The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Biodiversity authority to institute award

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Friday, Feb 20, 2009
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Biodiversity authority to institute award

P. Oppili

State bio-diversity boards will be entrusted with the task of identifying the awardees

CHENNAI: The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) will institute an award to honour individuals, communities and non-governmental organisations for their contribution to conservation of the bio-diversity, chairman P.L.Gautam has said.

In an interview to The Hindu, Dr. Gautam said the State bio-diversity boards would be entrusted with the task of identifying individuals, communities and NGOs that helped to conserve natural resources. They would be honoured a cash prize. The Authority was evolving guidelines for distribution of the award, which would be announced soon.

Efforts were also on to create a National Bio-diversity Fund. The State bio-diversity boards needed to contribute to the fund, which would be tapped for cash awards, Dr. Gautam said.

Talking about identifying ‘bio-diversity heritage’ sites, he said 22 States had formed the bio-diversity boards, which should identify sites and make a recommendation to the Authority, which would confer on the status on the sites identified.

Utilising the services of universities, colleges, NGOs and other institutions, the NBA wanted to create awareness of the country’s varied bio-diversity.

The Authority has chosen ‘Invasive alien species management and control’ as the theme for this year’s International Bio-diversity Day, to be observed on May 22.

It would organise painting, oratorical and elocution competitions for school and college students.

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