The Karnataka Science and Technology Academy (KSTA), in association with Poornaprajna College, will be organising a regional conference on “Ecosystem: Emerging issues” here on January 9 and 10.
Addressing presspersons here on Monday, K. Sadashiva Rao, Principal of Poornaprajna College, said that the aim of the conference was to create awareness about environmental issues and scientific efforts towards conservation, preservation, restoration, monitoring and management of ecosystems. Nearly 400 delegates would be participating in the conference.
He said over-exploitation of natural resources and higher consumption has increased pressure on ecosystems over the years. The degree of pressure depended on demographics, industrialisation, policy and cultural dimensions and on the resilience of the ecosystems.
In some cases, conservation measures had prevented ecosystems from reaching critical threshold by reducing human pressure. However, in some ecosystems, a small incremental raise in pressure had resulted in an unexpected, non-linear adverse ecosystem response.
Hence, conservation of ecosystems was of paramount importance. The process of restoration required a holistic approach to help damaged ecosystem to recover their near natural integrity with the revival of biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and other indicators of ecological health.
U.R. Rao, former Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) would be delivering the keynote address at the conference. As many as nine scientists will be delivering lectures on important topics.
H.N. Ravindranath, Professor at IISc, Bengaluru, will speak on “Climate change: Science policy and research needs.” S. Rajan, Director, National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Development, Goa, will deliver a lecture on “Antarctic Ecosystem.”
Ramakrishna, former Director, Zoological Survey of India, will speak on “Access and benefit sharing in Biodiversity,” while R. Uma Shankar, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, will deliver a lecture on “Western Ghats: Bio-prospecting and bio-conservation – Why, what and how.”
N.A. Madhyastha, Environmental Biologist, will speak on “Western Ghats’ ecosystem: Cause for concern,” while N. Ramaiah from National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa, will deliver a lecture on “Coastal pollution and Algal Blooms.”
A.S. Unnikrishnan from NIO will speak on “Coastal vulnerability and assessment”. M.D. Subash Chandran from Centre for Ecological Sciences, Field Station, IISc., Kumta, will deliver on “Protection of coastal biodiversity of South West India.”
Vinay Kumar Sorake, Urban Development Minister, would be the chief guest at the inauguration. M.S. Valiathan, national research professor, would be felicitated on the occasion, Prof Rao said.
Jagadish Shetty, college vice principal, Srikanth Siddapura, A.P. Bhat, professors at the college, were present.
