TN state development policy council meeting discusses implementation of Biological Diversity Act

CHENNAI: Including the ocean biodiversity in People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR), utilizing the access and benefit-sharing (ABS) funds for the conservation of sandalwood were among the issues discussed at the state development policy council meeting held in Chennai on Monday.
A statement said a panel discussion was held on the occasion to review the implementation of the Biological Diversity Act 2002 in the state.
The aesthetic aspect of biodiversity areas in ABS was discussed during the meet. The meeting revealed that adequate numbers of trained people were required to document the available biodiversity in Tamil Nadu
There is a need to build grassroots constituencies for biodiversity conservation to make it relevant to the common man and this can be achieved by designating meritorious agrarian areas as centres of diversity, the session revealed. For instance, Kanyakumari could be identified for bananas, Villupuram for millets and Dharmapuri – Salem for mangoes and coconut. The meeting suggested that farmlands in these areas should be declared as innovation hubs.
The council discussed the requirement for documentation and incentivization of traditional knowledge systems pertaining to fishing, and meat processing. Similarly, traditional vet care systems available in areas such as Kolli hills needed to be recognized, it stated.