3 days training on capacity building in biodiversity for BMC begins at Senapati
Source: The Sangai Express

Senapati, May 17 2019: Taking one step higher than the previous one-day awareness programme held for the students of the district on April 30, the Manipur Biodiversity Board (MBB) and the Senapati Forest Division, Senapati in collaboration with GreenHills Society, Senapati opened a three days training programme on 'Capacity Building in Biodiversity for Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC)' at DRDA Hall, Senapati yesterday.

Out of 45 Biodiversity Management Committees in Senapati district, 24 selected villages of the district attended the programme yesterday.

The inaugural function was attended by D John Sha, MFS, Senapati Forest Division, Senapati as the chief guest and Kh Magaljao Singh, RFO, Liyai Range as the guest of honour while Sobhapati Samom, Environmental Journalist and N Joyson Tao, president, Green Hills Society, Senapati attended the technical session as resource persons on the first day.

Delivering the keynote speech, Lolee Leshiini Kriibve Mao, in-charge R/O, DHQ, Senapati Forest Division said that the BMCs are the driving force to help conserve the natural resources and to maintain a balanced environment and is the first contact point for any Govt agencies for educating and raising awareness to the common public.

She also urged the BMCs to play an important role by teaching the society a sustainable way to use the natural resources.

Speaking at the occasion, D John Sha, MFS, Senapati Forest Division, Senapati stated that forest covers 7,08,273 square kilometres of earth surface which is around 21.54% of the whole earth as according to ISFR, 2017 adding that there are 4 biodiversity hotspots in India out of 34 biodiversity hotspots in the world and Manipur falls under Indo-Myanmar hotspot.

Out of 811 cultivated plants, 3000 species are of medicinal plants and out of 115 bamboo species, 53 species of bamboo are found in Manipur, he added.

He also stressed on the need for preservation of biodiversity to protect from the attacks of parasites, worms, bacteria, etc and the need to preserve different medicinal plants found in the region before extinction.

He urged the BMCs to raise awareness about the negative impact of burning of forests and hunting of wildlife.

Sobhapati Samom, Environment Journalist spoke on "Global response to degrading natural resources" during the first technical session as resource person.

The second session continued with Joyson Tao, president, Green Hills Society, Senapati speaking on "Collective actions against loss of biodiversity in tribal regions" .

The continuous degradation of biodiversity pose a great threat to the very survival of our future generations, he added and said that tackling biodiversity loss is a collective obligations of the people.

He also spoke on the various functions and objectives of the BMCs and also the need to create mass awareness amongst the people.

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