Monday 23 June 2014

Multiple Perspective Approaches to Biodiversity

Today(June 23,2014;Monday), I was the chief guest at an event organized by UNESCO , New Delhi , City Montessori School , Lucknow  and SEED India Ltd.It was the inaugural session of three days national teacher training  workshop on multiple perspective approaches to biodiversity.Mr. Shigeru Aoyagi, Director ,UNESCO , New Delhi was the guest of honour .Below is a summary of what I spoke:
                                    (2005-2014) has been the UN decade for education  for sustainable development(ESD).Sustainable development means a model of development  which conserves and preserves ecology,environment and biodiversity.In this context ,education for biodiversity becomes extremely important.Biodiversity is an idea whose time has come,and we can neglect its education only at our own peril. It is important to focus on Biodiversity because of several threats to it, as described below.
  1. Habitat loss and fragmentation.
  2. Over exploitation of natural resources.
  3. Poaching.
  4. Climate change and Global warming.
  5. Pollution
  6. Growth of human population
  7. Hunting and illegal trade
  8. I.A.S.( invasive alien species)
  9. Lack of efficient protection to threatened species
  10. Oil spills
  11. Coastal/ agricultural development
  12. Land diversion
  13. Encroachment
  14. Fuel wood removal
  15. Grazing
  16. Forest fires
  17. Illicit felling
Climate change and global warming result in destruction of biodiversity and also bring in the risk of disaster,therefore along with education on biodiversity we also need to impart education on climate change, global warming and education on disaster risk reduction(DRR)
Many types of diversity exist in nature which are inter-related.
  1. Biodiversity
  2. Geo diversity
  3. Cultural diversity
  4. Linguistic diversity
  5. Gender inequality, etc.
Accordingly there are a number of perspectives on biodiversity. For example gender inequality perspective focuses on the number of women engaged in the study of biodiversity as compared to men and other such issues.
Under Article 51A of Indian Constitution , it is the fundamental duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the environment including forests ,lakes, rivers and wild life and to have compassion for living creatures.
I express the hope and the confidence that this first of its kind National Workshop will go a long way in preparing teachers and through them students and parents and citizens to contribute to preserve our ecology, biodiversity and environment. I thank UNESCO for having taken the initiative to organise this National Workshop of education of biodiversity. I also thank TERI,CEE,Wild Life Institute of India and other eminent speakers who agreed to become a part of this global learning experience. I congratulated City Montessori school for hosting this workshop along with SEED India .


6 comments:

Lalita Pradeep said...

oh wow....this seems very crisp n informative....thnkooooo

Vidya Nand Garg said...

Thank you.

H.Ahmed said...

गर्ग साहब मेरे क्षेत्र से गौरैया चिड़िया बिलकुल विलुप्त हो चुकी है उससे वापस लाने का कोई उपाए हो तो कृपया कर के शेयर करे , धन्यवाद

Vidya Nand Garg said...

I really have no idea how we can bring back Goraiya in your neighbourhood.But will try to find an answer from experts.Thank you .

Unknown said...

I just saw this post. Thank you so much for gracing the event and all the support and encouragement. You have brilliantly summarized the multiple perspective approach.

Vidya Nand Garg said...

Thank you for giving me the opportunity.I am happy , you could see this post.