With an aim to promote the state’s flora and fauna and rich biodiversity, Education Minister Ranoj Pegu on Thursday launched the School Biodiversity Register (SBR) in the State Mission Office of Samagra Shiksha in the presence of Principal Secretary, Education Department, B. . Kalyan Chakraborty, and Mission Director, Samagra Shiksha, Assam, Roshni Aparanji Korati. The register will also empower to develop a baseline database for biodiversity so that appropriate assessment can be done on various parameters such as endangered and extinct species.
Chakraborty’s brainchild SBR has been designed as a record of people’s knowledge, perception and attitude about natural resources, plants and animals, their use and conservation in village or panchayat which will further create a database in every school Where all common species of flora and fauna will be available.
“We have started the SBR as schools are reopening with the fall in the number of Covid cases. The training of teachers has started,” Chakraborty told TOI.
He said that plantation of saplings would be encouraged in the school premises as these trees could become assets later on. Valuable agarwood plantations will be encouraged for making perfumes. “Plantation of trees will increase the value of schools. Some species are endemic to Assam,” Chakraborty said.
He said that an agar plant which costs around Rs 15, can produce Rs 50,000 in a period of seven years. He said that this idea can be emulated in colleges also. Agarwood is described as liquid gold because of the costly adhesives produced are used in the perfume industry.
SBR will be maintained in all primary and secondary schools under the state government. There will be a nodal teacher for the convenience of the students to maintain the SBR. The school management committee and school management development committee as well as members of the local community will help in this process. The available species will be documented with photographs and videographs. Photo albums will be maintained in schools.
Pegu stressed on the importance of biodiversity as it is our heritage that must be protected. “This program will help in developing the area’s biodiversity management plan for the conservation of existing and rare endangered species,” he said.
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