Prof. Kirpal Singh Badungar, President, SGPC inaugurated one day State level seminar on “Biodiversity and Sustainable Tourism” organised by PG Department of Agriculture, Khalsa College, Patiala. The seminar was sponsored by National Biodiversity Authority Govt. of India in collaboration with Punjab Biodiversity Board in order to celebrate International Day for Biological Diversity 2017. During this seminar Dr. Munruchi, Professor, Department of Botany, Punjabi University, Patiala and Dr. Avneet Pal Singh were present as subject experts.
Prof. Badungar while addressing the delegates said that it is our moral duty to conserve the biodiversity and create a balance in environment. He said that Shri Guru Nanak Dev ji, the first embodiment of divine light in the Sikh Tradition, laid the foundation for a sacred vision for the environment. He further added that it is mentioned in Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the supreme Sikh scripture that the air originated from the True Lord, from air originated the water and from the water originated the entire life forms and the Universe and in each being Lord’s light is enthused. He said that biodiversity is important for tourism, as sustainable development can alleviate poverty.
Dr. Dharminder Singh Ubha, Principal, Khalsa College Patiala, while lauding the efforts of the department said that such seminars play a significant role in guiding the students and faculty members to provide knowledge regarding various issues related to conservation of Biodiversity. Dr. Ubha said Biodiversity is seen as an essential matter, which affects everyone on earth and has a significant influence on tourism.
Dr. Munruchi, Professor, Department of Botany, Punjabi University, Patiala while expressing her views on Biological Diversity, said that there is a symbiotic relationship between biodiversity and tourism. Tourism is one of the world’s fastest growing industries as well as the major source of foreign exchange earnings and employment for many developing countries and it is increasingly focusing on natural environments. However tourism is a double edged activity. It has the potential to contribute in a positive manner to socio-economic achievements but, at the same time, its fast and sometimes uncontrolled growth can be the major cause of degradation of the environment and loss of local identity and traditional cultures. Biological and Physical resources are in fact the assets that attract tourists.
Dr. Avneet Pal Singh, Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, Punjabi University, Patiala, threw light on rare, endangered, vulnerable and extinct species of plants and animals and emphasized that there is an urgent need to preserve the rare species. He added that National Parks, Wild life Sanctuaries, Forest Conservation areas play a vital role in protecting endangered species of plants and animals and thus help in promoting ecotourism..
Prof. Rajdeep Singh Dhaliwal, Head of Department and Convener of the seminar, presented a vote of thanks to all the dignitaries. He said that human beings interfere in the natural processes which becomes a reason for natural disasters. He thanked Punjab Biodiversity Board and National Biodiversity Authority of India for sponsoring the seminar. The students also participated in Poster Making competition, Declamation Contest and Slogan Writing Contest. The students were judged for the same by Dr. Akshita Dhaliwal, Dr. Sukhvir Kaur and Prof. Mandeep Kaur. In Poster Making Competition, Ramanpreet Kaur, Harmanbir Kaur, Arshpreet Kaur and Navdeep Kaur bagged 1st, 2nd, 3rd positions respectively. In Declamation Contest 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions were bagged by Upinder Kaur, Lovepreet Singh and Naveen Kumar. In Slogan Writing Competition, Harmanpreet Kaur, Mandeep Kaur and Rupali bagged 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions respectively. All proceedings of the seminar were conducted by Dr. Akshita Dhaliwal.
