IMPHAL, May 22: Preservation, conservation and restoration of our biological diversity need a collective effort with full participation from government and the younger generations, said minister of forest and environment I Hemochandra.
Speaking as the chief guest during the observation of International Day of Biological Diversity 2016 at Manipur Film Development Corporation today, he said that the present situation demands a joint effort because government does not have the capability to do it alone.
“Let us start a new trend of planting a rare tree on each occasion of a new baby born being instead of expending money uselessly. Let’s set a new goal with volunteers’ contribution to start a green movement. We have been reaching out to the next generation by engaging them in essay and photography competitions,” he said.
States like Karnataka have profited through promotion of their wild life and the sanctuary park in the state earns Rs 22 crores in two years just from ticket sales from visitors who came to see the tigers there, he said. Fortunately, Manipur have the dual benefit of lying inside the Himalayan and Myanmar biodiversity zones, besides owning several wetland areas and the Loktak Lake, the minister continued. We must work hard to retain and restore our environment and its beauty. So we must adopt a policy in this regard with a long term vision covering at least 50 years, Hemochandra said.
President of the function and state’s chief secretary O Nabakeshore said that each person in the state must understand that Manipur is a hot biodiversity spot as elaborated by other speakers at the function. After we understand the values of our unique condition together we can reap its benefits, he stated adding that everyone must contribute through their favourable mediums in order to protect wild life and further procrastination will be bring only regrets.
Dr M Homeshwor, director of environment, said that since the last ten years the environment department has established some biological parks and process is on for more addition to the list. Last week under the initiative of the minister he had visited Lamphelpat in connection with the development of the area as a green park zone for conservation of the rich biodiversity resources available there.
During the function the prizes for photography and essay writing competitions were distributed to 12 persons. A pollinator mobile application to identify species birds, plants and fish easily was launched as part of the programme. The theme of the observation was Mainstreaming Biodiversity, Sustaining People and Their Livelihood and was organized by the department of forest and environment.