Punjabi university Zoology department organized Webinar on “International Day for Biological Diversity”
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in
The department of Zoology and Environmental Sciences, Punjabi University Patiala organised a webinar on “International Day for Biological Diversity” which is celebrated on 22nd May of each year. The day is celebrated to raise global awareness about the importance of our biological resources and global biodiversity that shapes our environment.
Professor Arvind, vice-chancellor, Punjabi University, Patiala, while presiding over the webinar, emphasized that we ought to create public awareness about the significance of biodiversity and provide nature-based solutions.
Eminent professor Raghavandra Gadagkar from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore delivered an invited talk on “An Inordinate Fondness for Insects”. Professor Gadagkar is a distinguished evolutionary biologist whose research focuses on social evolution in insects. Being a fellow of all the three National Science Academies, he belongs to a select group of scientists who are fellows of National Academy of Sciences, USA. Dr. Gadagkar said, that today the Earth, the only living planet of our solar system, have been altered by humans for its selfish needs. The human’s greed has pushed one million plants and animals to the verge of extinction. Three species disappear every hour, 150 species every day and around 18,000 species go extinct every year. Biodiversity loss at this rate will ultimately lead to mass extinctions that will upset the delicate balance of nature. Moreover, anthropogenic activities are the major cause of climate change as well. The rising temperatures are responsible for mass exodus of various species from their native habitat. He emphasized on the importance of this year’s slogan for conserving biodiversity. Dr. Gadagkar said that it is high time for humans to realize that destroying biodiversity is indirectly destroying human race. Therefore, we all should be part of the solution and should commit ourselves to restoring the intricate balance of our ecosystems.
Dr. Himender Bharti, Head, Department of Zoology and Environmental Sciences, Punjabi University, Patiala said that the department is internationally acclaimed for its contribution to the field of insect biodiversity and conservation. He emphasized that there is an immediate need to restore and conserve insects, which are keystone species of many ecosystems and their extinction will lead to its collapse. The department is soon proposing a Species Specialist Group on social insects (Ants) in collaboration with other scientists to IUCN, which will specifically focus on red listing of these insects and to formulate action plan for their conservation. Professor Devinder Singh said that major threats to biological diversity are habitat loss and climate change and it is our responsibility to restore our planet for our future generations.
May 22,2021
