Delhi Government is now trying to expand the green area in the Capital to 500 square kilometres, Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta said at a function organised to celebrate International Bio-diversity Day 2010 at Aravalli Bio-diversity Park at Vasant Vihar here on Saturday.
Speaking at the program, Mr. Mehta said the celebration of bio-diversity day provides an opportunity to understand the importance of bio-diversity.
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on her part spoke about how all human-beings are dependent on the rich bio-diversity of the planet and therefore it had become important to preserve and maintain the natural bio-diversity.
At the function, which was also attended by Delhi Environment Secretary Dharmendra, Conservator of Forests D.M.. Shukla and Project In Charge for the Biodiversity Parks Programme C.R. Babu, the Chief Minister also released a brochure on birds and posters on bio-diversity parks and inaugurated an exhibition. Prof. Babu made a presentation on bio-diversity and human well-being. A night camp for eco-club students was also organised on Friday evening at Aravali Bio-diversity Park which is spread over an area of 667 acres of land. It was informed that the park has come up on land which was lying barren before its development and now provides an opportunity to the students to learn through outdoor experiences.
The Chief Minister informed that this year's theme of International Bio-diversity Day is “Bio-diversity Development and Poverty Alleviation”, which is both important and relevant since poverty and bio-diversity are closely linked.
She said the poor, especially in rural areas, are dependent on bio-diversity for all their needs including fuel, shelter and livelihood. And so while bio-diversity loss exacerbates poverty, on the other hand poverty remains a major threat to bio-diversity. The theme, Ms. Dikshit said, also raises public awareness on the importance of bio-diversity for sustainable development and the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals.
The Chief Minister also spoke of how bio-diversity embraces a variety of genes, species and eco-systems that constitute life on earth. “We are witnessing a steady loss of bio-diversity with profound consequences for the natural world and for well-beings. Bio-diversity can help reduce the effects of climate change on world's population and eco-system. It is, therefore, crucial to conserve bio-diversity in all its forms,” she said.
