Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Labour and Employment, Bhupender Yadav has said International Biodiversity Day is about need to create environmental consciousness.

Speaking at a special function held to celebrate the International Day of Biological Diversity in Mumbai he said we often take the best from the environment but give back waste, with development our consumption increases. Yadav said if we encourage unnecessary consumption, one earth will not be enough.

In the years to come we need to pave way for conservation of biodiversity along with development, he added and proposed setting up People’s Biodiversity Registers in every village under Mission Life.

Elaborating on the theme for this year’s World Environment Day, the Minister stated that the Ministry plans on combining the celebrations of World Environment Day with Mission Life. Noting that nature and environment are very important to our life he added that with Mission Life the Government endeavours to take a ‘whole society’ approach.

Speaking on the importance of millets Yadav said, “Millets promotes vocal for local. It is a crop that is suited to Indian climate and soil. Along with being drought resistant millets are important to reduce nutritional deficiency. The Biodiversity Board has given special importance to millets. This aims to enable access and benefit sharing with vulnerable communities.”

The union minister reiterated that protection of environment is an article of faith for the country. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that we have access to natural resources because our previous generation protected them. And it is our duty to protect them for our future generations. That is the most important message for today”.

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