GUWAHATI, May 22 - With the aim of spreading awareness on biodiversity and the importance of preserving it, Aaranyak, a society for biodiversity conservation, celebrated the International Biodiversity Day in a unique way with 75 school kids today.
The celebration was made by organizing an art competition themed on the threatened species of the North-east at Krishnakanta Handique LP School, Dakshin Rukmini Gaon, Beltola in the city.
All the students took oath on wildlife conservation. The head mistress, Nirupama Devi appealed to the students for plantation.
Addressing the event, Partha Sarathi Mahanta, SP (Security), Kamrup, spoke on the importance of biological diversity and the reason for declaring the day (May 22) by UN as the international day for promotion of biological issues.
Highlighting the burning issues concerning the environment, Mahanta said, �We need to raise good stewards of the environment to care for issues like resource depletion, environmental pollution, land degradation, species extinctions and large-scale deforestation.�
Later, Udayan Borthakur, programme head of Wildlife Genetics Programme, Aaranyak, distributed the prizes among students who won the art competition and interacted with the school children on various issues of biodiversity.
The art competition was held in two categories -- I-III & IV-V. The top selected students of two categories will take part in a State-level competition to be organized by Aaranyak on the occasion of its silver jubilee celebrations.
