Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board Chairman A.V. Joseph on Monday called for a massive community participation in all programmes being organised by the Forest Department and the line departments, for protection of flora, fauna and conservation of ecology.
The Biodiversity Board’s one-day meeting with forest and line department officials of Rayalaseema districts was organised at the Biotrim Centre at Tirupati. Mr A.V. Joseph and the Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force head Mr M. Kantha Rao spoke on the occasion.
Mr Joseph said that without community participation, the mission to protect biodiversity would be impossible.
“The people of fringe villages along the forest cover will play a vital role in protection of the forest wealth. The officials concerned should undertake integrated development of the communities. Many of the fast extincting species of flora and fauna could survive and replenish with proper awareness among the public groups and by evolving effective strategies to counter the factors which contribute to the destruction of the biodiversity interests,” he said.
Mr Kantha Rao said that Rayalaseema region was haven to rich biodiversity, with some of the rarest and highly endemic flora and fauna species such as Golden Gekho, Slender Loris and red sanders species.
He deplored that though a State like Andhra Pradesh had a rich heritage in use of cow-urine and breed of Ongole Bull, the intellectual property rights were rested in the hands of foreign countries thanks to the transfer of genetic material.
People of fringe villages will play a key role in
protection of forest wealth
A.V. Joseph
Chairman, Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board
