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Cradled in the lap of mountains at the foothills of auspicious Trikuta, besides the river Tawi at an altitude of 1030 ft. is Jammu. This 'city of temples' has many places...
Two-Day National Conference on Biodiversity and Climate Change Inaugurated at JU
Jammu, Dec 22: A two-day National Conference on Biodiversity and Climate Change: Challenges and Solutions organized by the Department of Botany l, University of Jammu was inaugurated here this morning at Brig Rajinder Singh Auditorium, University of Jammu, Jammu. Dr. Kanad Dass, Director, Botanical Survey of India (BSI), graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, while the function was presided over by Prof. Umesh Rai, Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu.
Presiding over the function, Prof. Umesh Rai, Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu stressed the need for integration of diverse scientific disciplines to effectively address local and regional challenges posed by climate change. He underlined that interdisciplinary approaches are crucial for developing sustainable and community-oriented solutions.
Prof. Rai said that climate change drives biodiversity loss, while this loss worsens climate change by reducing nature's ability to absorb carbon and regulate climate. Protecting and restoring ecosystems through nature-based solutions are crucial for both adapting to climate impacts and mitigating further warming. In the context the use of mathematics and allied subjects for developing the models is the requirement of the present day.
In his inaugural address, Dr. Kanad Dass highlighted the vast plant diversity of India with special reference to the monumental publication Flora of India, comprising 26 volumes, brought out by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI). He further apprised the gathering that BSI has proposed 32 different volumes of the Flora of India out of which 06 are in pipeline. India is a recognized mega-diverse country, home to a vast array of life, hosting nearly 7-8% of the world's recorded species, including rich flora, fauna, and significant endemism across its diverse ecosystems, qualifying it as a global biodiversity hotspot region. He emphasized the importance of systematic documentation of plant resources for biodiversity conservation and climate resilience. According to him new initiatives started by the Govt. of India include completion of National Red List of Indian Plants by 2030 and launch of Plant Based Wildlife Health Management Programme by the office of Prime Minister.
Earlier, Prof. Susheel Verma, Head of the Department, formally welcomed the Chief Guest, dignitaries, invited speakers, and participants. Dr. Sikander Pal, Organizing Secretary of the Conference presented an overview of the conference and outlined its objectives, themes, and expected outcomes.
Dr. Geeta Sharma presented vote of thanks and Dr Romika conducted the proceedings of the function.
The conference has attracted researchers, academicians, and students from across the country and will feature technical sessions focusing on biodiversity conservation, climate change impacts, and adaptive strategies. Other present during the occasion include, Prof. T N Lakhan Pal (Shimla), Dr. Sangeeva Nayaka (NBRI, Lucknow), Dr. Arun Arya (University of Baroda), Dr. Amit Chawla (IHBT, Palampur), Prof. Anima Langer, Prof. Sanjana Koul, Prof. Seema Langer, Prof. Namrata Sharma, Prof. Veenu Kaul, Prof. Piyush Malavaiya, Prof. Pankaj Kumar, Prof. Deepika, Dr. Neeraj, Dr. Sarbjeet, Dr. Ritu Mahajan, Dr. Nisha Kapur, Dr. Amit Gupta along with research scholars and students of Life Science faculty of University of Jammu.