A food festival will be organised in various districts as part of efforts aimed at conservation of biodiversity. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat announced this at a programme organised by the Uttarakhand Biodiversity Board on the occasion of International Day for Biological Diversity in Dehradun on Friday.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that organising festivals based on traditional foods of the State can prove effective for conserving the threatened biodiversity of the State. Emphasising on the importance of biodiversity conservation, Rawat said that conserving the biodiversity is of vital importance as any change in the biodiversity would also affect life. The CM also stressed on the need and importance of a people’s movement for the conservation of biodiversity. The biodiversity management committees set up by the biodiversity board need to be encouraged more and their scope also needs to be extended.
Creation of such committees at the rural level will strengthen biodiversity conservation. Rawat said, “Earlier our villages used to have their own lifestyle but modernisation has also brought changes in the village lifestyle. When there is a change in natural circle, our life is also affected by the change. We also need to work for environmental conservation. The Forest Department should also work towards conservation of threatened floral species,” said the CM. He also presented cheques for Rs.50 lakh each to heads of biodiversity management committees for commendable work.
Speaking on the occasion, the State Forest and Wildlife Minister Dinesh Aggarwal said that biodiversity is an important issue that requires considerable focus of the Forest Department among others.Uttarakhand Biodiversity Board chairman Rakesh Shah informed the gathering about the various measures taken by the board towards conservation of biodiversity in Uttarakhand. Former director of GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, lMS Palni and UBB member secretary GS Pandey also expressed their views on the occasion.