Press
International Year of Biodiversity:
FIRST INDIAN BIODIVERSITY CONGRESS
AT THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
As the world is put in order for consolidation of International Year of Biodiversity, the State capital, Thiruvananthapuram is gearing up to witness the largest colloquium of biodiversity experts and stakeholders in India, the first Indian Biodiversity Congress (IBC 2010) and Expo in December 2010.
Initiated by Centre for Innovation in Science and Social Action (CISSA), Kerala State Biodiversity Board, University of Kerala and Navdanya, IBC 2010 will be held at Kerala University Campus, Karyavattom during 27-31 December, 2010. The programme will be supported by the National Biodiversity Authority. The congress aims to forward developmental paradigms and policies for conservation and sustainable utilisation of biodiversity and strategies and action plans to mainstream biodiversity into policy making, besides taking stock of the current biodiversity profile of the country.
CISSA has been selected by the UN as the partner organisation to celebrate IYB in India. The IBC 2010 consists of Indian Biodiversity Expo, Pre-conference Workshops, National Seminar, National Photography Exhibition, NGO meet and Book fairs.
The IBC 2010 will focus on the importance of mainstreaming biodiversity in all developmental policies in order to realise the dream of sustainable development, and to achieve food security, alleviating poverty and to fight globalisation. While the efforts are on to include the Western Ghats in the World Heritage List, the Congress will hold a special session on ‘Biodiversity Conservation in Western Ghats-Status, Challenges and Opportunities’.
The presentations by the delegates are arranged in 10 parallel sessions. Leading international experts and biodiversity experts in the country will participate in the event. About 1,500 delegates expected for the congress, represented by a cross section of people working in biodiversity and related topics in India, include leading scientists and researchers, NGOs, bureaucrats, policy makers, community members and conservationists.
The Indian Biodiversity Expo, organised in connation with the event for the public, will showcase the rich biodiversity heritage of the country and would present a kaleidoscopic spectacle of the variety of life in India. National Biodiversity Authority, State Biodiversity Boards, Research and Development Centers, Universities, commercial firms and NGOs will participate in the event. The thematic areas of the exhibition include State biodiversity profiles (showcase of biodiversity heritage of Indian States), variety of life, biodiversity heritage, ecosystem diversity, living on the edge, institutional profiles, invasive species, biodiversity education, threats to biodiversity, green business and technologies and innovations. There will be a special section on cultural linkages of biodiversity, highlighting Indian wisdom.
The pre-conference workshops for young researchers, teachers, NGOs and environmental educators will focus on designing and implementing biodiversity projects, environmental impact assessment and biodiversity education. The NGO meet, another highlight of the congress, will provide a common platform for non-governmental organisations, highlighting the need for inclusive action for biodiversity conservation in India.
The details of IBC 2010 are available in the websites of the congress (www.ibc2010.org) and CISSA (www.cissa.co.in).
An organising committee of IBC 2010 has Hon’ble Chief Minister of Kerala Sri V.S. Achuthanandan and Sri Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State, Environment & Forests, Govt. of India as chief patrons, and Prof. K.V. Thomas, Minister of State for Agriculture, Govt. of India, Sri. C. Divakaran, Minister for Food & Civil Supplies, Govt. of Kerala, Sri. M.A. Baby, Minister for Education and Culture, Govt. of Kerala, Sri Binoy Viswam, Minister for Forests, Govt. of Kerala, Sri Mullakkara Retnakaran, Minister for Agriculture, Govt. of Kerala, Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament and Dr. P. L. Gautam, Chairman, National Biodiversity Authority as patrons. Renowned biodiversity expert Prof. Madhav Gadgil will chair the advisory committee and Dr. CSP Iyer will be convenor. The National Steering Committee will be headed by Dr. P. Pushpangadan (Chairman) and Dr. J.K. Sharma (Convenor).
To highlight the crucial role nature’s rich diversity plays in our lives and to raise awareness among the public and generate pressure on world’s leaders to curb the unprecedented loss in biodiversity due to human activity, the United Nations (UN) has declared 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB). According to the UN Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), biodiversity is essential to sustaining the living networks and systems that provide us with health, wealth, food, fuel and the vital services our lives depend upon. The Convention, of which India is a signatory, covers all ecosystems, species and genetic resources, linking traditional conservation efforts to economic goal of using biological resources sustainably, and setting principles for the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from use of genetic resources.
Renowned environmental activist Dr. Vandana Shiva will be the Chairperson of the Congress. Press release issued by CISSA and signed by Prof. M.K. Prasad (Working Chairman), Dr. R.V. Varma (Secretary General), Dr. A. Biju Kumar (Organising Secretary) and Dr. C. Surshkumar (General Secretary, CISSA).
