Kerala announces strict measures against bio-piracy

Thiruvananthapuram, April 11 (IANS) The Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) Wednesday announced strict measures to prevent bio-piracy.

K.P. Laladhas, member-secretary of the newly-constituted board, said that a few important decisions have been taken in the best interests of the state's bio-diversity.

'We have decided to ask the National Biodiversity Board to impress upon the Centre, and see that a taxonomist is appointed in the emigration department, in seaports and airports, to ensure that precious plant material endemic to our state are not taken away,' Laladhas told IANS.

Kerala is home to nearly 10,035 plant species (22 percent of the national plant diversity). Of the 4,600 flowering plants found in Kerala 1,500 are endemic.

'We have decided to put up huge signboards in all entry points of our state, in the airport and at important locations, stating the importance of protecting Kerala's environment,' said Laladhas.

'We will also ask the local bodies in the state to see that when the workers clean up the roads and highways, they do not destroy the flora and fauna because numerous species of precious plants are being destroyed like this,' added Laladhas.

Of late KSBB has started numerous initiatives, the latest one in news was - Kerala being the first of the states to set up Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) in all the 978 village councils.

Out of the 978 councils, 500 village councils have prepared the People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs), making it a rare distinction in the country for any state.