| News Details |
| Inception Workshop on Preparation of People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) held at Kargil | |
Kargil, March 31 (Scoop News)-Hon’ble Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor (CEC), LAHDC Kargil, Dr. Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, today inaugurated the Inception Workshop on the preparation of People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) at Syed Mehdi Auditorium Hall, Kargil.
The workshop was organized by the Ladakh Biodiversity Council in collaboration with the Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment, UT Ladakh, and the Foundation for Revitalization of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT), Bengaluru.
The worksop aimed at initiating the process of preparing comprehensive People’s Biodiversity Registers(PBRs) for Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) across Kargil District. The preparation of the PBR will be done over an electronic platform and will be maintained online.
The event was also graced by Er. Punchok Tashi Hon’ble Executive Councillor, Shri Rajesh S. (IFS), Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, UT Ladakh, Rakesh Kumar (IAS) Deputy Commissioner/CEO, LAHDC Kargil, Shri Raza Ali Abidi, Wildlife Warden, Raziya Khatoon DPO, along with officers and stakeholders from various departments.
The programme commenced with a welcome address by Wildlife Warden Raza Ali Abidi. A two-minute silence was also observed to pay homage to late Mr. Ali Akbar, Forest Guard of the Forest Department, who lost his life in the tragic avalanche accident at Zojila Pass on 27th March, 2026.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Mohd Jaffer Akhoon emphasized the urgent need to document and preserve Ladakh’s unique biodiversity, including its rich flora and fauna and water bodies. He highlighted the importance of preparing robust comprehensive biodiversity registers to safeguard traditional knowledge, particularly regarding medicinal plants and indigenous practices.
The CEC underscored the significance of strengthening the traditional Sowa-Rigpa (Amchi) system of medicine and expanding its reach across Ladakh, especially in Kargil, noting its potential for healthcare advancement and livelihood generation. He also highlighted Green Ladakh” initiative launched by the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, UT Ladakh, terming it a visionary step towards environmental sustainability.
Expressing concern over the depletion of water resources, Dr. Akhoon stressed the need for collective responsibility in conserving water and protecting the fragile ecosystem of Ladakh. He called for a sustainable and long-term approach to development, ensuring that infrastructure growth does not compromise environmental integrity.
He further assured that LAHDC Kargil would extend full support—both institutional and technical—to initiatives focused on biodiversity conservation, research, and sustainable practices.
Shri Rajesh S. (IFS), APCCF, UT Ladakh delivered a detailed presentation on the three-tier regulatory framework for biodiversity governance, comprising the National Biodiversity Authority at the national level, the Ladakh Biodiversity Council at the UT level, and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at the grassroots level. He emphasized on promotion of biodiversity conservation, it sustainable utilization and equitable sharing of the benefits of arising out the economic and commercial use of biodiversity. The APCCF also highlighted the critical role of BMCs in securing the ends of biodiversity conservation and promotion of sustainable bio economies and green employment avenues.
Executive Councillor Er. Punchok Tashi, in his address, remarked that while technology is a modern advancement, biodiversity has always been fundamental to life. He stated that the BMC initiative would serve as a bridge between traditional knowledge and modern conservation practices, creating opportunities for economic growth at the community level.
Deputy Commissioner/CEO, LAHDC Kargil, Shri Rakesh Kumar (IAS), reaffirmed full administrative support to the initiative. He elaborated on the objective of developing village-level biodiversity registers to identify species with economic and medicinal value, thereby promoting sustainable development in the district. He also extended the support for the Biodiversity Management Committees by providing office space for their functioning in the respective Panchyat Offices.
The workshop concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. M. Abdul Kareem, representing the Foundation for Revitalization of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT), Bengaluru- the expert agency enaged by the Ladakh Biodiversity Council to prepare People’s Biodiversity Register for the BMC in U T Ladkah. He extended gratitude to the Department of Forest and Wildlife, the visiting FRLHT team, and all participating stakeholders, including officers from the Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Departments.
The programme concluded with a shared vision of leveraging Ladakh’s biodiversity as a foundation for ecological resilience and local economic empowerment.
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