The Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) was signed by the world leaders in the Earth Summit at the Rio De Janerio in June 1992 acknowledging the importance of biodiversity for survival and development of human beings.
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Correspondent
With the active support of the forest department, district administration and rural development department, Nagaland, the Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) have been constituted in the State in 1266 villages out of the 1285 villages for achieving the objectives of the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD).
The constitution of BMC in remaining villages of the State is in progress.
According to an official bulletin, Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) and member secretary, Nagaland State Biodiversity Board (NSBB), Supongnukshi, on behalf of the board has appealed to the public, Government officials, Village Councils, army and para military personnel, students, NGOs and other stakeholders for protection and conservation of biodiversity.
Stating that the survival of human beings and animals, both directly as well as indirectly, depends on biodiversity; as their basic needs in the form of food, water, and shelter are met from biodiversity, Supongnukshi also said in addition to these tangible benefits, biodiversity plays a key role in carbon sequestration, amelioration of environment and climate change.
He also informed any applicant, seeking extraction of biological resources for research or commercial purpose may apply to the Nagaland State Biodiversity Board.
The Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) was signed by the world leaders in the Earth Summit at the Rio De Janerio in June 1992 having realized the importance of biodiversity for survival and development of human beings.
Different countries of the world enacted Acts and framed rules for conservation of biodiversity, its sustainable use and equitable distribution of benefits accruing of its use and associated traditional knowledge.
In India, the Biodiversity Act was passed in 2002 and the Biodiversity Rules were framed in 2004 for achieving the mentioned objectives.
The Biodiversity Act had been ratified by the State Legislators and the Nagaland Biodiversity Rules 2012 had been made for biodiversity conservation.
The content of the Section 7 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, includes that no person, who is a citizen of India or a body corporate, association or organisation which is registered in India shall obtain any biological resources for commercial utilisation, or bio-survey and bio-utilisation for commercial utilisation except after giving prior intimation to the State Biodiversity Board concerned; provided that the provision of this section shall not apply to the local people and communities of the area, including growers and cultivators of biodiversity, and “vaids and hakims”, who have been practicing indigenous medicine (prior intimation to State Biodiversity Board for obtaining biological resources for certain purposes).