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What's New
| Kapil Sibal Chairs the NBDB Meet |
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Union Minister for Science and Technology and
Earth Sciences Shri Kapil Sibal has said that country’s
rich biodiversity is our national treasure and we must ensure
its protection. Chairing the Fourth meeting of the National
Bioresource Development Board (NBDB), Department of Biotechnology
in New Delhi today, he lauded the efforts undertaken by the
Board in areas such as digitizing inventories on bioresources,
prospecting for genes and molecules, resource based programmes
and capacity building etc. Shri Sibal emphasized the need
for more funds to scale up various activities of the Board
and also suggested that the Board should be made an autonomous
body. Prof. M.S. Swaminathan, Chairman, National Commission
on Farmers, Prof. A.K. Sharma, Chairman, Steering Committee
of NBDB, Dr. M.K. Bhan, Secretary, DBT and senior representatives
from Ministry of Finance, Department of Science and Technology,
Ministry of Environment and Forests, Departments of Space,
CSIR, ICAR, DOD and other senior experts were present.
During the meeting the Minister released Jeeva Sampada, the
first database of digitized inventories on bioresources packaged
in nine CDs containing information on—plant resources
(Sasya Sampada), animal resources, microbial resources and
marine resources. Over 400 scientists from 150 centres across
the country have worked together to complete this enormous
task.
Under a project on “Biodiversity characterization suing
remote sensing” jointly implemented by Department of
Biotechnology & Department of Space, geospatial biodiversity
data has been generated for the North Eastern Himalaya, Western
Himalayas, Western Ghats and Andaman and Nicobar Islands,
Under Phase II of the study Eastern Ghats, Central India and
Mangrove regions have been covered, 80 per cent of the country’s
forest cover has been mapped. Over 58 scientists from 32 institutes
have been involved in this exercise. The Minister released
the Map Atlas generated under this study. This is the first
extensive exercise conducted at different scales for different
densities of forest cover. The uniqueness of the study lies
in the availability of location specific information for more
than 5000 plant species including their status.
Shri Sibal also launched the Indian Bioresources Information
Network (IBIN), the first web enabled portal for proper integration
of spatial and non-spatial data. This is the first comprehensive
information system, integrating all aspects of bioresources
related data (spatial and non-spatial).
The NBDB has undertaken major activities related to prospecting
for genes and molecules; resource based programmes and capacity
building. A large number of genes, botanical pesticides, biofertilizers,
enzyme have been developed. Resource based programmes on sugarcane,
coffee, jute, lack etc. have been taken up. Under capacity
building a major initiative is the bioresource gardens for
the visually challenged and vocation training on bioresources
for school children. These have had a major impact with over
1100 school children trained on bioresource development and
utilization.
The first Butterfly Bank of the country has been established
at Bannerghatta Biological Park, Bangalore which serves as
an integrated centre for research, education and rural livelihood.
For economic empowerment through bioresources, five rural
bioresource complexes have been established for providing
both income an employment generation opportunities through
bioresources with improved technology packages and clear market
linkages.
During the 11th plan, the NBDB would concentrate on Digitized
inventortization, characterization and conservation of bioresources
of the country; informatics network bioresources; sustainable
utilization of bioresources for food & nutritional security
and environmental safety; improving socio-economic and livelihood
security through bioresource related processes and product;
infrastructure strengthening; capacity building.
The NBDB was established under the aegis of DBT in 1999 with
a vision to ensure development and sustainable utilization
of bioresources for food and nutritional, environmental and
livelihood security.
The mission of the Board is to evolve a broad policy framework
to accelerated R&D for development and sustainable utilization
of bioresources and an effective plan of action for economic
prosperity of the nation through bioresources using modern
tools of biosciences.
Source : Press Information
Bureau
Date : July 25, 2006
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What's New