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Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, May 22
The Pushpa Gujral Science City, Kapurthala, today celebrated the International Day for Biological Diversity in collaboration with the Punjab Bio-Diversity Board, Chandigarh. Dr Neelama Jerath, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Desh Bhagat University, Mandi Gobindgarh and former director general, Science City, said India was the seventh largest country in the world and Asia’s second largest nation with an area of 3.29 million sq km. With only 2.5 per cent of the world land area, it accounts for 7.8 per cent of the global recorded species especially because of its varied physiographic, diverse climatic conditions and a variety of habitats. It is one of the top 12 mega biodiversity countries and has four of 35 biodiversity hot spots: Western Ghats, Himalayas, Sandilands and Indo-Burma (Nicobar Island). The country is estimated to have 49,000 plant species and 81,000 animal species representing 12.5 per cent of the world’s flora and 6.6 per cent of its fauna.
Dr Jerath said Punjab had a very small area under forest cover (approximately 6 per cent of the total geographical area). The state was known to harbour great genetic variability; however, over the years this has reduced due to change in cropping pattern and higher dependence on certain high yielding varieties of crops.
She said the International Day for Biological Diversity was celebrated across the globe every year on May 22 to increase the understanding and awareness on issues concerning biodiversity conservation. Biodiversity provides an important foundation for many aspects of tourism. A well-managed tourist sector can contribute significantly in reducing threats to, and maintain, key wildlife populations and biodiversity values.
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