By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The increase in population and selfish attitude of man is the main cause behind the loss of habitat of the faunal diversity resulting in the extinction of many known and unknown floral and faunal species, Head of Zoology Department of NEHU BK Sharma said.
“We have been using the biodiversity for our own gains only”, Sharma lamented, adding that only 10 per cent of the global biodiversity is known to man and the rest of the 90 per cent is still unknown.
Sharma was addressing a two-day National Seminar on Faunal Diversity and Eco-physiology organized by the Department of Zoology, NEHU at NEHU campus here on Tuesday.
The natural growth of population has led to encroachment of wildlife sanctuaries and the different types eco-systems are under threat due to human activities, Sharma added. “We have been giving so much emphasis on conservation of big animals like elephants, rhinoceros and tiger. We have forgotten to give importance to micro organism, which are equally important to biodiversity”, the Head of the Zoology department said adding that respect need to be given to every type of biodiversity. He also informed that the Department of Zoology of the North Eastern Hill University has a substantial stress on faunal biodiversity including the study of insects and amphibians including studies of water organism.
Meanwhile, when asked why NEHU has not been able to give its recommendation to the Government having organized several seminars and work shops, Sharma said a few years ago, there was a joint study of the State Control Board, the Department of Zoology of NEHU and other department of the Meghalaya Government.“In this study, we found that the water in Jaintia Hill of Meghalaya was highly acidic and reports were given to the State Government that protection of the environment should go on despite the mining activities”, Sharma said.
He said waters and rivers in Jaintia Hills have become so acidic due to the presence of industries in the area which have also been eroded by machines and turbines of the hydro electric project.
Replying on a query on the documentation of the biodiversity in the North Eastern Region, Sharma said that 250 species have been documented including fish food organisms and world’s rarest limbless amphibians have been properly documented and more than 20 amphibian species are endemic.
Sharma also informed that the recommendation of the seminar would be given to the sponsor like North Eastern Council (NEC) and other implementing agencies to take into consideration of the findings of the seminar to benefit the general public.
