CM chairs Biodiversity Board meeting; Slew of proposals passed

Gangtok, 18 Feb [IPR]: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, who is also the Chairperson of the Sikkim Biodiversity Board and State Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (State CAMPA), chaired the 3rd Board Meeting of the Sikkim Biodiversity Board organized by Forest Environment & Wildlife Management Department Government of Sikkim at the conference hall of Chintan Bhawan here in the capital this afternoon.
After a review of the minutes of the last board meeting and taking account of various projects and activities including accounts statement, Mr. Chamling approved and passed various proposals which are as follows:
-    The Constitution of 176 Biodiversity Management Committees at GPU level.
-    DFOs (W/L) and ACFs (W/L) as Nodal Officers and Asst Nodal Officers for Biodiversity respectively.
-    Empower DFOs (W/L) to appoint any of the Range Officers/ Block Officers as Member Secretary of Biodiversity Management Committee.
-    State and District wise Capacity Building Training of Nodal Officers (Biodiversity) Line departments and other Forest Department staff including Member Secretary.
-    To outsource staff under Sikkim Biodiversity Board.
-    To provide operational fund for Sikkim Biodiversity Board from State Plan on regular basis.
-    To pay one time honorarium of Rs 5,000 to bearers (Local Indigenous Community) of Traditional Knowledge for documenting and sharing their traditional knowledge.
-    Present Biodiversity Award to the traditional biodiversity farmer and conservator of traditional seed and crop.
-    And Annual Work Plan of SBB for 2015-16.
The Meeting also saw a Power-Point presentation on the State CAMPA by the Chief Conservator of Forest (Territorial), CS Rao, and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) assisted Sikkim Biodiversity Conservation and Forest Management project by DFO Dechen Lachugpa
Earlier Chief Minister also released the book “Rapid Biodiversity Survey Report 1”
Addressing the meeting which was well attended by Minister Forest TW Lepcha, Chief Secretary R Ongmu, HoDs of various departments, the officials of Forest Department and the board members, the Chief Minister stated he has dedicated his life and work for the well-being and protection of Sikkim and her people and he will continue to do so. He also added that the appreciation showered on to the state nationally and internationally for various pioneering projects and policies started by his government on biodiversity, organic farming and other such innovative and visionary programmes indicates that Sikkim is being ushered towards the path of prosperity.
Mr. Chamling also informed that the road towards prosperity and achieving such laurels was not easy but full of obstacles. But at the same time he added that it did not discourage him have relentlessly and tirelessly worked for the betterment of Sikkim and her people.
Good life and safe and secure environment which the people and the government employees of Sikkim enjoy are the result of good governance and it’s called the democratic dividends, therefore government officers as well as general people should all have sense of responsibility and belonging towards the state and participate equally to make Sikkim better, the Chief Minister stressed.
The Chief Minister further said that protection of nature and environment is the biggest challenge and threat faced by the world today, therefore if we cannot help protect or do anything positive for the environment and nature then we should never do anything negative, Mr. Chamling affirmed.
The Chief Minister also informed that though our state is small but his government has done commendable job on biodiversity and protection of nature and environment with projects like Smriti Vans, 10 minutes to earth, green mission, organic farming, ban on grazing etc which has got not only domestic recognition but globally too.
He also added that nature has endowed and gifted Sikkim with rich natural resources and 5 climate zones and we should use to our advantage and make optimum use of these resources. Mr. Chamling also asked the department to revive the concept Smriti Van and take it to the grass root levels he also asked the department of Forest to make the Biodiversity Park in Damthang South Sikkim a proper one and if possible take it right up to the heights of Tendong.
Mr. Chamling was also very vocal on having qualitative work and urged the officers to be very sincere on implementation of projects and policies of the government.
The meeting, which earlier started with the welcome note by the Principal Secretary Forest Dr. Thomas Chandy, ended with the vote of thanks proposed by CCF Mr. Rao.