WEBINAR ON 9TH JUNE, 2020 DURING 1000-1200 HRS ON “COVID-19 AND CHANGING ENVIRONMENT” JOINTLY ORGANIZED BY NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT (NIDM), NEW DELHI AND BAREILLY COLLEGE, BAREILLY, UTTAR PRADESH INTRODUCTION National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), in collaboration with the Bareilly College, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh organized a Webinar on, “COVID-19 and Changing Environment”, on 9th June, 2020 at 1000 Hrs. There were 458 registrations from more than 70 organizations/Institutions across the country and around 250 participants attended the Webinar. The Webinar lasted 2.15 hrs. INAUGRATION Hon’ble Principal, Bareilly College, Dr. Anuraag Mohan and Executive Director, NIDM, Major General Shri Manoj Kumar Bindal, as Patrons for the Webinar, jointly inaugurated the Webinar. Dr. Anuraag thanked NIDM for timely conceptualization of this webinar in a series of such efforts and emphasized upon the seriousness of COVID-19 and its impact over all the sectors of our society including the environment. He mentioned several different news items coming from all around the globe regarding the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on the Air Quality Index, CO2 emissions etc. and expressed his concern about the future pathways from here for a better tomorrow. He also conveyed best wishes to the participants/delegates and organizers for the successful completion of the Webinar. Major General Shri Manoj Kumar Bindal pointed out that due to lockdown Delhi became pollution free, and that this is not a permanent solution for all the changes happened since the beginning of Industrialization. He spoke about news regarding increased visuals of green cover globally, flamingos moving in flocks at Mumbai, Himalayas being visible from far distances etc.. He also highlighted the need for organizing such webinars on issues which have not yet been touched upon and which are required to be highlighted for safety and growth of humanity in particular keeping sustainable development in mind. Dr. Rajendra Singh, Associate Professor, Department of Zoology, Bareilly College, Bareilly set the context for the webinar. He welcomed the participants for giving their precious time. He also thanked Principal, Bareilly College Dr. Anuraag Mohan and Executive Director, NIDM, Major General Shri Manoj Kumar Bindal, eminent speakers, organizers, IT department, Bareilly College and the moderator. Shri Ashish Kumar Panda, Consultant and Faculty Member, NIDM gave the first talk of the session on COVID-19 and Changing Environment. He spoke in detail about the impact of lockdown measures on changing of environment across the globe, connections of wildlife with Covid 19, illegal trading of animals, zoonotic diseases and their spread into the humankind and why wildlife trade should be banned to protect ourselves from future such outbreaks. He said that animal borne diseases are going to become new normal due to the rapid destruction of nature and suggested some practical way forwards to keep a balanced momentum between growth and safety of environment in times to come. Dr. Naveen Arora, Professor, Baba Saheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar University, Lucknow gave his talk on Environmental Linkages of COVID-19 Pandemic. He spoke about the nine factors which are responsible for pandemics like COVID-19. These factors included population growth, urbanization, deforestation, fragmentation of natural environments, intensive farmings, livestock production, trade in meat of wildlife, global climate change and pollution etc. He emphasized that a balanced scientific approach towards addressing these factors will definitely help us prevail over the current sorry state of covid globally. His detailed presentation was very realistic and informative to the audience present in the Webinar. Dr. Somesh Mehra, Scientist, Biotech Park, Lucknow talked about COVID-19 and opportunities to better our climate. He informed why it is difficult to develop a vaccine for this virus. He informed that there are hundreds of strains available and the viruses mutate faster than other organisms and therefore the difficulty in developing the vaccine. He also talked about the new opportunities for the entrepreneurs and gave detailed list of schemes and programmes being run by the Governmetn of India to attract young talent. He concluded on a positive note saying that disaster always gives birth to new discoveries. Prof. Anil K. Gupta, Head, ECDRM, NIDM, gave his talk on Pandemics: Lessons Learnt and Way forward. He also emphasized on adapting to the Madhyam Marg preached by Buddha by defining the real meaning of Development, which should ideally go side by side with the protection of our nature, environment and humanity. There is a need for paradigm shift in our approaches whether it is Industry, Agriculture, Health or Human Development as a whole, which should be inclusive of not only material benefits but also spiritual and humane idealogies. He showed new pathways for a new normal in covid times. At the end of the talk session, a small Q&A segment was taken by Ms. Shilky, Young Professional, NIDM. Few questions from the audience were taken, which were suitably and amicably answered by the learned speakers. Shri Ashish Kumar Panda, Consultant and Faculty Member, NIDM summed up and concluded the webinar in the end. He expressed satisfaction and enthusiasm about the way the webinar was held and the issues that were discussed and deliberated upon. He expressed expressed positive intentions of having more of such collaborative efforts of NIDM and Bareilly College in future as there is need for holding series of such joint webinars on various cross cutting and multi-hazard related aspects associated with such pandemics. A group photograph was taken for the webinar in the end by requesting all the participants to keep their videos on. The webinar ended successfully with a vote of thanks by Ms. Shilky, Young Professional, NIDM to the patrons, organizing chairs, programme coordinators and the participating dignitaries and delegates etc. KEY TAKEAWAYS Sensitization and information dissemination with respect to impact of COVID-19 on environment and wildlife in India; Responsibilities on part of individuals, government machineries, private organisations and community as a whole were highlighted during the programme; Striking a balance between development and environment protection was a fruitful message delivered during the webinar to the audience; Agreement on part of NIDM and Bareilly College to hold series of such Webinars as well as propagate research work and its publication. GROUP PHOTOGRAPH PROGRAMME SCHEDULE Time/title Schedule 1000 – 1010 hrs. Inaugral Remarks by • Principal, Bareilly College • ED,NIDM 1010-1030 hrs. Talk I : COVID19 and Changing Climate Shri Ashish Kumar Panda, Faculty Member,NIDM 1030 - 1050 hrs. Talk II:: Environmental linkages of COVID-19 pandemic Dr. Naveen Arora, Professor, Baba Saheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar University, Lucknow 1050 – 1110 hrs. Talk III: COVID-19 and opportunities to better our climate Dr. Somesh Mehra, Scientist, Biotech Park, Lucknow. 1110 – 1130 hrs. Talk IV: Pandemics: Lessons Learnt And Way forward Professor Anil K. Gupta, NIDM 1130-1150 hrs. Q&A Session. 1150 – 1200 hrs Summation and Closing Remarks by Principal Bareilly College and ED, NIDM PATRONS Executive Director, NIDM Major General Manoj Kumar Bindal Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) Email: [email protected] Principal Bareilly College, Bareilly Dr. Anuraag Mohan SPEAKER’S PROFILE Ashish Kumar Panda Consultant & Faculty Member, ECDRM Division, NIDM Prof Naveen K Arora, Head, Department of Environmental Science, BBA University, Lucknow Dr. Somesh Mehra, Scientist, Biotech Park, Lucknow Dr. Anil Kumar Gupta Professor – NIDM, HoD, ECDRM Division, NIDM PROGRAMME COORDINATORS Mr. Ashish Kumar Panda, Consultant & Faculty Member, (Forestry, Biodiversity & AiDRR) ECDRM Division, NIDM Email: [email protected], Phone: 09968281018 Ms. Shilky, Young Professional, ECDRM Division, NIDM Email: [email protected], Phone: 9990452264 Dr. Rajendra Singh, Associate Professor, Department of Zoology, Bareilly College, Bareilly Email: [email protected], Phone:09759523078 Full Name Designation Institution/ College Name Email address Roopali Tandon Assistant Professor Bareilly College Bareilly [email protected] Dr.Yasharth Gautam Assistant Professor Bareilly College Bareilly [email protected] Dr. Geeta Verma Associte Professor Bareilly College Bareilly UP [email protected] Dr.Yasharth Gautam Assistant Professor Bareilly College Bareilly [email protected] Dr. Kanhiya Mahour Assistant Professor R. P. P. G. College [email protected] Dr.Shalini Singh Associte Professor Bareilly College, Bareilly ,U.P. [email protected] Dr. Rakesh Kumar Assistant Professor Bareilly college Bareilly [email protected] Dr. Avinash Agarwal Associte Professor Bareilly College,Bareilly [email protected] Dr. Ahmad Tariq Associte Professor Bareilly College. Bareilly. [email protected] Anisul Fatma Student Bareilly college bareilly [email protected] ARPITA GOSWAMI Student BAREILLY COLLEGE , BAREILLY [email protected] Dr Adarsh Pandey Assistant Professor SS College Shahjahanpur [email protected] Dr. Shalini Roy Associte Professor Hindu College, Moradabad [email protected] Dr. Saleem Ahamad Assistant Professor Dev Indrawati P G college Katehari Ambedkar [email protected] Dr Sandeep Kumar Saxena Assistant Professor Bareilly College Bareilly [email protected] RAZIA PARVEEN Assistant Professor Government