It is biodiversity which makes life on planet interesting, said Minister of State for Human Resource Development Shashi Tharoor on Thursday. He was inaugurating the National Biodiversity Conference-2012 at Kanakakunnu Palace here.
Tharoor said that biodiversity itself is an example of the health and well being of the ecosystem. ‘’If you are helping to protect biodviersity, then you are helping yourself,’’ he said. Biodiversity has an intrinsic and spiritual value. Ninety per cent of the rich biodiversity that existed on the planet has diminished due to the vagaries of time, he added.
Addressing the gathering via webcasting, Sam Pitroda, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Public Information Infrastructure & Innovations, dwelt upon the need of innovating policies that could ensure better participation of local communities in the preservation of biodiversity.
He said: ‘’Local communities are the real conservators and its imperative that they are brought in the limelight. Conservation of biodiversity is the best means to deal with the problems of climate change and adaptation.’’ Drawing an equation between prosperity and biodiversity, Pitroda said that both should go hand in hand with each other.
Principal Scientific Advisor of Government of India R Chidambaram released the book titled ‘Book of Abstracts’ published by Kerala State Biodiversity Board. National Biodiversity Authority chairman Balakrishna Pisupati presided over the function.