Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 8: Chief Secretary, B. R. Sharma today chaired the 2nd meeting of the Jammu and Kashmir State Bio-diversity Board (JKSBB) here.
The Board approved the setting up of Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) in 12 Panchayats of the State in first instance.
The BMCs will be setup in the Panchayats of Doodu-Basantgarh, Gujjru- Nagrota, Kalaroos-Lolab, Diskit-Nubra, Drass, Duksum, Dagapora-Haran, Atholi-Gulabgarh-Padder, Marwah-Wadwan, Gurez and Bani.
The Board also approved that the Territorial DFO will be Nodal officer for constitution of BMCs in their respective jurisdiction. The BMC will have six members nominated by the Panchayat and will be mandated to prepare People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR), listing biological resources and the associated traditional knowledge available within the jurisdiction of BMC.
“These Committees will do the documentation of biological diversity/richness and chronicling of traditional knowledge which will be later consolidated and put on GIS biodiversity database”, Chief Secretary said.
Chief Secretary stressed on generating public awareness regarding conservation of biodiversity and asked the Member Secretary JKSBB to ensure that the establishment of BMCs is fast tracked.
The Board also approved constitution of Expert Committees and roping in field experts and NGOs interested in biodiversity activities to facilitate and supplement the efforts of JKSBB.
Meanwhile, it was informed in the meeting that list of threatened plants and an animal has been already submitted to the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) for notification. Similarly, the list of items of biological resources normally traded as commodities is being updated further and shall be taken up with the NBA.
Principle Secretary, Forests, Commissioner Secretary Agriculture, PCCF J&K, CWC J&K, VCs of SKUAST, Kashmir and Jammu, experts and other officers were present in the meeting.
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