Patna: The Bihar State Biodiversity Board (BSBB on Friday hosted the third in a series of workshops aimed at shaping the state’s Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSB-SAP), aligning with the national framework under the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP).
The event took place at Bihar Animal Science University (BASU), bringing together experts and stakeholders from animal husbandry and fisheries to review earlier feedback and refine sector-specific strategies. Prior workshops were held on July 28, 2024 and February 10, 2025.
Opening the session, Dr Indrajit Singh, Vice-Chancellor of BASU, welcomed key figures including Shri Bharat Jyoti, Chair of the Bihar State Biodiversity Board, Shri Abhay Kumar, Director of the Department of Ecology, Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and other senior officials, researchers, and academics.
In his address, Shri Jyoti underscored Bihar’s commitment to biodiversity conservation, linking it to global targets set out in Goal 23, which aims to curb biodiversity loss by 2030 and achieve sustainable coordination by 2050. Dr Jitendra Singh, BASU’s Registrar, reiterated the urgency of preserving biodiversity, calling it vital to ecological and cultural health.
Dr Pankaj Kumar, head of the university’s Extension Education department, called for greater public participation in reviving traditional animal resource practices. “There was a time when cattle were present in every village household,” he noted, “but today, we must ask around just to find cow dung for religious rituals.”
Fisheries experts including Dr U.K. Rejan, Mr Nishant Ahmed, Dr Nachiket Kelkar, and Dr Tun-Tun Singh led discussions on the protection and value enhancement of indigenous fish species through improved breeding and conservation practices.
The finalised strategy and action plan for animal and fisheries resources will integrate suggestions collected during this workshop, rounding off the consultation phase for these two crucial sub-sectors.
