A symposium on ‘Biodiversity Conservation: A Multidisciplinary Approach’ was organised by the Department of Biodiversity and Conservation of Natural Resources of the Central University of Orissa on March 22 at its Sunabeda Campus that was inaugurated by Vice-Chancellor Prof Sachidananda Mohanty.
Prof Sushil Kumar Dutta of Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore and Prof Pradeep Kumar Chand, Director, Human Resource Development Centre of Utkal University, were present.
Prof Mohanty highlighted the importance of conservation of the nature and natural atmosphere of the Koraput region. He talked about the need of a clean and healthy environment. He also stressed the importance of literary and cultural legacy and its link with biodiversity conservation and said nature and literature should be a part of Biodiversity syllabus.
Prof Dutta delivered a talk on “Biodiversity Conservation of Eastern Ghats : A SWOT Analysis”. He expressed his concern regarding the loss of biotic resources of a part of the Eastern Ghats and gave a call for its conservation by people’s participation.
Prof Chand delivered a talk on “Biotechnological Intervention in Ex-Situ Conservation of Medicinal Plants”. He emphasised on conservation of rare, endangered and threatened medicinal plants of Odisha through biotechnological methods. He advised the students to bring back the golden age of the Ayurveda by proper research and conservation of the medical plants available in the surrounding.
Dr. Sharat Kumar Palita, Dean of the School delivered the welcome address and also highlighted the research efforts initiated and undertaken by the school for biodiversity conservation of the Koraput region.