PANAJI
On the occasion of the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) May 22, the Goa Civil and Consumer Action Network (GOACAN) has called on the Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB) to draw up an action plan for the involvement of the panchayat and municipal Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) based on IDB theme for 2021 “ ‘we’re part of the solution’.
In a letter to the GSBB member secretary Dr Pradip V Sarmokadam, GOACAN has also highlighted that the United Nations General Assembly has declared 2021-2030 as the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration which has significance to Goa in view of the recent cyclone Tauktae which hit Goa and left a trail of destruction which besides affecting infrastructure like power lines and houses, resulted in the uprooting of over 500 trees.
GOACAN has proposed that the GSBB approaches the Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) of all village panchayats and municipal councils. It suggests sending of a short report of the impact of the recent cyclone Tauktae on the flora and fauna of the village and proposals for restoration work if any. The volunteers in the village can assist in this process and follow up work arising out of the same. GSBB can also prepare a list of officials linked to Disaster Management at the taluka and district level with their names, mobile numbers and email IDs. “These suggestions can be sent by June 5 which is the World Environment Day, so that an action plan can be prepared so as to minimise the impact and damage to the flora and fauna in the future,” states Roland Martins, coordinator, GOACAN.
