“Ek Bharat Sharetha Bharat programme” – Webinar By HIMCOSTE

The HP ENVIS Hub of HP Council for Science Technology and Environment (HIMCOSTE) has celebrated International Day for Biological Diversity by organizing a webinar on biodiversity of Himachal Pradesh under “Ek Bharat Sharetha Bharat programme”. The chief guest of the program was Sh. Sat Pal Dhiman, Joint Member Secretary, HIMCOSTE. In his key note address he informed that the United Nations has proclaimed May 22 as the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. He also spoke about the importance of biodiversity and its relationship with humans. He apprised about the direct impact of humans on biodiversity because humans are the dominating species on earth that is damaging environment for their greed. He stressed the need for conservation of biodiversity.

During the webinar presentations on different aspects of biodiversity of Himachal Pradesh were done by Dr. Vaneet Jishtu, Scientist, HFRI, Shimla, Dr. S.P. Bhardwaj, Joint Director (Retd.) UHF, Nauni, Solan and Sh. Rajesh Kumar Sharma, Project Director (JICA), Himachal Pradesh Forest Dept.

Dr. Vaneet Jishtu, Scientist, HFRI, Shimla delivered his lecture on Hill Bamboo-an Important Plant Resource of Livelihood in Rural Areas of Himachal Pradesh. He informed about the importance of Bamboo for the local residents of Himachal Pradesh to earn livelihood from locally available products.

Dr. S.P. Bhardwaj, Joint Director (Retd.) UHF, Nauni, Solan delivered lecture on Biodiversity and its Significance in Relation to Insect Fauna of Himachal Pradesh. He apprised about the biodiversity and its importance and different bio-geographical zones of India. He also informed about the different floral and faunal biodiversity of Himachal Pradesh. He discussed in detail the different aspects of insect fauna of Himachal Pradesh.

Sh. Rajesh Kumar Sharma, Project Director (JICA), Himachal Pradesh Forest Dept.  delivered lecture on Faunal Diversity of Himachal Pradesh. He informed about the different species of endangered fauna of Himachal Pradesh present in different zones. He also informed about the snake diversity of Himachal Pradesh.

Mrs. Priyanka Sharma, In-charge ENVIS conducted the webinar. Members of ENVIS Hub Mr. Ajay Panwar, Dr. Ritvik Chauhan, Mrs. Vandana Sharma and Mrs. Jai Priya were also present during the programme. More than 85 participants participated in the webinar.