State Level Consultation Meet on National Biodiversity Targets and Preparation of India’s Sixth National Report on Biodiversity to United Nations

Chandigarh, August 9, 2018: Punjab Biodiversity Board (PBB) and Natural Biodiversity Society of Panjab University, Chandigarh with the technical and financial support of National Biodiversity Authority, Govt. of India organized State Level Consultation Meet on National Biodiversity Targets and India’s Sixth National Report to United Nations' Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on Aug 9, 2018 at MGCIPA Complex Chandigarh. Sh. Gurharminder Singh from Punjab Biodiversity Board apprised that major objectives of the Meet was to seek inputs from various stakeholders of Punjab and Chandigarh for preparation of India's Sixth National Report to CBD and enhancing the awareness about National Biodiversity Targets & related issues. Dr. Arun Bansal, Natural Biodiversity briefed that about 100 representatives of about 60 government departments, members of District, Block and Village BMCs, Academic and Research Institutions, proactive NGOs working in the area of Biodiversity Conservation, media etc attended the meet. The event was marked success with facts like two friends have created their own Jungle at their private land, Organic farming efforts by individual farmers, setting up of biodiversity parks, wild animal rescue and rehabilitation, identification and documentation of important medicinal plants, conservation of native species, use of ICT resources for planning and monitoring of biodiversity, networking and channelization of biodiversity related resources etc. Dr. Roshan Sunkaria IAS, Principal Secretary to Govt. of Punjab, Department of Science Technology & Environment along with Dr. Jatinder kaur Arora, Executive Director, PSCST cum Member Secretary, Punjab Biodiversity Board inaugurated the meet. Dr. Paramjit Singh, Director, Botanical Survey of India, Kolkatta delivered keynote. Two posters on endangered species of Faridkot District prepared by Punjab Biodiversity Board and Nodal Officer, District BMC were released on the occasion. All the participants who made sustained efforts towards conservation of biodiversity uploaded their activities towards creating awareness on biodiversity and conservation initiatives on Govt. of India portal (nationalreport6.in) during the workshop. All the inputs of the workshop will be considered by Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change, GoI for incorporation in National Report of India as well as progress achieved towards fulfilling the Twelve National Biodiversity Targets. The Government of India will submit the report to CBD Secretariat, Montreal by Dec 2018.