only through creating an ecological civilisation, with deeper ecological thinking and knowledge on biodiversity, promoting the philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam’ (world is one family).
Former foreign secretary and special envoy on climate change, Shyam Saran will deliver the keynote address with State Forest and Wildlife Minister Harak Singh Rawat as the guest of honour.
FRI director Savita said that with population pressure consistently rising and environmental resources dwindling, the time has come to take a call on indispensable aspects like biodiversity.
She expressed confidence that the IBC will come up with viable solutions to biodiversity related issues.
Uttarakhand Biodiversity Board member secretary Sargam Singh Rasaily said that various challenges including the general attitude towards the major issue of biodiversity continue to face those working in this sphere.
“There is need for raising awareness especially to tackle the tendency of cutting the branch one is sitting on-as in the case of biodiversity,” he said.
IBC organising secretary A Biju Kumar and UCOST senior scientist DP Uniyal also expressed their views in the Press conference.