Seminar on Climate Change and Biodiversity concludes
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network

Imphal, September 30 2011: The two-day national workshop on the "Impact of climate change on biodiversity management in northeast India with particular reference to Manipur" concluded here at Classic Hotel today with the pronouncement of several key recommendations.

Northeast India has to take a very important and strategic role in combating climate change and preserving its biodiversity because of its large forest cover, said BK Chaturvedi, member (NE) planning commission, at the valedictory session of workshop.

He said because of the rich flora and fauna, large forest area, wetlands, lakes and rivers, Manipur must lead the way in preventing and cushioning the impact of climate change and added that India has pledged to reduce 20-25 percent of its greenhouse gas emission in the next 15 years.

IPCC chairman Pachouri told the media conference that "we should preserve and conserve our culture and heritage and try to save our plants and animals while combating climate change" .

He said that the recommendations of today's workshop will be considered while drafting the national 12th biodiversity plan and added that every state has a major contribution in sensitizing the society about the issue of climate change, dwindling biodiversity and rapidly changing global ecosystem.

VK Nautiyal, principal chief conservator of forest, government of Meghalaya, expressed optimism that "our stage is manageable." He observed that the rate of growth of population in India has become the chief factor in combating issues related to climate change.

"The population growth rate of India was 44 crores which clocked 120 crores during the last decade according to the official figure," he said and added that it has become a huge challenge to balance the population with nature and its limited resources.

Prof.NHK Sharma, Vice Chancellor or Manipur University said that the workshop has given a better perspective on the whole issue surrounding climate change and its likely consequences, thereby drawing up roadmap to control environmental degradation for greener future.

" Each and every one of us are responsible in keeping our ecosystem friendly," he said.

Acknowledging the biodiversity hotspot of the northeast India, a press release of the working groups of the workshop said despite the high dependence of 225 indigenous communities on the biodiversity, the region is threatened by a number of factors.

Noting that the impacts of climate change on biodiversity of the region are recognized recently, the release said climate model predicts 2-3.5 degree Celsius increase in temperature and 280-500 mm increase in precipitation in the northeast region by 2030 which may cause severe impact and significant changes on the biodiversity of the region.

The workshop noted that to start acting requires an ongoing process to anticipate how ecosystems will respond to vitiations in climate, while interacting with others, as some species will die out, others will persist, and some will migrate, forming new combinations of ecosystems.

The key task of addressing vulnerability and adaptation needs, require local monitoring networks, understanding of regional and global scenarios, assesment and awareness at state, district and community levels, the workshop asserted.

Following two-day deliberation of experts, policy makers and governemnt officials, the workshop has come up with several recommendations.

Recommendations of the working group on forestry, wildlife and ecotourism are: to check deforestation and degradation; to reduce pressure on forests; to control forest fires; to promote sequestration of atmospheric carbon and to empower community through forest management, wildlife conservation, ecotourism and sustainable utilization of NTFP.

Recommendations of the working group on shifting cultivation and other indigenous agricultural practices are: conservation of indigenous varieties of agricultural crops, adaptation strategies to minimize impact of climate change and restoration of abandoned hum lands.

Recommendations of the working group on wetland and fisheries are: inter alia, comprehensive and long term management action plan, new notification on all wetlands of NE India, preparation of MAP for high altitude wetland, compiling of adequate research database on wetlands of Manipur, devising institutional mechanism/integration/R and D, scientific management of all important river basins, economic utilization of biomass, capacity building and documentation of indigenous traditional knowledge, synergy issues and convergence of activities, conservation of indigenous fishes and fish biodiversity and encouragement of cold water fish conservation at high altitude and inland fisheries.

BK Chaturvedi, released people's biodiversity register of (a) Mondum Mahadeva (b) L Gunphai (c) N Songlung, while SN Brahmo Chaudhury, advisor, planning commision, released a report on local health traditions of Manipur.

The valedictory session of the workshop was chaired by BK Chaturvedi while VK Nautiyal was the president of the session.

Prof.HNK Sharma, VC MU, and Prof.N Iboton Singh, dean Central Agricultural University, Imphal were the guests of honor.

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