Bihar to Strengthen Biodiversity Conservation with New Initiatives, Says Minister at Review Meeting

Chirag Gupta

Patna: A review meeting on the Bihar State Biodiversity Board’s activities was held at Aranya Bhawan under the chairmanship of Dr. Prem Kumar, Minister for the Department of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. The meeting was attended by senior officials, including the Chairman, Secretary, Joint Director, and Deputy Director of the Bihar State Biodiversity Board.

Dr. Kumar reviewed the status of various biodiversity initiatives, including the formation of Biodiversity Management Committees, declaration of Biodiversity Heritage Trees, and ongoing research studies. He instructed the immediate completion of the pending formation of these committees. The Minister also emphasized the inclusion of BMC members in departmental programs like Van Mahotsav, to be organized in various districts, and directed that a detailed guideline booklet be published for capacity building of these committees.

In the first phase of the Biodiversity Heritage Trees program, a proposal for 40 trees from eight species in four districts (Munger, Bhagalpur, Jamui, and Buxar) will be finalized and published by December 2024. Additionally, scientific studies for the declaration of Biodiversity Heritage Sites in Nalanda, Aurangabad, and Saran Forest Divisions are ongoing, with plans for a workshop to discuss biodiversity-related topics.

To further strengthen biodiversity efforts, the Department is working on the Bihar State Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, with expert suggestions being gathered for a comprehensive framework to guide conservation efforts over the next 15 years. The framework document is expected to be completed by March 2025.

In other developments, the Bihar State Biodiversity Board has published information about vacancies in its office and is set to review proposals for research and studies related to biodiversity. Dr. Kumar also directed the timely organization of a one-day training workshop for BMC members at the sub-division level across 38 districts.