International Day for Biological Diversity observed in Manipur

Our Correspondent
Imphal, May 22 (EMN): International Day for Biological Diversity was observed on the theme ‘Our biodiversity, our food, our health’ in Manipur on Wednesday.
The day was observed jointly by Bio-resource Managament Committees (BMC) of three villages-Kaibi, Makhel and Tobumai under Mao area in Manipur’s Senapati district by holding a public discussion at Tadubi town hall, about 100 km north of Imphal.

President Peter Khrasi of Mao Council was the main speaker on conservation of the bioresources during the event which was attended by functionaries of BMCs and many villages under Mao circle. Chaiman L Zhunio of Kaibi BMC gave the key note address while secretary Lokho Ozho looked after introduction and presentation programmes.

Divisional Forest Office Senapati also organised a painting in connection with the International Day for Biological Diversity in the Senapati district headquarters.

Ex-MLA Alexandar Pau,DFO Senapati John Sha and others were present for the occasion. Similar observation was also held at Tamenglong district headquarters, 150 km west of Imphal. DFO Tamenglong Arun RS and Range officer Kh Hitler besides the district wildlife warden Dr Chambo was also present during the observation.

In Imphal, an important observation was held under the aegis of All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and Directorate of Environment Manipur at the hall number one of the Manipur Press Club in Imphal.

Director Dr Y Nabachandra of Environment department, President Kakchingtabam Bijoy of AMWJU, President Khogendra Khomdram of Editors’ Guild Manipur attended the observation wherein Joint Director Dr IM Singh of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Deputy Director Y Premchandra Singh of Health department spoke as resource persons on different subjects.

In his speech, Director Dr Nabachandra said rapid environmental changes typically caused mass extinctions. The situation is very alarming as around 72,000 species (one species every 20 minutes) are estimated to be extinct every year, he said. So time has come to stop exploitation of the bio-resources against the actual requirement. Otherwise the species available on earth’s surface will come as a model in museum in future.

AMWJU President and others who spoke on the occasion also appealed to work together to regain the degrading biodiversity which is the eco-system service provider as in the past. Humans share the planet with as many as 8.7 million different forms of life.

The International Day for Biological Diversity was also observed in district headquarters of Ukhrul, Bishnupur and Thoubal.