Environment Protection Training & Research Institute
National Seminar on Conservation of Eastern Ghats
December 28-29, 2007 at Chennai
Environmental Information Systems [ENVIS] Centre on Eastern Ghats has been designated as one of the decentralised centres under the information network established by the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India. The Centre established at the Environment Protection Training and Research Institute [EPTRI], Hyderabad collects, collates and disseminates information on the ecology of the Eastern Ghats. Quarterly Newsletters in English and in Telugu are published and distributed to a varied list of stakeholders. A website: http://envis-eptri.ap.nic.in is also maintained and bibliographic database is provided as a link to the website, besides the jurisdictional details of Eastern Ghats that stretch over 1,750 kms on the eastern side of Peninsular India.
EPTRI - ENVIS Centre organised a National Seminar on Conservation of Eastern Ghats on December 28-29, 2007. The event was co-sponsored by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India; Department of Environment, Government of Tamil Nadu; Forestry & Ecology Division, National Remote Sensing Agency [NRSA]; National Biodiversity Authority [NBA] and the C.P. Ramaswamy Environmental Education Centre [CPREEC].
The Concern
The concern of the stakeholders of this biogeographic belt is the large scale human activity causing grave risk to its fragile balance of eco-system. To counter these harmful effects it is imperative for environmentally conscious individuals, groups and organizations to create awareness of the importance of one of the most ecologically threatened area and garner support for its conservation.
The Effort
EPTRI - ENVIS Centre on Eastern Ghats has successfully organised two National Seminars on Conservation of the Eastern Ghats: in 1998 at Viskhapatnam and in 2002 at Tirupathi. The Proceedings of both the Seminars were published two volumes and include technical papers presented by participants from all over India covering five thematic areas: Biological, Physical and Socio-Economic Environments, Programmes and Policies and Information Systems. These publications have since been a source of reference for scholars and stakeholders of this area.
The Seminar in 2007
Shri Narayan Datt Tiwari, His Excellency, the Governor of Andhra Pradesh inaugurated the Seminar. After his inaugural address, he released a comprehensive book by the Forestry & Ecology Division, NRSA entitled "Biodiversity Characterization at Landscape level in Eastern Ghats and East Coast Using Satellite Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System" on the occasion.
Earlier, Ms. Gayathri Ramachandran, IAS., Director General EPTRI and EO Special Chief Secretary, Department of Environment, Forests, Science & Technology, Government of Andhra Pradesh welcomed the gathering. Dr. Abhijit Sen, Member Planning Commission, Government of India delivered the keynote address. Shri B.S. Parsheera, IAS., Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India; Shri R. Rajagopal, IAS., Secretary [Environment], Government of Tamil Nadu; Dr. P.S. Roy, Project Director, National DBT-DoS Biodiversity Project, NRSA; Prof. S. Kannaiyan, Chairman, National Biodiversity Authority [NBA] addressed the inaugural session. Dr. Nanditha Krishna, Hon. Director, CPREEC gave the vote of thanks.
Shri Surjit Singh Barnala, His Excellency, the Governor of Tamil Nadu addressed the valedictory function and released the Chennai Statement on Charter for Conservation of Eastern Ghats.
Mr. K.S. Neelakanthan, IFS., Chief Conservator of Forests [Biodiversity], Government of Tamil Nadu spoke about conservation of Eastern Ghats in Tamil Nadu region; Dr. Nanditha Krishna briefed about the Proceedings of the Seminar. Ms. Gayathri Ramachandran, IAS., Director General EPTRI delivered the vote of thanks.
Several scholars, academicians, conversationalists and representatives of the line departments of the respective State and Central Governments participated in the National Seminar on Conservation of the Eastern Ghats.
The Forestry & Ecology Division of the NRSA held a Plenary Session on "Geospatial Databases and Information Systems". The National Biodiversity Authority [NBA] held an exclusive session on "Biodiversity and Potential of Medicinal Plants"
A monograph comprising of the abstracts received from scholars, academicians and conversationalists under Biological, Physical and Socio-Economic Environments, Programmes and Policies and Information Systems was also released at the Seminar. The Proceedings of the Seminar shall be published with the full Papers and deliberations of the technical sessions. The contributors are former Professors, Senior Bureaucrats, scholars from colleges and Universities, scientists of NRSA, ZSI, BSI, AnSI, AP Forest Department, NBPGR, NGRI, IICT, SACON, ICRISAT, Centre for Good Governance, French Institute, Laila Impex, Central Soil & Water Conservation Research & Training Institute [CSWCRTI], Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding [IFGTB], French Institute, NGOs, CPREEC and EPTRI.
The Seminar and parallel Technical sessions were held at the Auditorium and B.M. Das Seminar Hall of Central Leather Research Institute [CLRI], Adyar, Chennai. Dr. S.P. Sharma, Statistical Advisor, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India; Dr. P.S. Roy, Deputy Director, NRSA; Dr. M.S.R. Murthy, Head - Ecology & Forestry Division, NRSA., Prof. S. Kannaiyan, Chairman, NBA., Dr. R. Hampaiah, Chairman, A.P. Biodiversity Board; Mr. Dr. M. Brahmmam, Senior Scientist, Institute of Minerals & Materials Technology [IMMT], Bhubaneswar; Mr. K. Thulsi Rao, Assistant Conservator of Forests [Biodiversity], Government of A.P. chaired the Technical Sessions.