JOWAI: Hundreds came together at the district library auditorium here on Tuesday to observe the International Day for Biodiversity. Organised under the theme “Island Biodiversity”, the day was marked by a function attended by Conservator of Forest, Social Forestry and Environment, Shillong, A Lyngdoh.
Speaking on the occasion, Lyngdoh said that coal mining has badly affected the biodiversity in Jaintia Hills and urged the people of the region to join hands in protecting the diverse habitat.
The Forest official also informed that the in 2010, the biodiversity board was constituted in the State with the objective of joint management, control and protection of the rich biodiversity of Meghalaya.
The official added that the board is mapping some secret groves in Jaintia Hills so that some of them can be declared as biodiversity heritage sites.