Rosaiah for bio-heritage sites

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah today said it was high time that the country formulated plans to bring about a harmonious change to ensure growth and development while protecting biodiversity and sought declaring certain important sites as bio-heritage sites.

"The Agricultural development should not adversely affect agro biodiversity of the nation. It is high time that we formulate plans to bring about a harmonious change so as to ensure growth and development and protect Biodiversity," Mr Rosaiah said, inaugurating a conference on 'Agro Biodiversity and 20 years of WTO.'

"It is high time that we come forward with declaration of certain important sites as bio-heritage sites so as to promote agro biodiversity," he said.

Observing that biodiversity faced threats at all levels, he said, ""Genes are lost within species; species within echo systems and ecosystems within regions. Destruction made by man and degradation of nature and depletion of ozone layer have led to climate change causing threats to biodiversity."

Studies revealed that approximately 30 per cent of the Earth's vegetation would experience a shift due to climate change, he said.

The conference was organised by the Dr Ambedkar Law University in Chennai.