St. Bede’s International Biodiversity Conference: Experts debate current scenario and future strategies

SHIMLA- Department of Zoology and Botany of St. Bede’s College, Shimla has organized a three day International Conference from October 6-8 on the topic ‘Biodiversity Current Scenario and Future Strategies’. The conference is  sponsored by the State Council for Science, Technology and Environment, Himachal Pradesh.

On the first day of the conference, Ajay Kumar Lal, Director Environment, Science and Technology made the audience aware about the diverse ecosystem. The key note speaker P.L Gautam, Vice Chancellor, Career Point University, Hamirpur presented a PPT on Biodiversity explaining its value, importance and conservation. He said that India was a storehouse of biodiversity and we must protect and preserve it.

In the second session, the Panel discussion began in afternoon wherein the experts from various fields of diversity shared their views. The panelists for the discussion were Dr. B.K Tyagi, Dr. S.P. Bhardwaj, Dr. Nivedita Sharma, Dr Kamlesh Asotra and Dr. A.D Ahluwalia.

The chairperson was Dr. S.P. Bhardwaj, Founder, secretary and editor Pest Management. The rapporteur for the discussion was Dr. Vinod Kumari. Dr. S.P. Bhardwaj gave a PPT on Insect Biodiversity. He emphasized on the importance of pollination. Dr. B.K. Tyagi gave his presentation on Insect Biodiversity and Conservation Policy in India.

Then, Dr. Nivedita Sharma spoke about microbes, being integral part of the biodiversity. The next panelist was Dr. A.D Ahluwalia who put forth few pertinent, concise points on biodiversity. Dr. Kamlesh Asotra further gave interesting examples of how humans are using insects as a biocontrol. The panel discussion came to an end with Dr. Shramja Munjal inviting the dignitaries to be felicitated.

In the first technical session, Dr. A.D Ahluwalia and Dr. Prakash Lohar as the Resource persons invited talk. The Chairman of the session was Dr. B.K Tyagi and the rapporteur was Dr. Meenakshi Nandal. Dr.

Ahluwalia spoke on ‘A palaeontological perspective of excitement and challenges of story of life on earth’. He focused on beauty, grandeur, mysteries and history of life on mother earth. He said that the earth does not belong to us but we belong to the earth.

The precious species are becoming extinct. Dr. Prakash Lohar explained ‘the importance of molecular markers in the calibration of species diversity among freshwater fish of Northern Maharashtra’. He talked about different types of markers, randomly amplified polymorphic DNA and electrophoresis.S

Second technical session dealt with oral and poster presentations by the delegates on biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture and forestry and desertification.

The chief guest for the first day inaugural session was Tarun Kapoor, Principal Secretary, Environment, Science and Technology.

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