National Biodiversity Congress held at the capital The National Biodiversity INSIDE THIS ISSUE Congress and Expo were Editorial 2 held at Kanakakkunnu, Thiruvananthapuram From Chairman’s from 23rd to 27th February Desk 3 2015. KSBB Events 4 National Biodiversity Expo was inaugurated by Eco Heroes 6 Chief Minister Oommen Strange But true 7 Chandy. More than 100 stalls were set by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy inaugurating Green Tales 8 various institutions and ‘Prakrithivarnangal’ organisations. ‘Prakruthivarnangal’, a live Biodiversity painting programme by 40 artists was organized. This was also inaugurated by the Chief Minister. The Congress was inaugurated by K. Muraleedharan MLA. Dr. Oommen V. Oommen, Chairman, State Biodiversity Board presided over the function. Dr. K. P. Laladhas, Member Secretary, KSBB welcomed the gathering and Dr. S. Rajasekharan, Senior Programme Coordinator expressed vote of thanks; Mr. Yalakki IFS, Director, Department of Environment and Climate Change, Mr. K. G. Sreekumar, CEO, State Medicinal Plant Board and Dr. P. G. Latha, Director, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical K. Muralidharan, MLA inaugurating NBC 2015 Botanic Garden and Research Institute were present. Sustainable use of Bio_resources, need of the hour: Governor The valedictory function of the 2nd National Biodiversity Congress held at Kanakakkunnu Palace Auditorium, Thiruvananthapuram, was inaugurated by Hon’ble Governor, Justice P. Sathasivam. In his inaugural speech the Governor said that sustainable use of bio_resources should be promoted in the country. The emerging market for biodiversity_based products and services could generate alternative sources of income and livelihood. Minister for Environment and Forest Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan presided over the function. Governor distributed prizes to the winners of the contests organized in connection with the Children’s Biodiversity Congress and to the best pavilions of the Expo. Dr. Oommen V. Oommen, Chairman, Kerala State Biodiversity Board, Dr. AchuthSankar S. Nair, Board Member and Dr. K.P. Laladhas, Member Secretary, were present Hon’ble Governor Justice P. Sathasivam at the valedictory function. inaugurating the valedictory function of NBC 2015 EDITORIAL BOARD Chairman_KSBB Chief Editor Editor Asst.Editors Layout & Design Dr. Oommen V. Oommen Dr. K. P. Laladhas, G. S. Unnikrishnan Nair Dr. Preetha N, Dr. Vijayasree A. S Vinod A.G Member Secretary, KSBB Mithrambika N.B, Dr. Baijulal B 2 Develop in harmony with nature status is witnessed. Huge mansions land use planning based on sound Dr. K.P.Laladhas, have become a status symbol leading to scientific, and technical procedures, and Member Secretary, increased demand for sand and gravel land utilisation strategies are adopted KSBB Chief Editor and a proliferation of quarries. Kerala it will have adverse effects on our is now a strong market for luxury biodiversity and the economy. The Kerala has registered the lowest growth vehicles and according to a report, Kochi unsustainable demand for natural rate of population in the last one decade, has been clocking 40% year-on-year resources and their large scale exploitation and the state is about to achieve “zero growth for the last three years, much and consumption has resulted in the EDITORIAL population growth” in the coming years. higher than the rest of India, and it now exhaustion of many of these resources and The Kerala model of social development sells more luxury cars than Chennai, loss of biodiversity. Such unsustainable has been widely acclaimed but Kolkata and Hyderabad. Roads are development is against broader interests unfortunately it also has one of the getting increasingly congested to and it is important to arrive at a highest monthly per capita consumer accommodate the increased number of development strategy that will promote a expenditure in India, both in rural and vehicles. Natural resources are an harmonious, balanced development. It urban areas. Although the state has important material basis for a stable is high time that we adopt a strategy of achieved social development by overcoming national economy and social development ‘Develop sustainably – Conserve illiteracy, high infant mortality rate, low whether it is renewable or nonrenewable. thoughtfully’ and understand the wisdom life expectancy, an unprecedented Land is the most important natural behind Mahatma Gandhi’s words “Earth consumption boom not necessitated resource which embodies soil and water, provides enough to satisfy every man’s entirely by utility but for raising the social associated flora and fauna. Unless proper needs, but not every man’s greed.” Learning to conserve Biodiversity Minister K.C. Joseph inaugurating 7th CBC Dr.Joseph Mar Dionysius inaugurating Biodiversity Club meet 7th Children’s Biodiversity Congress was organized at the Institution of Engineers Hall, Thiruvananthapuram as part of the NBC-2015. The Children’s congress was inaugurated by Shri. K.C. Joseph, Minister for Cultural Affairs. The inaugural function was chaired by Smt. Sugathakumari. Dr.. K.P. Laladhas, Member Secretary, State Biodiversity Board, welcomed the audience. Dr. Oommen V. Oommen, Chairman, State Biodiversity Board and Dr. M. R. Thamban, Director, State Institute of Languages were present. Dr. Annie Mathai, Programme Coordinator, KSBB extended Vote of Thanks. More than 200 students participated in the congress. A meet of biodiversity clubs was also arranged at the Institution of Engineers Hall as a side event of NBC 2015. The meet was inaugurated by Dr. Joseph Mar Dionysius and presided by Dr. Oommen V. Oommen, Chairman, KSBB. Dr. K.P. Laladhas, Member Secretary, KSBB and District Co_Ordinator, Dr. K. P. N. Kurup were present. Subject Experts; Dr. Mathew Dan, Dr. N. Mohanan, Dr. V. George, Dr. Vinod Kumar and Dr. K. Radhakrishnan addressed the gathering. WORLD WETLANDS DAY 2015 Wetlands for our future On 2 February 2015, World Wetlands Day was celebrated in over 98 countries worldwide. The theme chosen for World Wetlands Day 2015 was “Wetlands for our Future”. This year there will be an emphasis on the agriculture and wetland sectors working together along with the water sector to secure the best possible outcome.The theme draws attention to the urgent need for actions that will slow, stop, and reverse wetland degradation. We must reverse that trend so as to secure the future of our wetlands and our futures as we cannot achieve sustainable development without healthy wetlands. Scientific estimates show that 64 % of the world’s wetlands have disappeared since 1900 and the remaining ones are being degraded. Too few people realize the numerous services and benefits wetlands provide and their importance for humans and the planet. 3 ABS for sustainable development issues related to providing access, for compliance such as ABS accreditation securing benefits and confirming certificate would encourage better compliance and effective mechanisms compliance. The different sectors should for monitoring. A key point raised come on board with a full understanding of during the discussions was that ABS the framework and should be willing Dr.Oommen V. Oommen Chairman, KSBB mechanism should not restrict users, partners to make ABS work for but on the other hand it should facilitate development. Getting more people’s sustainable development through a voices from diverse sectors into this To waste, to destroy our natural mechanism that is non_bureaucratic, exercise of designing ABS frameworks resources, and exhaust the land will FROM CHAIRMAN’S DESK and predictable. ABS framework instead is of great importance. KSBB has result in undermining in the days of our of functioning as a regulatory regime conducted several rounds of discussions children the very prosperity which we should look into how industries with concerned stakeholders. If local ought by right to hand down to them function in terms of accruing benefits, people are denied the benefits derived amplified and developed.” unravel the entire supply chain and from the diversity of biological resources _ Theodore Roosevelt evolve strategies to ensure that they have nurtured over generations, it The 2nd National Biodiversity Conference industries use quality raw materials will be a denial of natural biodiversity held at Thiruvananthapuram in February and ultimately promote sustainable justice. More importantly, if the industries 2015 offered the key message that utilization of bioresources. Creating an commercially utilizing bioresources fail to Access and Benefit sharing is to be un_ambiguous framework that provides see ABS as an innovative and sustainable considered as one of the elements for clarity, certainty and predictability to mechanism to support conservation sustainably raising finance for conservation various stakeholders using biological and sustainable development, the and development, and not as a regulatory resources for commercial purposes is already dwindling natural resources regime. ABS related discussions necessary. The experts opined that will vanish forever. Let us not forget that focused on administrative and legal development of Incentive Mechanisms we are answerable to the next generation. NBC: Conference focuses on Access and Benefit sharing In this perspective, the focal theme of NBC 2015 was Biodiversity: Access and Benefit Sharing. The Conference was inaugurated by Ranjan Chatterjee, Expert member, Principle Bench, National Green Tribunal, New Delhi. He said that NBC 2015 will help to build understanding and cooperation and lay the ground for