Biodiversity has tools to fight Covid: Experts

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 22

To mark International Biodiversity Day, Pushpa Gujaral Science City today organised a webinar to create an awareness on the significance of biological diversity and the nature, especially during the present Covid-19 crisis.

The webinar focused on the theme ‘Our solutions are in nature’. Director General, Pushpa Gujaral Science City, Dr Neelima Jerath, who was founder member secretary of the Punjab Biodiversity Board for 10 years, welcomed the speakers.

She pointed out that biodiversity was a global asset of tremendous value, which had not only ensured the stability of ecosystems and food security, but had also directed trade and commerce in the past. However, man’s actions were leading to the destruction of habitats and loss of many species, the potential of which was yet to be realised.

She said the Covid pandemic had brought this into focus and year 2020 was a time to realise the importance of living in harmony with the nature and reflect upon their actions.

Principal Secretary, Science, Technology and Environment, Punjab, Alok Shekhar said if biodiversity was kept intact, it would offer excellent tools to fight against pandemics.

Sujit Kumar Bajpayee, Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, in his message, said the preservation of biodiversity was the only answer to many challenges, which were being faced by the humanity globally, despite all technological advancements achieved so far. It was high time to recognise the significance of biodiversity in their daily requirements of food, medicines, livelihoods and ecosystem services.

Underlining that life cannot be separated from the nature, Dr VB Mathur, Chairman, National Biodiversity Authority, said the current year theme signified that people were part of the nature and it was their bounden duty to preserve biological diversity. Ancient philosophy had been focusing on the earth as their ‘mother’ and all of them should pledge to protect it to live a bountiful and happy life.

Head of biodiversity, United Nations Development Programme, Ruchi Pant, in her recorded message, advised to abstain from injudicious use and over exploitation of natural resources and reaffirm commitment towards conservation in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, which had shaken the entire world.

A well-known biodiversity expert and former UNESCO specialist, Dr Ram Boojh, mentioned that Covid-19 was a reminder that the human health was linked to the planet’s health.

Other speakers at the event were Dr PS Roy, adviser, International Crops Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropics, and Former Director, IIRS, ISRO; Jatinder Sharma, former Joint Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Govt of India, and Dr AK Gupta, Dean, Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions.

Online events

Science city also organised online photography and story writing competitions for children and the general public. Selected entries will be published in an e-book of stories. Winners will be declared on World Environment Day.