Call to protect biodiversity on only habitable planet in solar system

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 22

The department of forestry and natural resources of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), in collaboration with the NSS unit, marked World Biodiversity Day by organising events under the theme, ‘Biodiversity, Food and Health’, today.

As a part of the event, expert lectures on human awareness about biodiversity and international policies to protect the environment were delivered.

The Officiating Dean of the College of Agriculture, PAU, Dr TS Thind, was the chief guest. He called for protection of Earth’s biodiversity, as it is the only habitable planet in the solar system. In a technical session, lectures on topics such as floral diversity and faunal diversity were delivered by Dr Rajni Sharma of the department of botany and Dr Manoj Kumar of zoology department, respectively. The experts dwelled on the need to conserve natural resources, especially in view of the ongoing global warming that is leading to climate change.

The Head of the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Dr SK Chauhan, said the pivotal focus of PAU was on sustainable agriculture, and various environment sensitisation programmes would be organised by the university in times to come.

Poster-making and slogan-writing competitions were also held as part of the event, in which around 50 students participated. They were adjudged by the Head of Botany Department, Dr Seema Bedi, the Head of Zoology Department, Dr SS Hundal, and Dr Anil Sharma from the Communication Centre. Prabhjot Sanghera, Rajni Ahuja and Mohit Kundal won first, second and third prize, respectively, in poster-making competition. In slogan-writing competition, first prize was bagged by Saloni. Gurjit Kumar and Arshdeep won second and third positions, respectively.

Issues discussed

• Dr TS Thind called for protection of Earth’s biodiversity, as it is the only habitable planet in the solar system. 
• The experts dwelled on the need to conserve natural resources, especially in view of the ongoing global warming that is leading to climate change.
• In a technical session, lectures on topics such as floral diversity and faunal diversity were delivered by Dr Rajni Sharma of the department of botany and Dr Manoj Kumar of zoology department, respectively.