Forest Dept revises biodiversity strategy and action plan

IMPHAL, Jan 28 (DIPR)
The Manipur Biodiversity Board (MBB) of the Forest Department has initiated an exercise for revision of Manipur Biodiversity Stra-tegy and Action Plan (MBSAP) in partnership with the Foundation for Ecolo-gical Security (FES) and GIZ-NERAQ.
In the first stakeholders’ consultation workshop organised today at Forest Headquarters Imphal, participants from various Government departments, academia, policy makers, researchers, civil society organisations  and community leaders discussed strategies for conservation and managing the State’s rich biodiversity sustainably.
During the programme, Anurag Bajpai, PCCF & HoFF, highlighted the vital roles forests and their ecosystems play in preserving biodiversity and supporting livelihoods in Manipur.
He emphasised on the significance of forest as the largest source of raw materials in the State and urged participants to develop a feasible time-bound Action Plan to drive future conservation initiatives while ensuring tangible benefits for the local communities.
Bajpai also underlined the importance of inter-departmental collaboration to address the interconnected challenges of biodiversity conservation and ensure the successful implementation of the revised MBSAP.
He further stressed on the need for involving young students from the universities and colleges in the revision process so that the perception of the present generation or "Gen-Z" can also be integrated in the action plan along with their technological acumen.
The discussions focused on identifying gaps in the existing MBSAP and aligning it with National and global biodiversity frameworks.
Group sessions were held to assess challenges, exchange insights, and prio-ritise conservation needs.
Interactive dialogues were held to outline key objectives, strategies, and timelines for updating the MBSAP.
The event marked a crucial step in promoting multi-stakeholder collaboration to protect Manipur’s unique biodiversity through the revision of the State’s Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. The revision process is likely to be completed by April, 2025.