Early Times Report
THANNAMANDI, May 23: The Department of Botany in collaboration with Department of Zoology and Environmental Sciences under the aegis of IQAC of GDC Thannamandi celebrated International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) on this year's theme "Be part of the Plan" as third and concluding satellite event of World's First Species Congress under Viksit Bharat@47 Sankalp here on Wednesday.
On this occasion a web conference on the theme "Be part of the plan" organized under the patronage of Prof. (Dr.) Farooq Ahmed, Principal of College wherein Prof. Mammo Muchie, Research Professor, Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa was Chief Guest whereas Dr. Christian Bartolf, President, Gandhi Information Centre, Berlin, Germany and Dr. Ritu Dhingra, Regional Vice Chair, East and Southern Asia- IUCN CEESP (International Union for Conservation of Nature-Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy) were Guest of Honour and Special Guest respectively. Dr. Ashaq Malik, IQAC Coordinator and Head, Department of Botany, was convener/moderator whereas Dr. Shiraz Ahmed, Head, Department of Zoology and Dr. Junaid Ahmed, Head, Department of Environmental Sciences of College were organizing secretaries of the conference.
In his comprehensive welcome address, Prof. Farooq Ahmed underlined theme "Be Part of the Plan" of IDB that calls on all stakeholders - governments, indigenous peoples and local communities, non-governmental organizations, lawmakers, businesses, and individuals to showcase their efforts in supporting the implementation of the Biodiversity Plan. Its matter of honour for us that GDC Thannamandi became part of the plan by co-hosting the First World Species Congress primarily hosted by Reverse the Red and supported by IUCN, he said.
Prof. Mammu Muchie chaired the plenary session wherein Dr. Om Katel, College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan, Thimphu, Bhutan, Dr. Ritu Dhingra, IUCN CEESP Regional Vice Chair East and Southern Asia, Dr. Christian Bartolf, President, Gandhi Information Centre, Berlin, Germany and Taslima Sheikh, Citizen Science Expert Inspire Foundation Trust, Lucknow, India delivered plenary lectures on various aspects pertaining to biodiversity conservation. Mehtab Khan, a student of B.Sc 4th Semester in College, also gave a presentation on local flora of the region and the need for its conservation.
The plenary session followed by panel discussion chaired by Dr. Christian Bartolf in Which Dr. Pankaj Chandan, Senior Nature Conservation Scientist and Dr. Shreekar Pant, Head Centre for Biodiversity Studies, BGSB University Rajouri and other panelists deliberated upon the awareness and action components of biodiversity conservation especially at local level. They answered the queries raised by young researchers and activists in biodiversity conservation. Dr. Abdul Haque, Dr. Gohar Iqbal, Prof. Fatima Parveen, Dr. Ather Aziz Raina, Prof. Rumy Dar and Dr. Nagina Kousser were rapporteurs whereas Prof. Supriya Gupta provided technical support.
It is pertinent to mention GDC Thannamandi has co-hosted World's first Species Congress, a fully 24-hour fully virtual event hosted by Reverse the Red and Supported by IUCN between May 15-16 in more than 9,700 attendees from over 190 countries and various organizations collectively pledged to help reverse declines of over 3,750 species including 6 species of Jammu and Kashmir by GDC Thannamandi by 2030. Some 90 satellite events across the globe including 9 in India and GDC Thannamandi hosted one of two events in Jammu & Kashmir and only educational institution in the UT. The College shared a live stream of World Species Congress among staff and students and on social media as its first session. The College also took pledge to reverse the risk of extinction of 6 endangered species of Jammu and Kashmir viz. Markhor (Capra falconeri), Western Tragopan (Tragopan melanocephalus), Cheer Pheasant (Catreus wallichii), Atis (Aconitum heterophyllum), Himalayan Yew (Taxus walichiana) and ban-kakri (Podophylum hexandrum) by 2030.
On May 17 which is observed as World Endangered Species Day, the College hosted the 2nd event of the series in the form of an online national webinar on the theme celebrate saving species.
Earlier, Dr. Ashaq Malik, introduced the audience about the programme and conducted the proceedings whereas Dr. Shiraz Ahmed presented the formal vote of thanks. The other organizing committee members include Dr. Nazakat Hussain, Prof. Asif Aijaz Lone, Rakesh Puri, Dr. Nazal Ul Islam Wani, Prof. Altaf Hussain, Dr. Gulshan Bhat, Anuj Bali, Prof. Rizwana, Dr. Sarfaraz Mirza, Dr. Arshad Khan, Dr. Salim Javaid, Dr. Nisar Bhat, Dr. Mohd Javaid, Dr. Nusrat Farooq, Dr. Wahid Ahmed Qazi and Farid Ahmed. |
