Environment
BIODIVERSITY
OF GOA
(Report Of One-Day Workshop)
(Organised
Jointly By Peaceful Society, Econet-Pune , In Collaboration With
Institute Of Safety, Occupation Health And Environment, Govt. Of Goa.
Nov.
1, 1996. Isohe Complex Altinho, Panaji – Goa.)
The local
organisers had aimed at exposing influential participants to several areas of
biodiversity in local language and to focus priority areas of biodiversity
conservation, protection and utilisation.
The
workshop was held on November 1, 1996 from 9.30 a.m. to 6.15 p.m. at the ISOHE
conference hall, Altinho, Panjim – Goa. It was inaugurated by the Chief
Secretary of Govt. of Goa, Dr. G. C. Srivastava who also holds the
environment secretary’s office. He had earlier served with ICR-New Delhi.
Dr.
Srivastava acknowledged
the threats to ecosystems in Goa and agreed with the need to conserve local
biodiversity. He appealed the participants to offer ideas to the Govt. for
undertaking suitable policy measures and schemes for conservation and
protection of biodiversity against the pressures of development. Dr. Paranjape
presented a set of Econet publications to him with a request to make liberal
use of this documentation in discussing biodiversity issues at Govt. level.
Dr.
Vijay Paranjape in his
introductory remarks highlighted the awareness brought about by the Rio
convention on biodiversity and attempts in India to motivate the people and the
Govt. to take suitable initiatives for protection of the rich biodiversity. He
expressed the need to work closely with the Govt. bodies by offering them ideas
and through consistent advocacy.
Salient Aspects Of The Workshop
·
this was
the first such workshop in history of Goa on biodiversity in the local official
language-KONKANI
·
the
workshop was organised in collaboration with ISOHE, a state govt. institution
thus bringing together the NGOs, members of the public and the govt. agency.
·
the
participants were selected on basis of their social / cultural track record,
ability to transmit new ideas to grass roots level and influence the public
opinion.
·
the
resource persons included folklorists, scientists, ecologists providing ideal
interdisciplinary input for meaningful discussion and interaction.
Workshop
Organization And Co-Ordination:-
The
groundwork for successful organization was done by Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, Niraj
Naik, Bharati Bandodkar, Kumar Kalanand Mani of Peaceful Society and Kishor
Dhume, Shri. C. V. Dhume, head of ISOHE and his staff gave full cooperation.
Participants
Profile
Participants
included Konkani writers, activists, science teachers, farmers, panchayat
members, freedom fighters, headmasters, social workers and students of ecology
and environment.
Workshop
Topics
Dr. Nandkumar
Kamat, scientist and ecologist from Goa University reviewed the status of Goa’s
biodiversity with figures and facts. This session was presided over by Shri.
Jagdish Wagh, Hon. Secretary of WWF Goa. Shri Pandurang Phaldessai of Kala
Academy – Goa engaged in PhD. Work on history then presented a detailed paper
on biodiversity of Goa as reflected in traditional folklore. Dr. Nandkumar
Kamat chaired this session. Another folklore researcher from Goa Konkani
Academy Miss Jayanti Naik spoke on Ecofeminism and biodiversity relationship as
seen in Goa’s folklore. Sahitya Academy literary award winner in Konkani Shri.
Dilip Borkar chaired this session. Dr. Bernadette Gomes, lecturer in sociology
at Govt. college-Quepem spoke about her research work on Kunbi community of
baradi Betul in South Goa. Dr. J. B. Sardesai, retd, chaired this session.
UNESCO entomologist Dr. Vijaya Kerkar from Botany Dept. of Goa University then
presented a scientific paper on Goa’s algae, seaweeds and ferns. Dr. Ajit
Shirodkar, a progessive horticulturist and retd. Pharmaceutical executive
chaired this session. Dr. Vijay Paranjape then offered his critical comments on
all the papers and guided the participants.
Certificates:
Dr. Vijaya
Paranjape of Econet, Pune, gave all the participants certificates of
participation.
Summary
of issues which emerged from the workshop:-
·
People are
generally ignorant about the extent of biodiversity and its economic and
ecological significance
·
Biodiversity
knowledge, especially ecosystem, habitat, plant and animal biodiversity is well
recorded in Goa’s traditional and non formal indigenous knowledge systems such
as folklore
·
There is no
inventory/checklist of Goa’s biodiversity. A statistical data sheet was
produced by Dr. Kamat, which shows about 4500 species.
·
OBCs of Goa
and women are important guardians of natural resources and biodiversity. Their
role is not fully acknowledged at govt. or academic level.
·
Pressures
of development, especially construction activity, mining, quarrying, tourism,
urbanisation, industrialisation are eroding biodiversity
·
Coastal Goa
is facing biodiversity erosion due to pollution in estuaries, damage to beach
ecology and mangrove ecosystem and destruction of coconut groves and khazan
(saline) paddy fields.
·
There is no
emphasis on biodiversity in education.
·
Existing
environmental acts are not enforced in Goa.
·
There is no
literature on biodiversity in local languages.
·
There is
marginal interaction between the NGOs and the Govt. and NGOs and the Village
Panchayats for taking up biodiversity issues.
·
It is
important to catalogue the wealth of medicinal plants of Goa and document their
issues.
·
Wild
germless needs to be conserved in local seed/gene banks.
Recommendations
Of The Workshop:
·
Goa needs
an all tax a biodiversity inventory.
·
Sacred
groves of Goa need to be surveyed and conserved.
·
State Govt.
should pass an appropriate law to protect indigenous knowledge systems and
biodiversity.
·
Hot spots
of biodiversity erosion within the state of Goa need to be identified for
remedial action.
·
The coastal
and Western Ghats areas are especially vulnerable to developmental pressures.
Biodiversity-rich zones from these areas need to be protected.
·
Every
village panchayat should be encouraged to prepare a local natural resource list
and community biodiversity conservation scheme
·
Women and
OBC’s form important components of biodiversity conservation movement. They
should be consulted and involved at all stages of biodiversity conservation
schemes.
·
Biodiversity
education should form a major component of environmental education from school
to university level.
·
Bio
economic Assessment of biological wealth of Goa should be done through experts.
·
Bio
diversity impact Assessment should be made compulsory for all developmental
projects.
Proposed
Follow Up Action:
·
preparation
of approach paper on biodiversity conservation for the State Govt. to be
included in the 9th five year plan proposals
·
Publication
of workshop papers after revision and editing
·
Organisation
of taluka level mini-workshops/meetings
·
Publication
of a scientific checklist of all know local species
·
Setting up
a central biodiversity documentation centre for west-coast / western ghats
Actions
initiated by the state govt. after the workshop:
·
encouragement
to biodiversity research projects, establishment of nurseries
·
passing of
a legislation on control of non-biodegradable waste
·
Ordinance
banning wetland filling and indiscriminate hill cutting to be promulgated
Response
From Media:
The
workshop was well received by the local media both vernacular and English. Two
papers presented in the workshop were published in modified form in the 1996 DIVALI
issue of KONKANI, the official literary magazine of KONKANI
BHASHA MANDAL.
Conclusion: The workshop was widely appreciated for
its theme and substance and succeeded in creating tremendous awareness among
the opinion leaders about the threats to Goa’s biodiversity and the need to
take timely action.
<< >>