Kerala announces strict measures against bio-piracy
April 11th, 2012 - 10:45 pm ICT by IANSThiruvananthapuram, April 11 (IANS) The Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) Wednesday announced strict measures to prevent bio-piracy.
K.P. Laladhas, member-secretary of the newly-constituted board, said that a few important decisions have been taken in the best interests of the state’s bio-diversity.
“We have decided to ask the National Biodiversity Board to impress upon the Centre, and see that a taxonomist is appointed in the emigration department, in seaports and airports, to ensure that precious plant material endemic to our state are not taken away,” Laladhas told IANS.
Kerala is home to nearly 10,035 plant species (22 percent of the national plant diversity). Of the 4,600 flowering plants found in Kerala 1,500 are endemic.
“We have decided to put up huge signboards in all entry points of our state, in the airport and at important locations, stating the importance of protecting Kerala’s environment,” said Laladhas.
“We will also ask the local bodies in the state to see that when the workers clean up the roads and highways, they do not destroy the flora and fauna because numerous species of precious plants are being destroyed like this,” added Laladhas.
Of late KSBB has started numerous initiatives, the latest one in news was - Kerala being the first of the states to set up Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) in all the 978 village councils.
Out of the 978 councils, 500 village councils have prepared the People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs), making it a rare distinction in the country for any state.
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- Kerala to participate in world's biggest biodiversity event - Mar 31, 2012
- Kerala seeks tighter laws to prevent bio-piracy - Sep 14, 2011
- Chandy launches logo for biodiversity clubs in colleges - Apr 27, 2012
- Kerala to streamline medicinal plants production - Dec 19, 2011
- Over 200 fish species get Malayalam names - Sep 30, 2011
- Kerala biodiversity body stops export of rare goat breed - Jan 29, 2012
- Awareness drive to be launched to protect Kerala's fish - May 21, 2012
- Kerala's only tribal village under threat - Apr 18, 2012
- Kerala plans unique botanical garden - Jul 12, 2012
- Awareness campaign on marine biodiversity in Kerala May 22 - May 08, 2012
- Kerosene to combat African snails in Kerala - Aug 10, 2011
- Bio-piracy is biggest concern, says Jairam Ramesh - Sep 06, 2010
- Kerala to preserve traditional life of tribal village - Apr 26, 2012
- Kerala's fish varieties to get Malayalam names - Sep 25, 2011
Tags: bio diversity, emigration, endemic, flora and fauna, flowering plants, important decisions, kerala state, management committee, member secretary, plant diversity, plant material, plant species, precious plant, precious plants, rare distinction, seaports, signboards, strict measures, taxonomist, village councils