AHMEDABAD: Gujarat, considered a state with the most diverse eco-systems, will take serious steps in identifying its natural treasures and conserving it. Experts who met at the Centre for Environment Education ( CEE), for two-day meet as part of National Environment Awareness Campaign (NEAC), charted out the roadmap for conservation of biodiversity.
Officials of Vikram Sarabhai Centre for Development Interactions ( VIKSAT) , which is hosting and coordinating the workshop, representatives of 645 NGOs working on environment and biodiversity at the grassroots level participated in the event on Thursday and Friday. Officials added that NEAC wants to engage these organizations in actions such as the preparation of biodiversity registers at the local level, promotion of traditional medicinal practices, establishment of seed banks and encouraging farmers to use bio-pesticides and organic manure.
A P Singh, member secretary, Gujarat Biodiversity Board, said that the focus is on local communities. "We are yet to know the exact number of species an area has. After mapping that, we can know how many are extinct or endangered. To map species, we have engaged 100 organizations, with experts in botany, agronomics, fisheries and zoology at the local level, to work with the local governing bodies. We expect to double this number in the near future," he said.
He added that the board also wants to identify biodiversity heritage zones in the state. "At the moment, we have just one such zone at Jalalpur in Navsari district, where the Purna river delta has plenty of mangroves. This virgin location hosts unique biodiversity. We have to identify more such zones and this task is not possible without active involvement of local communities," said Singh.
The participants emphasized the revival of traditional knowledge. Jayshree Joshi of Institute of Social Action and Research (ISAR), a Vejalpur-based organization, said they have started distributing medicinal plants that can be grown even in the limited space of a flat. "Our grandmothers used to give us the juice of acanthaceae (ardusi) in cough and cold. Today it is difficult for the common man even to identify the plant. The symbiotic relationship of man and nature helps us conserving it without our knowledge," she said.
Comfy home for sparrows
Bharat Sureja, a participant at the workshop, brought sparrow houses made out of cardboards. "In urban areas we often complain about the disappearance of birds like the house sparrow. But few of us provide them a safe shelter. Many users of such boxes have observed that sparrows have laid eggs three times a year, sensing a secure environment. All the birds need is some feed, water and love to grow in the most congested of cities," he said.
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