The Uttarakhand Biodiversity Board presented the second Gaura Devi Jaiv Vividhta Sanrakshan Award 2019 to Sarojini Pundir, the president of Shri Nanda Devi Smiriti Sansthan of Karnprayag in Chamoli district.

 She was chosen for this award for spreading awareness in the society on conservation of local bio-resources and other appreciable contributions by developing the Nanda Devi Smriti Van, Gaura Devi Smriti Van and Priti Van.

 The award was presented at a programme held in Vigyan Dham to mark the International Day for Biological Diversity on Wednesday.

This year’s celebration is focused on biodiversity as the foundation for food, health and a key catalyst to transforming food systems to improving human health.

This is in line with the theme of “Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health”. Celebration of the IBD 2019 on this theme provided an opportunity to raise awareness and action towards the contribution of biodiversity to maintain food and health.

State’s forest and environment principal secretary Anand Bardhan was the chief guest at the event organised by the Uttarakhand Biodiversity Board in collaboration with the Uttarakhand State Council of Science and Technology (UCOST).

The Uttarakhand Biodiversity Board member secretary SS Rasaily spoke on the role of the board in conservation of biodiversity in Uttarakhand. The board’s chairman Dhananjai Mohan explained the importance of International Biodiversity Day in biodiversity conservation. The UCOST director general Rajendra Dobhal also expressed his views on the occasion.

A book “Valley of Flowers” written by HB Naithani, former scientist at Forest Research Institute was also released during the event. On the ocassion of IBD-2019, Uttarakhand Biodiversity Board also organised a photography exibition for students. The exhibition was an attempt to depict the plight of the holy river Ganga due to human activities. It was aimed at making the public aware about what people are doing to the rivers.