Hyderabad, October 4 : Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Thursday reviewed the progress of the COP-11 being held in Hyderabad and also the advantages Andhra Pradesh have from the biodiversity conference.
The Chief Minister enquired from various departments the steps being taken by Andhra Pradesh in protecting the Biodiversity. Officials told the Chief Minister as on Thursday, 1220 delegates from 164 countries are participating in the Biodiversity meet and it is going on successfully and all the international delegates are happy about the arrangements.
The Chief Minister said that for the first time in the history of Andhra Pradesh, about Rs 6,000 crore have been allotted for agriculture and allied sectors like animal husbandry, horticulture, fisheries and related departments in this current financial year's budget.
Special Chief Secretary (Environment and Forests) M Samuel, PCCF AP Biodiversity Board Chairman S V Kumar and other senior officials attended the meeting.
The Chief Minister stressed the need to take the concept of biodiversity down to the schools, colleges, farmers, tribals and villages. He also asked the officials to take steps to protect the rare animals of Andhra Pradesh like the Ongole cattle, Punganur cows, Nellore sheep and other rate species of birds and animals in Chittoor and Anantapur forests. He also wanted the plantation of medicinal and aromatic plants to be taken up in a big way.
Regarding the biodiversity, the officials explained that the total Geographic area in Andhra Pradesh is 275.07 lakh hectares while area under forest cover 63.81 lakh ha which amounts to about 23 per cent of the total area. Andhra Pradesh is endowed with a rich Biodiversity of Plants and Animals. There are 103 species of Mammals, 365 species of Birds, 78 species of Reptiles, 21 Species of Amphibians 901 species of Fishes 3150 Species of plants.
Endemic fauna like Jerdon’s Courser, Golden gecko, Slender loris and important flora like Cycas beddomei, Shorea robusta, Red sanders, Shorea talura are found in Andhra Pradesh.
The State Government has constituted Biodiversity Board in 2006 and so far, over 500 biodiversity management committees have been formed at the village level. Biodiversity Conservation in Andhra Pradesh is done both in situ and ex situ.
Under Ex-situ conservation, there are three Zoological parks, seven Deer parks, two Animal Rescue Centers and conservation breeding centers. There are 21 Wildlife Sanctuaries, six National Parks, two Tiger Reserves, one Elephant Reserve, one Biosphere Reserve, Protected Area Cover is 13.05 Lakh ha which is equal to 4.72 per cent of geographical area. Wetland ecosystem and mangrove ecosystems are adequately represented in the State.
In order to elicit people’s participation in conservation of biodiversity, Eco-Development Committees (EDCs) have been formed. Engagement of local tribals and villagers in protection and management of biodiversity are being formed. To elicit cooperation of villagers inside and on the advantages of the Protected Areas (PAs) and to ensure their Livelihoods, Eco-Development activities under various schemes like, Project Tiger scheme of GOI, CAMPA, Community Based Eco- Tourism (CBET) and BIOSAP scheme are being implemented.
The Biodiversity Board officials explained that Biodiversity means variety of life on earth. It manifests itself at three levels: Genetic Level, Species Level and Ecosystem Level which tells the variety of habitats, biological communities and ecological processes.
India, being one of the 12 mega biodiversity countries, is a signatory to the 1992 Rio De Janeiro declaration adopted at the Biodiversity Summit. This conference was participated by 193 countries and the declaration insisted conservation, sustainable development and benefit sharing to local communities. Following this, India has adopted the Biodiversity Act, 2001. India has the diversity ranging from high altitude alpines to tropical, deserts, coastal marine and mangrove wild habitats. It accounts for over 45,000 plant species, 91,000 animals species on 2.4% of world’s land area. We have 583 cultivated crops species and 1,500 wild edible plants. In order to protect the above life forms and being the party to the CBD, India promulgated Biodiversity Act – 2002 which was adopted by all the States by framing Biodiversity Rules.
To implement the Biological Diversity Act, following authorities have been constituted at three different levels: National Biodiversity Authority at National level, State Biodiversity Board at State level and Biodiversity management committee at local level. Mandate of AP State Biodiversity Board is to identify important species of plants, animals and fishes for commercial utilization, Bio-prospecting, to constitute Biodiversity management committees at local body level in order to secure and create livelihood to the people, utilization the biodiversity for health and food security and conserve the local and endemic species having different level of threat status.
A network of 668 Protected Areas (PA) has been established throughout India (4.9 per cent of Geographical India), comprising 102 National Parks, 515 Wildlife sanctuaries, 47 Conservation reserves, 4 Community reserves, 40 Tiger reserves, 28 Elephant reserves.
The State Government has created a network integrated protected system covering 4 biotic provinces. There are 6 National Parks, 21 Wildlife sanctuaries, 1 Biosphere reserve comprising 13000 sq. kms, out of 63,180 sq. kms., forest area. It gives specific attention to the endangered species like the tiger-II sanctuaries have been notified as the tiger reserves. One of this is the largest tiger reserve of India popularly known as Nagarjuna Sagar Srisailam Tiger reserve (5900 sq. km.)
A prestigious biodiversity Research Laboratory has been established at Srisailam for inventorisation of species, Biodiversity studies, Habitat and rare and endangered Species Management studies, Livelihood studies, Eco technology studies and to develop biodiversity GIS model for better conservation programmes. Inventories revealed the existence of new species and still there are many unexplored species.
- INN
(To subscribe to INN News & Photo Service for your Website/Publications Contact: inn.custcare@gmail.com)
