THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The two-day bio-diversity conference held here as part of the third Bio-diversity Congress concluded on Friday.
It emphasized on the importance of protecting environment and demanded an exclusive Act on the lines of Paddy and Wetland Act, to protect the hills and mountains. Committees at local level with women’s participation should be constituted.
The conference was held under the aegis of the State Bio-diversity Board and various other agencies. Delegates from the Ministry of Environment and Forests, National Bio-diversity Authority, state bio-diversity boards and researchers attended.
The meeting demanded the government to prepare a register for bio-diversity as a source of information to reduce the impact of climate change. It zeroed in on 40 suggestions regarding environment protection to be presented to the government. National Bio-diversity Board secretary T Rabikumar inaugurated the valedictory session.
KSCSTE chairman Suresh Das presided. Bio Diversity Board chairman Oommen V Oommen, and member secretary Dineshan Cheruvatt spoke.
The Bio Diversity Expo ‘Vividha’
The expo will be the highlight of the congress. There will be stalls on environmental studies, agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries and medicinal plant conservation. Besides the state bio-diversity boards, National Bio-diversity Authority, Forests, Fisheries, Agriculture and Tourism Department, Matsyafed, Kerala Agriculture University and Coirfed will participate.
Children’s bio-diversity meet will be held at Tagore Theatre on Saturday. Calicut University former Pro VC M K Prasad will inaugurate.