Celebration of International Day for Biological Diversity 2017 at Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Board, Chennai, India

22 May, 2017

International day for Biological Diversity was celebrated at Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Board (TNBB) in association with Tamil Nadu Forest Department and Tamil Nadu Conservation Greening Project on 22nd May 2017.

To create awareness among public, a biodiversity walk was organised at a prominent location in Chennai, Elliots Beach, Besant Nagar in the morning on 22nd May. Volunteers from Tree Foundation Chennai participated along with fishermen community of the region. There was a heartening response received from public, having about 160 people participated in the 3 km along the beach.

A series of events will be held across Tamil Nadu to create awareness on importance of biodiversity conservation in the coming weeks.

The Hon’ble Minister for Forests, Thiru. Dindigul. C. Srinivasan addressing the gathering at IDB organized by Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Board

The Hon’ble Minister for Forests, Government of Tamil Nadu, Thiru. Dindigul. C. Srinivasan inaugurated the IDB, 2017 celebrations. The event focused on the central theme for this year “Biodiversity & Sustainable Tourism”. Senior officials from Govt. of Tamil Nadu, Thiru. Md. Nasimuddin, IAS - Principal Secretary E & F, Thiru. P.C Tyagi, IFS , PCCF & CWLW (HoFF), Dr. Basuvaraju, IFS - PCCF (HoD), R.K Upadhaya, IFS, PCCF, T.P Raghunath, IFS - PCCF & CPD, TBGP, and Dr. Shekhar Kumar Neeraj, IFS, Member Secretary in-charge TNBB addressed the gathering on the various aspects of biodiversity, its conservation with a focus on Tamil Nadu.

Interaction with Hon’ble Minister for Forests, Thiru. Dindigul. C. Srinivasan and other senior officials of Govt. of Tamil Nadu

The Hon’ble Minister for Forests, Thiru. Dindigul. C. Srinivasan, who is also Chairperson of the Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Board highlighted the activities of the Board in his speech and made reference to the Indo-German project on Access and Benefit Sharing for strengthening the activities of the Board and establishing the BMC in the state of Tamil Nadu. He distributed cash incentives to members of the Irula community as part of the revenue sharing mechanism. He also launched first forest drone in Tamil Nadu developed through WII, India.

Biodiversity Walk at Elliots Beach, Besant Nagar, Chennai.

Various talks emphasised the importance of biodiversity conservation, sustainable utilization and community based approaches. About 200 people participated in the event.

TNBB along with GIZ India through Access and Benefit Sharing Project will be holding workshops in Tamil Nadu for creating awareness on biodiversity in June 2017.