Climate change and global warming have emerged as major threats to biodiversity and biologists must come forward to suggest effective measures for conserving biodiversity, said Prof AK Bhatnagar, Botany Department, University of Delhi, in his inaugural address at a conference that commenced at Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) here today.

This two-day event on “Biodiversity: Challenges and Opportunities” is being organised by MDU’s Department of Botany.

In his keynote address, Prof Bhatnagar said a large number of gases released into the air had had a vital impact on atmospheric conditions. This was known as the “Greenhouse effect”. These gas emissions had had an impact on the survival of several types of plant species.

He also highlighted the dangers of elevated levels of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) in the atmosphere vis-a-vis plant resources.

Dr Bhatnagar called for an effective national-level action plan for conserving biodiversity. He advocated technological intervention for the purpose.

The Dean, Faculty of Life Sciences, MDU, Prof SN Mishra, underlined the importance of biodiversity management at the grassroots level.

He cautioned against the emerging trend of bio-piracy. The Head of the Botany Department, Prof Pushpa Dahiya, welcomed the participants.

She said 87 papers on various aspects of biodiversity would be presented at the seminar. Dr AK Singh (NBPER, New Delhi) spoke about agro bio- diversity. Dr PP Bhojvaid, Chief Conservator of Forests, Dr Veena Chandra (FRI, Dehradun), Dr AK Singh (National Bureau for Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi), Prof VN Pandey and Dr AK Dwivedi (DDU University, Gorakhpur), research scholars and students were among those who attended the seminar.

A souvenir was released at the inaugural session.

Prof SN Mishra cautions against the trend of bio-piracy, advocates technological intervention

As many as 87 papers on various aspects of biodiversity to be presented at the seminar