On the occasion of the International Day of Biological Diversity (22 May), Global Forum for Sustainable Rural Development partners with Department of Environmental Sciences, M L Sukhadia University, Udaipur; Agrawal Girls’ PG College, Gangapur City and Rajasthan State Biodiversity Board, Jaipur along with their twelve partners from all over India and Globe organized an International Webinar. Through the partnering organizations, three university departments from Wildlife Sciences (University of Kota, Rajasthan), Environmental Studies (MS University Baroda, Gujarat) and Environmental Management (Vikram University, Madhya Pradesh) were instrumental in associating youngsters from their departments. The three educational institutes, namely, Sevadal Mahila Mahavidyalay (Maharashtra), Ramjas College (University of Delhi, New Delhi) and Institute of Health & Environment (Nepal) joined as HEIs. As the NGO partners, KCES’ JalSRI (Jalgaon, Maharshtra), Rajputana Society of Natural History (Rajasthan) and Environment & Social Welfare Society (Khajuraho, MP) gave their eminent presence from different regions. The three global platforms, viz., World Congress for Environment (Egypt) and Human Rights Education Association (Vadiodara, Gujarat) joined as key partners.
Overall 25 eminent environmental scientists and activists including the policy makers shared their views on the challenges and the possible solutions. Eight speakers from the five SAARC Nations, Middle East, Europe, Canada shared their approach towards the solutions.
Dr. Satya Prakash Mehra, Principal, Agrawal Girls College overviewed was the Organizing Secretary of the Program Schedule.
The three Technical Sessions were arranged for the speakers to share their views. Dr. Swati Samvatsar (JalSRI, Maharashtra) and Dr. Pranab Pal (WII, Uttrakhand) for Technical Session-I;Dr. Jayanta Choudhury (NIRDPR-NERC, India) and Dr. Zeeshan Khalid (MoCC, Pakistan) for Session-II; Prof. D. M. Kumawat (VU, MP) and Dr. Surabhi Srivastava (UoK, Rajasthan) Chaired and Co-Chaired for their respective sessions. Prof. Wafik Moneir Nosier, Egypt;Prof. Murli Gopal Ranjitkar, Nepal; Dr. Om Katel, Bhutan and Dr. Pranjol Phukon, India and Dr Khalid Hossain were speakers in the technical session -II
The Webinar was focused on sensitizing the young minds and the nature enthusiasts. Overall 2,248 participants registered for the webinar whereas viewership accounted over 10,000 through different channels. The speakers also presented the challenges and the possible solutions through their experienced works in different geographical terrains.
The outcome of the Webinar was ‘revival of the eco-cultural approach of the humans representing their compatibility with ecosystem’ need to be established. Through different case studies, the speakers shared their views on the possible solutions focused on the initiatives from the super species, i.e., humans.
