3-day KU workshop advocates for preserving Himalayan biodiversity

Srinagar, May 8: The University of Kashmir (KU) Wednesday called for collaborative conservation in the Himalayas.

A statement of KU issued here said that to delve into the intricate ecosystems of the Himalayan region, particularly in light of climate change, the KU’s Department of Botany Wednesday inaugurated a three-day workshop here.

The ‘Science Academies Lecture Workshop on Himalayan Mountains and Their Life’ was being sponsored by the Joint Education Panel, Indian Academy of Sciences, Bengaluru.

The workshop is open and free to undergraduate and graduate students, research scholars and young faculty members from colleges, universities and other academic and research institutions with around 150 participants taking part on a first come, first served basis.

During the inaugural ceremony, programme convenor, Prof R Uma Shaanker from IIT, Jammu in his keynote, underlined the need for devising a model system to attain the desired goals and objectives.

“We have been non-porous all along but we need to change that mindset and exchange ideas and encourage interdisciplinarity,” he said, adding that having confidence in one’s efforts empowers one to achieve greater heights.

Dean, Research, Prof M Sultan Bhat lamented on the “insensitivity of the masses towards nature” and termed climate change just a “proxy”.