Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria has made a strong case for protecting biodiversity, saying it is directly connected to food security, water security, and the livelihoods of millions of people.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the 16th National Meet of State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs), Kataria highlighted India's rich biological heritage and traditional environmental ethos. He stressed that ecological security cannot be treated as a separate issue — it is closely linked to food and water security, livelihoods, and sustainable development.
Why biodiversity protection matters for food and water security
The Governor underlined that when ecosystems are damaged, the impact is felt far beyond forests and wildlife. Healthy biodiversity supports agriculture, clean water supplies, and natural resources that communities depend on for their daily survival and income.
Kataria emphasized the importance of combining traditional knowledge with modern conservation methods. He called for integrating community participation into contemporary approaches, recognizing that local people often hold valuable insights about their natural surroundings that scientific methods alone may miss.
National meet brings together biodiversity leaders
The two-day meet has been organized by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA). It brings together chairpersons and member secretaries of SBBs and UTBCs from across the country, along with experts and scientists working in the field of biodiversity conservation.
The gathering serves as a platform for state and union territory biodiversity bodies to share experiences, discuss challenges, and coordinate their efforts under India's biodiversity framework.
Our Take: Conservation must move from policy to action
In our view, the Governor's message is timely and practical. For too long, biodiversity has been seen as a niche environmental concern rather than a foundation of everyday life. But the reality is simple — if we lose biodiversity, we risk our food supplies, our water sources, and the livelihoods of communities that depend on natural resources.
The emphasis on traditional knowledge is particularly important. India's conservation efforts will only succeed if they respect and include the people who have lived alongside these ecosystems for generations. The real test now is whether the discussions at this national meet translate into concrete action on the ground — because protecting biodiversity is not just about saving nature, it is about securing our own future.