AGARTALA, May 28 (TIWN): A two day National Seminar on the theme “Biodiversity for Sustainable Development” was inaugurated as part of the celebration of International Biodiversity Day 2015 by Sri Naresh Chandra Jamatia the Minister of Forest, Rural Development and Election Department as the chief guest of the programme by illuminating the candle in the presence of many eminent dignitaries and an august gathering of participants of Academic, Researchers, Policy makers, Scholars and Students from different parts of the state and the country at Mahabir Bir Bikram, Auditorium, Tripura University,

Agartala. He appreciated the  initiative taken up by the Tripura Biodiversity Board, Department of Botany, Tripura University and the Holycross College for the initiatives taken up to organize this National Seminar. At the outset, Prof. Badal Kumar Datta, organizing Secretary of the National Seminar and HOD Department of Botany welcomed the participants. The patron of the National Seminar- Prof. Anjan Kumar Ghosh, Vice Chancellor, Tripura University presided over the inaugural programme and he emphasized that certain skill oriented courses will be taken up by the university for the benefit of the region. The keynote address was delivered by Prof. Pramod Tandon special invitee of the National Seminar in which he made many important suggestions on how to manage our Biodiversity. He lauded the efforts taken by the Government of Tripura.

Dr Pradeep Vyas IFS, Additional PCCF and Director, Sunderban Biosphere Reserve, Department of Forest, Government of West Bengal and Prof. Saroj Kanta Barik, HOD, Department of Botany, NEHU, Shillong also delivered their address as special invitees. Dr Atul Kumar Gupta IFS, Convener of the National Seminar and PCCF and CWLW, Member Secretary, Tripura Biodiversity Board (TBB) narrated about the initiatives taken by the TBB by taking up UNEP-GEF-TBB project towards Access and Benefit sharing which will benefit the people of the state. The inaugural programme ended with the vote of thanks by Dr Ajay Krishna Saha, Associate Professor, Department of Botany, Tripura University.

A total of about more that 60 Research Papers will be presented in the form of Oral and Poster Presentations in five technical session on the themes viz. Biodiversity Conservation, Sustainable use and development; Biodiversity and Climate; Biodiversity assessment; Ecosystem services and function; Traditional Knowledge and ethnobotany. During the first day more than 20 papers were presented in three oral sessions under the theme viz. Biodiversity Conservation, Sustainable use and development; Biodiversity assessment; and Ecosystem services and function being chaired by Prof. P Tandon, Prof. S K Barik and Dr Pramod Vyas. The second day also witnessed a huge number of participants and a total of about 10 papers were presented under two themes viz. Biodiversity and Climate; and Traditional Knowledge and ethnobotany followed by Poster session were about  20 papers were presented under the various themes. The national session concluded with the appreciation of the experts who praised the efforts of the presenters and the organisers. The two day seminar ended with the concluding remarks by Dr A K Gupta IFS, Convenor of the National Seminar.