The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : National Biodiversity Authority’s southern regional body planned in State

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Saturday, May 23, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

National Biodiversity Authority’s southern regional body planned in State

Staff Reporter

“Sustainable development, food security and biodiversity are under threat from invasive alien species”

— Photo: M. Karunakaran

TNPCB chairman R.Balakrishnan (centre) releases a special issue brought by ENVIS Centre at a seminar on Invasive Alien Species at Anna University on Friday. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests C.K.Sreedharan and Director of Environment R.Annamalai (right) are in the picture.

CHENNAI: The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has decided to establish the southern regional level biodiversity authority in Tamil Nadu, NBA Member S. Subramaniyan said here on Friday.

Speaking at the inauguration of a seminar on Invasive Alien Species (IAS), he said that the regional body would bring a lot of opportunities for students and scientists. He said that out of 28 States in the country, 21 had State-level authorities and the NBA was giving Rs. 10 lakh to set up such authorities.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests C.K. Sreedharan said that introduction of invasive alien species, whether knowingly or unknowingly, was akin to biological warfare. He said that when the balance between environment and organisms is affected, if the flow of energy is tampered with, the system will get spoilt. Sustainable development, food security and biodiversity were under threat due to invasive alien species, he explained.

He said that the Forest Department had decided not to plant any invasive alien species.It has also started taking steps to restore areas that are damaged. He said that an exact database of areas under such species was needed. He also called for strong quarantine measures.

Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) Chairman R. Balakrishnan said that climate change was a reason for the spread of invasive alien species.

Micro-organisms can be carried by tourists through infected fruits and food items. Customs checks, quarantines and global inspections were needed, he added.

Director of Environment R. Annamalai said that once such species were removed they must be replaced with native species. He also called for saving indigenous varieties of lotus and lilly flowers. The seminar was organised by the Department of Environment, TNPCB and Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Board.

Roundtable discussion

At a roundtable discussion on biodiversity and invasive alien species as part of the international biodiversity day celebrations, C.P.R. Environmental Education Centre director Nanditha Krishna said that the Centre planned to create a database on trees endemic to Chennai and its environs.

“The database would help in the development of urban forestry with species endemic to Chennai.” This would create more awareness in using local trees for landscaping, she added.

Many people are interested in exotic species. They are not interested in endemic species, said Sultan Ahmed Ismail, Managing Director, Ecoscience Research Foundation.

Soil water holding capacity improves with endemic species of earthworm, he added.

Policy lacking

“Policy on invasive alien species is lacking,” said D. Narasimhan of the Centre for Floristic Research, Madras Christian College.

There is a need for more research data on alien invasive species in the country, said Fr. S. Ignacimuthu, Director of Etymology Research Institute, Loyola College.

Lack of seeds of indigenous fishes for large-scale use is one of the factors contributing to loss of biodiversity, said K. Remadevi, Officer-in-Charge, Marine Biological Station, Zoological Survey of India.

The decision of civic bodies to encourage exotic species such as Gambusia for mosquito control contributes to loss of biodiversity, she said. However, all exotic species do not become invasive, said Dr. Narasimhan.

“Some exotic species have been helpful to society. Aloe Vera and Hibiscus are some of the exotic varieties that have been naturalised and become part of Indian system of medicine,” he added.

Some of the green leafy vegetables with medicinal value sold in the market in Chennai are exotic species. They are harvested from marshy areas with industrial pollutants and contain heavy metals, Dr. Narasimhan added.

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