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THE HINDU's coverage for this programme

Training programme stresses on bio-diversity conservation - 27/05/2006
V. Venkatasubramanian

KANCHEEPURAM: It was a vacation camp with a difference. It was an opportunity for the group of 30 students to realise that their country was not only rich in culture and heritage but also in bio-resources.

The students, from 15 higher secondary schools in and around Chennai and from Sri Akhilandeshwari Vidyalaya, Tiruvanaikoil, near Tiruchi, participated in a vocation training programme at Vadakadambadi village, near Mamallapuram, on May 12. A routine vacation camp, they thought. But their interest was kindled when they were provided glimpses of India's rich and varied heritage of biodiversity, encompassing a wide spectrum of habitats from tropical rainforests to alpine vegetation and from temperate forests to coastal wetlands.

Their interest grew further when the faculty members of the training programme, conducted by the A.M.M. Murugappa Chettiar Research Centre, Taramani, Chennai, in association with the Department of Biotechnology and National Bio-resources Development Board, highlighted the fact that India had 26 recognised endemic centres that were home to nearly a third of all the flowering plants identified and described in the world.

India's significant contribution in latitudinal biodiversity trend, accounting for 7.31 per cent of global fauna in spite of having a mere 2.4 per cent of the world's area, made them eager to learn more about the country's rich biodiversity.

Inaugurating the programme, R. Ranjit Daniels, director, CARE EARTH, Chennai, spoke on the need for biodiversity conservation and shared his experience on the Nilgiri Thar diversity analysis and research studies on the Western Ghats.

The main objectives of the programme is to make the younger generation realise the value of biological resources, understand the importance of locally available bio-resources, their sustainability and conservation, said S. Seshadri, Deputy Director, MCRC, Taramani.

Guest lectures by teaching faculties from University of Madras, Anna University, Zoological Survey of India, MSSRF and Institute of Ornithology, Rishi Valley School, Andhra Pradesh, were arranged apart from allowing the participants to take up "do it yourself exercises" such as enumeration of flora and fauna, soil classification, organic farming and plant tissue culture said course coordinator V. Chakrapani.

The training programme will conclude on June 10.

Courtesy:
 

Programme on bioresources for students - 18.6.2006

Staff Reporter

http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/18/stories/2006061816710200.htm

CHENNAI: A programme on bioresources was conducted for students at Shri M.V. Arunachalam Technology Resource Centre, Vadakkambadi.

The valedictory function of the 30-day vacation training programme was celebrated on June 10. K. Venkataraman, member secretary, National Biodiversity Authority, spoke on the importance of preserving the ecosystem. He released two books, Technology Manual and Resource Manual, which were distributed to the students.

Mr. Venkataraman said that diversity was much greater in the sea than on land or freshwater in the higher taxonomic levels.

"The marine ecosystem is dominated by different plants and animals, thus forming a variety of ecosystem types, including highly productive salt marsh and mangrove ecosystems, sea grass, reefs dominated by marine algae and invertebrates, sponges, bryozoan beds, and shelly mud habitats," he said.

Marine ecosystems and their diversity are important for various reasons, such as the ecological services they provide. Some of the ecological service are pollutant absorption, climate regulation, prevention of coastal and seabed erosion, maintenance of water quality, storage and recycling of nutrients, and the production of some kinds of sand and rock, food, medicines and industrial products, recreational benefits, and research and education. They also act as indicators of environmental change, he said.

He also spoke about the importance of coral reefs. The survival of coral reefs, which have been around for 20 million years, has become uncertain owing to global warming, and pollution, among other factors. These factors have led to a decrease in the coral population.

"The corals are vulnerable because they are near coastlines and near the surface of the ocean. Healthy coral reefs foster diversity of species. Fungi, sponges, molluscs, oysters, clams, crabs, shrimps, sea urchins, turtles and many fish seek food and shelter amid the reefs," he said.

He described how sea cucumbers, worms and molluscs burrow into sand generated by the reefs to hide from their enemies. Pointing out that more than 50 per cent of the corals in the Indian Ocean were lost, he said that the intensity of the tsunami could have been decreased if the corals in the ocean had been conserved.

K. Perumal, Senior Scientist, Murugappa Chettiar Resource Centre; S. Seshadri, Deputy Director and Head; and V. Chakrapani, course co-ordinator, participated in the programme. Sixteen representatives from schools and parents of 30 students participated in the programme.

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Related other links of The Hindu's coverage on MCRC activities:

• Traditional technologies making a comeback  - 2004/09/21
• Nature is the resource - 2002/06/17