The Hindu Business Line : Setting up of Biodiversity Board by Kerala lauded

THE National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has complimented the State Government for setting up a State Biodiversity Board with eminent personalities as members.

Prof S. Kannayan, Chairman, NBA, lauded the decision while inaugurating a biodiversity awareness workshop at the Central Tuber Crops Research Institute here recently.

The Biodiversity Act passed in 2002 calls for an integrated approach. Human resources play a complicated but crucial role in the process, which was a major point of discussion at the workshop.

Dr A.E. Muthunayagam, Executive Vice-President, Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment, appealed to scientists, officials, administrators, policymakers and farmers to be aware of the Act and also to offer inputs.

Mr E.K. Majhi, Secretary, Agriculture, expressed concern over the possibility of multinational corporations misusing indigenous knowledge for their own gains.

Dr A.M. Michael, Chairman, Kerala State Biodiversity Board, spoke on the aspects of biological diversity, animal resources and legal issues.

Dr S. Edison, Director, CTCRI, highlighted the role of the Biodiversity Act in providing regulated access to biological resources, creation and declaration of heritage sites and protection and rehabilitation of threatened species.