To conserve native and endangered animals, crops, marine and biological species, Maharashtra has decided to set up a gene bank project.
Seven major thematic areas
Seven major thematic areas of the project include,
- ex situ conservation of marine biodiversity;
- on farm conservation of crop genetic diversity;
- on farm conservation of livestock genetic diversity;
- conservation and sustainable use of indigenous fish and shellfish diversity in selected water bodies;
- conservation of grassland and savanna biodiversity;
- eco restoration of community forest resource lands employing a diversity of life-sustaining and economic plant species and
- participatory management of the relevant information.
Salient features
- It will tap into indigenous knowledge resources, work on documenting these species and the knowledge of local communities and preserve these genetic and molecular samples.
- In the next five years, an amount of Rs 172.39 crore will be spent on these seven focus areas. Apart from protecting biodiversity, the project will focus on mitigating the impact on the food chain due to climate change.
- The project will be implemented by the Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board (MSBB) and will be overseen by committees under the chief secretary and the principal secretary (forests).
- The MSBB will coordinate with institutions like the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) Goa to document and conserve rare and endangered marine species and chalk out an action plan.
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