SHILLONG, May 22: The Meghalaya Biodiversity Board on Wednesday commemorated the International Day for Biological Diversity with a progamme at U Soso Tham Auditorium, Shillong.
The event, which was thematised on ‘Be Part of the Plan’, was attended by Chief Secretary DP Wahlang as the chief guest.
Addressing the gathering, Wahlang emphasised the fundamental role of biodiversity in sustaining life, providing essential resources such as air, water, and food.
He highlighted Meghalaya’s rich biodiversity as part of the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot and underscored the state’s efforts in biodiversity conservation.
“Meghalaya, which is part of the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot, harbours rich and diversified flora and fauna. Varied altitude, topography, status of soil and climatic conditions favour high species richness and support different types of forest. In view of the rich biodiversity and the associated traditional knowledge available in the state vis-a-vis the increasing level of threats to the species and their habitats, the Meghalaya Biodiversity Board along with the Forest Department is expected to play a pivotal role towards achieving the objectives of the Biological Diversity Act and Rules,” he said.
Wahlang also announced the completion of the process of constituting the Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) in all village and urban local bodies.
“The Deputy Commissioners, Block Development Officers and the District Nodal Officers of all the Districts of Meghalaya played a vital role in it. Apart from the constitution of the BMCs; the Board has also prepared the People’s Biodiversity Registers for all the BMCs and the work for upgrading them is going on,” he said.
It may be mentioned that the Meghalaya Biodiversity Board is also conducting awareness campaigns in all the Districts of the State as per the provisions of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
On the occasion, the best Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) Award 2024 was conferred upon Paglapara BMC, Zikzak C&RD Block, South West Garo Hills, Meghalaya.
Similarly, the State Level Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological Resources award was conferred upon Jermanai Village, Umling C&RD Block, Ri-Bhoi.
“Award of Appreciation to the DNOs was also presented for their dedication and conservation work done for conservation of biodiversity in the state,” the statement said.
On the occasion, posters and booklets on the Biodiversity of Meghalaya were also released while prizes were distributed among the winners of the various competitions that were held as part of the celebration.
