Shillong: The International Day for Biological Diversity was observed in the city on the theme ‘Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health’ during a function held at U Soso Tham Auditorium on Wednesday.
The programme was organised by the Meghalaya Biodiversity Board (MBB) and the Department of Forests & Environment, Government of Meghalaya, to generate awareness among the people, particularly the students, on the rich biodiversity of the State and the importance of preserving it.
Addressing the gathering as chief guest, Forests and Environment Minister Lahkmen Rymbui stressed on the need for maintaining a balance in the biodiversity for a sustainable ecosystem.
“As we are in an ecosystem where we are inter-dependent on each other, we have to renew our commitment to preserve our rich biodiversity,” he said.
Lamenting on the increased dwindling of rare species, Rymbui said that there is a need to realise the value of organisms and species.He also suggested an idea of coming up with a museum to showcase the rich biodiversity of the state with a focus on conservation and protection of the biodiversity found here.
With the state coming up with different missions such as Aqua culture mission, jackfruit mission, he suggested the Meghalaya Biodiversity Board (MBB) to work hand-in-hand with other-line departments.
“There is a need to devise conservation measures to save threatened species and protect indigenous traditional knowledge,” he said.
During the function, Rymbui, along with other dignitaries, released Annual Report for the years 2015-2018, booklets and posters on biodiversity, pamphlet on Biodiversity Heritage Site of Meghalaya, Khlaw Kur Syiem KmieIng (Umkon Village of Ri Bhoi district).
Short documentary films titled, Giant Steps to Conservation by a Small Village, Mawlyngbna and Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health were also screened during the programme.
Meanwhile, NESFAS celebrated the International Day for Biological Diversity 2019 on Wednesday with Khasi, Jaintia, Bhoi and Garo custodian farmers, Mei-Ramew Café entrepreneurs, women group members and youths from six villages.
Students of the Department of Environment and Traditional Ecosystems of Martin Luther Christian University, as part of the celebration, participated in an early-morning agrobiodiversity walk from Madan Rngi to Laitsohpliah village along with the locals of the area where they identified 21 wild edibles.
Acknowledging the problems that community members have with pests in their fields, NESFAS organised, within its premise, a practical sharing of ideas on how to undertake pest management with the members of the Agroecology Learning Circle (ALC) from Mawhiang, Liarsluid, Umsawwar, Pyrda and Darichegre in Garo Hills.
The emphasis was on the sharing of local knowledge amongst farmers themselves along with the acknowledgement that modern science can also make useful contribution to the current local knowledge.
