International Meet On Climate Change 2015 at Imphal : 1st Day Report

Organising Committee *

TWO-DAY INTERNATIONAL MEET ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Organised by
Department of Social Work, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University,
Regional Campus, Manipur

In Collaboration with
United NGOs Mission, Manipur;
Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur &
Biodiversity Ecology & Environment Network, Manipur

Date: 22 – 23, September 2015
Venue: Lamyanba Shanglen, Imphal East

The INAUGURAL FUNCTION of the TWO-DAY INTERNATIONAL MEET ON CLIMATE CHANGE organised by the Department of Social Work, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Regional Campus, Manipur in Collaboration with the United NGOs Mission, Manipur; Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur & Biodiversity Ecology & Environment Network, Manipur was held on 22nd September 2015 at the Lamyanba Shanglen, Imphal East.

Dr. RK Nimai, Consultant, Government of Manipur, and Dr. M. Homeshwor Singh, Director, Directorate of Environment Government of Manipur was the Chief Guest and Guest of Honour of the Inaugural Function, respectively. Professor W. Vishwanath Singh, Dean, School of Life Sciences, Manipur University presided the Inaugural Function.

Welcome Address was delivered by Dr. Kamei Beeju, Co-Convener of the International Meet.

Dr. RK Nimai, Chief Guest of the inaugural function observed that global warming and climate change is natural cycle of the earth. Different phases such as the cold or the warm periods that earth witnessed was a natural. It is not becase of human activity that deserts were formed such as the Sahara desert. The tendency of climatologist to say anthropogenic activities resulted in climate change is slightly misplaced.

Take for instance, HIV/AIDS is a number one killer is long; there are other deadly diseases. So it is the scientists who created the panic. In Manipur, micro climatic changes are taking place because plants have been cut down. Imphal was full of wetlands, but how many survives today. There is certainly relationship between human activity and climate. Thus, there is greater responsibility, although climate change is natural, on the parts of human beings to conserve the ecosystem. v Human skills are needed very much in this context. But we have a long way to go. Plants are to be nurtured, simple act of planting is not enough. One also needs to appreciate the aesthetics of loving the natural processes. We all need to contribute to flourish the mother earth because we have the ability so that we can breathe and live on this earth.

Dr. M. Homeshwor Singh, Guest of Honour of the inaugural function observed that State Action Plan on Climate Change for Manipur started in the year 2010. Academicians, NGOs and community members were involved in the process of preparation of the action plan document and submitted the same in 2014 to the Government of Manipur.

He shared that on February 17-18, 2015, there was a two-day workshop on linking National Action Plan and State Action Plan. Out of 8 missions at the national level, Manipur too earmarked 8 most vulnerable areas and strategy was adopted. As a result of it Phayeng was adopted as a carbon composite village in the pilot project initiative. He also shared that Jharkhand and Manipur was identified as two model pilot states by UNDP (Global environmental facilities) to make energy efficient states. In this the Directorate acted as a nodal agency.

He stated that NABARD acts as a financial agency for any kind of mitigation and adaptation projects based on livelihood. Agriculture is the main target for adaptation project, solar powered pumps would be used to irrigate the agricultural fields to compensate yields. The Directorate of Environment has identified Wabagai where vast areas of agricultural lands are available. We are also witnessing new forms of threats to health as a result of climate change.

Finally he concluded that capacity building is very important to meet challenges of climate change. Action plan can undergo changes with changing times, and thus, Meets such as the present ones are very important to collectively face the threats of climate change.

Professor W. Vishwanath Singh who presided the Inaugural Function observed that there are two ecosystems such as terrestrial ecosystem and aquatic environment. Focussing on the latter he remarked that two-third of the whole world is covered by water but water we need (fresh) constitutes only 0.01 percent of the total amount of water. This small amount of water is very important for sustenance of lives. When there is climate change, all cold-blooded animals are badly affected as a result of change in temperature of water. Their metabolic activities increases requiring more energy and oxygen. But as a result of rise in temperature of water, oxygen content in the water decreases.

Parasites multiply much faster making fishes vulnerable to diseases. Thus, fishes die very soon. In the eastern Himalayas including northeast region, we have cold water where we are rearing carp fish, and when the water in this region get warmer due to global warming, it affects a lot to carp fish.

He further stated that an NGO in Dhaka works towards identifying the Irrawaddy and Gangetic dolphins and teach the children how the Gangetic could be saved. After 3 years, the children showed them the bones of the dolphins and how they prevented the fishermen not to kill the Gangaeic dolphins. Thus, without peoples participation climate change cannot be met squarely.

Sand mining in Manipur can affect the aquatic world. Tree plantation is needed and also about conserving the habitats of the living beings. Such programmes need to be conducted at the village level and also children needs to educated about global warming. In this context he concluded that NGOS today have a very important role to play in the face of global warming and climate change.

Dr. Homen Thangjam, Co-Convener of the International Meet proposed the Vote of Thanks.

In the first technical session, entitled Climate Change, Biodiversity, Ecosystem and Environment 4(four) resource persons presented papers. A Brajakumar Sharma, Chairperson, Manipur Cultural Integration Conference Chaired the session.

Dr. H. Narendra Singh, Scientist, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune presented a paper titled, “Emerging Trend of Climate Change”.

Jiten Yumnam, Director, Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur presented a paper titled, “Politics of Climate Change”.

Oinam Rajen, President, All Loktak Lake Areas Fishermen Union, Manipur presented a paper titled “Climate Change and Loktak Lake”.

Dr. M. Sumarjit Singh, Associate Professor of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, CAU, Imphal presented a paper titled, “Global Warming and Its Impact on Crop Production”.

Dr. K Chaoba Singh, Director, Regional Tasar Research Station, Imphal presented a paper titled, “Climate Change and Sericulture”.

In the afternoon session thematically titled, “Climate Change and Livelihood viz-a viz Mitigation and Adaptation”, 5(five) resource persons presented papers. The session was chaired by Prof. N. Rajmohan Singh, Department of Chemistry, Manipur University.

Dr. T Brajakumar Singh, Scientific Officer, Directorate of Environment, Government of Manipur presented a paper titled, “Climate Adaptation : Issues and Strategies In Manipur”.

Dr. Irenbam Meghachandra Singh, Scientist, Indian Council of Agriculture Research, Manipur Centre, Imphal presented a paper “Sustainability of Indigenous Seeds”.

A joint paper tiled, “Impact of Climate Change on Livestock Production and strategies for its Mitigation with specific reference to Manipur State” was presented by Dr. Th. Ranadhir Singh & Prof. L. Nabachandra Singh of the Central Agricultural University, Imphal.

The fourth paper titled, “Role of Horticulture in Mitigating Climate Change” was presented by Dr. RK Dilip, Associate Professor, Central Agricultural University, Imphal.

P. Devakanta, President, All Manipur Trained Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Consortium presented a paper titled, “Climate Change and Indigenous Rice Varieties”.