By SANTOSH MOHANTY
Odisha's forest, environment and climate change ministry has embarked upon to stave off the impacts of climate change by taking a number of measures for protection of biodiversity. As many as 7256 Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) have been formed under State Biodiversity Boards(SSBs) to involve all the stakeholders in the state to work for protection of environment and conservation of flora and fauna.
The BMCs have been formed in the state in accordance with the regimen of the Biodiversity Law as amended in 2023. The sole duty of the BMCs is to carry out documentation and protection of biodiversity in village levels. Odisha has 57, 160 sqkm of forest cover which accounts for nearly 36.71 percent of its total geographical area.
This amendment has ensured that in order to protect and preserve biodiversity, there must be a balance between conservation, commercial use and the rights of community. The earlier laws relating to Biodiversity in 2002 and 2004 have either been scrapped or changed to match present requirements relating to biotechnology, traditional medicine and environmental conservation. The amendment of 2023 has taken enough safeguards to protect the biodiversity without unmindful exploitation in the name of research. The community based knowledge systems in the villages have been given due importance for protection of the rich biodiversity of the state.
The main thrust of the Biodiversity Law 2023(Amendment) is that it put emphasis protection of the rights of local communities who are virtual reservoirs of traditional knowledge for saving habitats from contamination and environmental pollution. The people who live in close proximity to forest know how to get the benefit from mother earth. The law prohibits Indian pharmaceutical companies and research organizations not to exploit precious forest resources in the name of experimentation. It also encourages use of biological resources for research and commercial purposes as long as the whole exercise is undertaken in a fair manner.
Ayurveda has been given due importance and this is quite encouraging for companies to undertake research and innovations in this sector.
The Biodiversity Law 2023 has ensures that there will be little exploitation of country's rich biodiversity as well as the traditional knowledge system as followed by the communities living in the remote villages who are thriving in nature's bounty. The State Biodiversity Board has said that Odisha is a home to 5174 plants and species including coral reefs and mangroves. There are 19 species found in the state who live in land and water. There are nearly 110 species of reptiles including crocodiles, 473 species of birds and 86 species of mammals that thrive in the natural habitats in the state.
The state is also enjoying the nature's bounty in different biodiversity regions such as Mandasaru, Mahendragiri, Gandhamardhan, Gupteswar, Similipal and Satkosia forest. This apart several forest locations like Mandaragiri hillock and mountains replete with herbal species in Pallahara forest in Angul district are widely acclaimed as biodiversity regions which attract researchers from home and abroad to study nature and the natural habitats where flora and fauna are found.
Forest, environment and climate change minister Ganeshram Singh Khuntia has urged the environmental activists, community based institutions working for protection of the environment and all the stakeholders of the society to spread awareness among the people to protect and preserve biodiversity for staving off the dangerous consequences of climate change which most parts of the planet earth including Odisha has been experiencing. He said production of several seasonal fruits like mango in the state has gone down drastically due to the adverse impact of climate change. The minister, while addressing a gathering in Bhubaneswar recently during observance of World Biodiversity Day, exhorted the BMCs to reach out to the communities in the remote locations of the state to spread the message of awareness for protection of biodiversity.
Additional Chief Secretary Satyabrata Sahu, who attended the occasion urged the State Biodiversity Board to organize the youths to come forward for the establishment of a better world through sustainable development of natural resources. He further urged the youths to work for the reclamation of lost natural habitats through afforestation.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) Suresh Pant and PCCF(Wildlife) Prem Kumar Jha also urged the people to contribute their bit, howsoever liitle might be, for protection and conservation of biodiversity for a healthy society.
Meanwhile, Satkosia Wildlife Division in Angul has prepared a comprehensive plan to give a feel of nature to the tourists, both home and abroad, with the arrangement of Safaris. The Safari trips will help the tourists and nature lovers to move deep into the forest, get a glimpse of the wildlife and enjoy natural surrounding breathing plenty of oxygen, forest officials of Angul wildlife division said. They said the department is also planning to arrange for homestays at Jagannathpur and Purunakote villages located inside Satkosia wildlife divisioon to provide the tourists a taste of village life. They said they were trying to make arrangement for those tourists who mostly hail from metropolitan cities overwhelmed with the hustle and bustle of city life.
The Nature Camps at Tarava, Chhotkei , Tikarapada and Baghamunda in Satkosia wildlife division in Angul has been attracting a huge number of tourists from home and abroad and this arrangement has proved to be a big hit among the nature lovers. The proposed Safari trips will be in addition to Nature Camps facilities, the officials said.
Meaning Of Biodiversity
The entire ecosystem like forests, oceans and grasslands that embraces different forms of life on the planet is simply known as biodiversity. The biodiversity also includes different species of plant, animals and even micro organisms.
Kinds Of Biodiversity
Biodiversity can be categorized as genetic biodiversity, specieis biodiversity and ecosystem biodiversity. By genetic diversity we mean genes within a species like types of rice or cereals. The best examples of species biodiversity are different wildlife species like jumbos, tigers and various insects. The third category is ecosystem biodiversity that include varieties of ecosystems such as forest, desert, grassland and coral reefs and mangroves.
Why Biodiversity Is Important For Mankind?
Biodiversity is a gift of nature to us for sustenance and without this we can't get food and nutrition like vegetables, fruits and crops. It gives us air and water through lush green forest and waterbodies. It is unthinkable to get or prepare a number of drugs from nature which we get from herbal plants and animals also. In addition to this, the mother earth's ecological balance and climate control mechanism are also maintained by a vibrating biodiversity.
There are several threats to biodiversity such as denudation of forest resources, massive industrialization which contaminate air, water and the ambient atmosphere and last but not the least is destruction of natural habitats through poaching of illicit felling of trees.
Can We Protect Biodiversity?
Yes, definitely we can, provided we have the willpower and positive mind. But, we must draw a line between industrialization and environment. Air, water and environmental pollution has to be minimized and sustainable management of farming should be undertaken on a massive scale to protect biodiversity. Village forests, reserved forest with herbal plants and wildlife sanctuaries housing endangered species are key to sustainable management of the environment. The non-biodegradable substances like plastic has to banned for a better dose of biodiversity.
