‘Conservation, growth can co-exist’

Environment minister checks out the exhibition which was organised in Mumbai as part of the International Biodiversity Day on Sunday

“People believe that development and environmental conservation cannot go hand-in-hand but I would like to stress that both can co-exist,” said Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar, marking the International Biodiversity Day at YB Chavan Auditorium on Sunday.

Using the example of National Highway 7 that runs through Pench tiger corridor, the minister said that with India’s population and economic boom, it was imperative for both conservation and development to compliment each other. The road was constructed using the “eco-duct” technology where animals would cross the road on a bridge with trees, thus resembling a jungle, while the vehicles would pass from below.

Mr Javadekar said, “Even the Supreme Court realised that development and conservation must go hand-in-hand. The judge said that tigers are important but so is development.”

The minister said that biodiversity must be mainstreamed into people’s lives and their livelihoods to ensure sustainable development. He also stressed that biodiversity and its conservation must be made familiar to regional and local communities. “Regional biodiversity will prosper if regional livelihoods are nurtured,” said Mr Javadekar.

He also said that Indians should be proud of their country’s rich biodiversity and should be passionate towards conserving it. “We have passionate communities and individuals acting as the driving force to protect and rejuvenate biodiversity in different regions. This should become a mass movement and everyone from the local gram panchayats to government policies should reflect this passion,” said Mr Javadekar.

Echoing Mr Javadekar’s sentiments, governor of Maharashtra, C.V. Rao, who was also present at the event, said that preserving biodiversity must be turned into a mass movement and the International Biodiversity Day should be celebrated throughout the country to spread awareness. “Students should be sensitised about the importance of conserving biodiversity and companies should be encouraged to take up conservation activities into their corporate social responsibilities,” said Mr Rao.