Samalochana and ExhibitionInternational Biodiversity Day celebrations were jointly organized by Andhra Pradesh Biodiversity Board and Acharya N G .Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad on Thursday the 22 May 2008 at Krishi Vignana Kendra of ANGRAU (Utukuru), Chinta Komma Dinne Mandal of Kadapa district in AP state.
BACKGROUND : International day for Biological Diversity (IBD) is associated with the commitment of world nations to the convention on biological diversity (CBD), 1993. The United Nations proclaimed May 22, the IBD to increase the understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. When first created by the second committee of the UN general assembly in late 1993, 29 December (the date of entry into force of the convention of biological diversity), was designated the international day for biological diversity. In December 2000, the UN general assembly adopted 22 May as IBD, to commemorate the adoption of the text of the convention on 22 May 1992 by the Nairobi final act of the conference for the adoption of the agreed text of the convention on biological diversity.
The celebrations of International biodiversity day were marked with the presentation of issues concerning promotion of awareness, protection and conservation of biodiversity among the people in general. Training representative farmers and various social and voluntary organizations is one of the means towards creating awareness and generally aimed at conservation of naturally existing biodiversity. It is therefore in line with this generally acceptable assumption, the occasion provided a platform for experts on biodiversity to present before the well informed and intelligent audience consisting of scientists, officials of forest department, intellectuals and public representatives especially those concerned with the erosion of naturally existing biodiversity, farmers around whose lives inseparable relationship with the biodiversity exists and those concerned voluntary organizations rendering selfless service towards conservation and restoration of eroded biodiversity.
The celebrations envisaged by the AP biodiversity Board especially Dr R Hampaiah, Chairman of the Board whose keen interest in fulfilling the mandate of the Board combined with his energetic Member Secretary of the Board, Dr.V.B. Ramana Murthy have culminated into these befitting celebrations in our state. The board consisting of members with expertise from different walks of life discussed threadbare through number of meetings and discussions and arrived at a broad consensus on the understanding of the existing biodiversity as a whole, threat to the biodiversity posed by the humans directly, the dynamics of climate change and global warming which again are squarely linked to human interventions with the nature indirectly, and the board’s modest attempts to finding solutions.
The inaugural session was started with the welcome address by Dr. V.B. Ramana Murthy, member secretary of the AP Biodiversity Board followed by Keynote address by Dr. P. Raghava Reddy, VC, ANGRAU and the Chairman’s address by Dr. Hampaiah and A.P. Bio-diversity News letter was released. Speakers have attempted to highlight the importance of biodiversity conservation in the light of its erosion due to human interventions. First day cover on the occasion of international biodiversity day was released by Post Master General of A.P. A brain storming session (Samalochana) was conducted where information on the erosion and conservation of biodiversity was exchanged and the imminent dangers lurking were discussed followed by identification of focused steps for conservation. Expert speakers on subject matters viz., Biological diversity act & rule, peoples biodiversity registers, traditional knowledge systems, conservation of wild life, endangered plant species, red sanders etc., delivered the message in a detailed and lucid manner. Dr. K.S. Varaprasad, Head of the NBPGR Regional Station Hyderabad; Prof.G.Sudarsanam, Department of Botany, SV University, Tirupati ; Sri T.V.Subbareddy, DFO, Kadapa and Dr.Jagannath (BNHS), Budwel were some of the expert speakers on biodiversity issues. Also opportunity was given to farmers and representatives of voluntary organizations to present their points of view on biodiversity.
An exhibition was arranged at the venue where several exhibits on wild life from forest department, voluntary organizations and NBPGR . NBPGR scientists displayed several plant species of rare and endangered nature viz., Rauvofia serpentina, Centella asiatica, Andrographis paniculata, Aristolochia sp, Cycas beddomei etc. Several live plant specimens and photographs depicting the importance of biodiversity and its conservation were displayed by the staff of forest department ANGRAU and farmers.
Chief Guest Dr.Y.S.Rajashekar Reddy, Honorable Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh joined the celebrations during the later part of the day. Dr Reddy inaugurated the Krishi Vignan Kendra and addressed the audience on the initiatives from the government and various other government and public sector organizations on creating awareness about the imminent dangers associated with the depleting natural resources, erosion of biodiversity and the need for intervention to stop this process. The eventful day concluded with the felicitation of Dr.K.S.Varaprsad, Principal Scientist and Head of the NBPGR Regional Station, and four farmers from across the state for their dynamic and selfless service in bringing awareness among people on biodiversity and the significance attached for its conservation.
A report by Dr B Sarath Babu, Principal Scientist, NBPGR Regional Station, Hyderabad
Invitation
GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH
ANDHRA PRADESH BIO-DIVERSITY BOARD
&
Acharya N.G.Ranga, Agricultural University
Cordially invites you to
The International Bio-Diversity day Celebrations
Samalochana and Exhibition
on Thursday the 22 May 2008 at 11:45 AM
at Krishi Vignana Kendra
of ANGRAU ( Utukuru)
Chinta Komma Dinne Mandal Kadapa District.
Hon'ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. :
Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has consented to the Chief Guest.
Presided by Dr. R. Hampaiah, Chairman, A.P Biodiversity Board, Hyderabad
all are cordially welcome.
Guests of Honour
1. Sri A. Sai Pratap, Hon'ble Member of Parliament
2. Sri Y. S. Vivekananda Reddy, Hon'ble Member of Parliament
3. Sri C. Rama Chandraiah, Hon'ble Member of Parliament
4. Sri N. Raghuveera Reddy, Hon'ble Minister for Agriculture, Agricultural Technology
Mission, Horticulture, Sericulture, Rain Shadow Area Development
5. Sri G. Mohan Reddy, Hon'ble MLA, Lakkireddypalli
6. Sri Pocha Reddy, Subba Reddy, Hon'ble MLC
7. Sri Shaik Hussain, Hon'ble MLC
8. Sri Putha Narasimha Reddy, Hon'ble MLC
9. Sri M. Venkata Siva Reddy, Hon'ble MLC
10. Sri Gurrala Gangaiah, Hon'ble MPP
11. Sri M. Savitramma, Hon'ble ZPTC
12. Sri B. Venkata Subba Reddy, Hon'ble MPTC
Special Invitees:
1. Sri M.T. Krishna Babu, I.A.S., Collector & District Magistrate, Kadapa
2. Sri D.A Somayajulu, Vice Chairman, Agricultural Technology Mission ,Hyderabad
3. Dr. P. Raghava Reddy, Vice Chancellor, ANGRAU, Rajendra Nagar, Hyderabad
4.. Smt. Yesodhara Menon, I.. Po .S., Chief Postmaster General, Hyderabad
Inagural Session :
1. Welcome Guests of Honors on the Dias
2. Lighting of Lamp
3. Welcome address by Member Secretary A.P. Bio-diversity
4. Key note address by Dr. P. Raghava Reddy, Vice Chancellor, ANGRAU
5. Address by Chief Guest.
6. Release of A.P. Bio-diversity News letter
7. Release of first day cover by Post Master General of A.P
8.Felicitation of Awardees
9. Address by Guests of Honor
10. Presidential address
11. Vote of Thanks by DFO, Kadapa
SESSION- I: 1. Biological Diversity Act & Rules
2. Bio- Diversity Management committee
3. Peoples Bio-diversity Register
SESSION - II: Agro- Biodiversity of A.P.
Dr. K. S. Vara Prasad, NBPGR, Hyderabad
SESSION - III: Traditional Knowledge systems (Mungari Molaka)
Prof. G.Sudarsanam, S.V. University, Tirupati
SESSION- IV : Conservation of Red Sanders initiatives
Sri K. Suryanarayana D.F.O., Nandyal.
Sri Y. Srinivasulu Reddy D.F.O., WLM Rajampeta
SESSION - V : Conservation of Jerdon's courser
Sri T.V. Subba Reddy D.F.O., Kadapa
Dr. P. Jegannath, (BNHS), Budwel.
