Early Times Report
REASI, Nov 21: An interactive and awareness meet on biodiversity management was today held here under the chairpersonship of Director State Forest Research Institute and Member Secretary Biodiversity Board, Om Prakash Sharma. The event was held to apprise district officers and members of Panchayati Raj Institutions about setting Biodiversity Management Committees at Panchayat, block and district levels as mandated by the Indian Biodiversity Act, 2002. The significance of such BMCs was also highlighted by the Director. 'The committees are crucial for safeguard and promotion of local variety of flora and fauna', he said. It was told that the committees would hold legal authority over any commercial exploitation of natural resources of their respective locality. Interacting with the guest speakers, Deputy Commissioner Indu Kanwal Chib and chairpersons of BDCs also posed queries which were satisfactorily addressed. It was told that all BMCs would be required to prepare People Biodiversity Register thereby journaling local flora and fauna. Those present at the meet were District Forest Officer, Anil Attri, Chief Planning Officer, Kishore Sharma, Assistant Commissioner Development, Sunil Sharma, Chief Agriculture Officer, Onkar Choudhary and Chairpersons of Block Development Committees among various district officers. |
