Kohima, 22 May (MTNews): The Nagaland State Biodiversity Board (NSBB) emphasized the need of protecting biological resources for the well-being of future generations as International Day for Biodiversity was observed. With a large amount of Nagaland’s forests held by communities, the board emphasized the importance of comprehensive plans to ensure the continuous provision of key ecosystem services.
The NSBB’s message emphasized the need of incorporating biodiversity concerns into planning and implementation processes, emphasizing the significance of biodiversity. Adoption of traditional knowledge and community management of natural resources were also highlighted as critical components in preserving the state’s ecological diversity.
Recognizing the importance of collective responsibility for biodiversity conservation, the NSBB encouraged all stakeholders, including biodiversity management committees, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academic institutions, government agencies, law enforcement authorities, women’s and church organizations, and all citizens, to actively participate in preserving Nagaland’s rich biodiversity.
The NSBB noted the global reduction in biodiversity as well as world leaders’ subsequent adoption of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). In accordance with the CBD’s objectives of conservation, sustainable utilization and equitable benefit sharing, India passed the Biodiversity Act in 2002 and the Biological Diversity Rules in 2004. Nagaland has ratified the Biodiversity Act of 2002 and put the Nagaland Biodiversity Rules of 2012 into effect.
As mandated by the Biodiversity Act, Biodiversity Management Committees have been established in all villages across Nagaland. These committees have documented all biological resources in the form of a comprehensive People’s Biodiversity Register.
Nagaland’s biodiversity was described as exceptionally rich, encompassing diverse forests, flora, fauna, agriculture, horticulture, and aquatic ecosystems. The state’s unique position within the Indo-Malayan biodiversity hotspot and the eastern Himalayan endemic bird area was attributed to its varied climatic conditions, elevation gradients, and vegetation types.
The NSBB highlighted some remarkable features of Nagaland’s biodiversity, including the presence of the world’s tallest rhododendron tree and rare orchids such as the tiger orchid (grammatophyllum speciosum), cymbidium tigrinum, and bulbophyllum rothschildianum.
Emphasizing the importance of local plant species in adapting to changing climatic conditions, the NSBB stated that Nagaland’s unique floral and faunal biodiversity serves as insurance against the adverse impacts of climate change.