Celebrating the International Day for Biological Diversity, Angul-based Nature Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS) on Friday organised a plethora of events such as photo exhibition, awareness workshop and different competitions.
The United Nations proclaimed May 22 as International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of bio-diversity issues. This year, the theme was “biodiversity for sustainable development”. In the district level function, the day was celebrated at Odisha Forest Rangers’ College, Angul, where Regional Chief Conservator of Forests and Field Director of Satkosia Tiger Reserve Dr Anup Kumar Nayak made an appeal to preserve bio-diversity for a sustainable livelihood.
Dr Nayak lamented that our local bio-diversity was under threat because of developmental activities in forest areas and lack of knowledge about biodiversity among general people. The time has come for every individual to take the pledge to conserve bio-diversity both for ecological balance and economic security, he said.
He also said India, which is one of the 12 major bio-diversity hotspots in the world, is severely under threat and therefore, there was an urgency to spread the message on the need to preserve bio-diversity.
Honorary Wildlife Warden, Angul Prasanna Kumar Behera said people should be conscious that forest wildlife is an integral part of all living beings. He explained the role and functions of National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), the State Biodiversity Board (SBB) and the Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) and preparation procedure of People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR) and its importance for conservation.
Other guests and experts such as DFO Godabarish Panda, educationalist Saroj Kumar Panigrahi, Mandakini Pradhan, Ahsook Pradhan and social activist Sushil Kumar Pradhan spoke.