He said the local people and fishermen should benefit from the conservation efforts of biodiversity resources. He recalled how mangroves had saved people during the tsunami and their contribution in generating revenue from fisheries and source of medicinal plants.

Chief Executive of Chilika Development Authority Ajit Pattnaik said mangroves are the source of timber for construction and firewood. In four decades, 80 per cent of mangroves have been destroyed in the country. He gave the example of Chilika where a revenue of Rs 77.23 crore has been earned from shrimp exports in 2005, while Rs 50 crore has been spent on conservation efforts in the last four years and urged for a national wetland policy that the country still does not have.

He said tsunami had highlighted the importance of mangroves. He also stressed on finding the root cause for the disappearance of mangroves.

Conservator of Forests Arun Kumar Nayak said due to illegal fishing, grazing, agricultural lands were being converted into aqua farming and had been encroached and diversion of settlements and industries, fish production has gone down in mangroves and animal species like leopard have become extinct and 60 km mangroves have been destroyed in the State.

Speakers stressed on rigid eco restoration measures, mangrove plantation, creating awareness and educating the local community, eco development and eco tourism, regular patrolling on land and water bodies, formation of anti-poaching squads, strengthening of VHF communication and improvement of communication facilities and road network in areas like Bhitarkanika to protect mangroves.

Sources added that despite repeated attempts by the Biodiversity Commission, the Orissa Government authorities are not keen in setting of a Biodiversity Board.

Their response to the Central agency's proposal to set up a Biodiversity Board has been luke- warm and half-hearted.