33rd ANNUAL DAY CELEBRATIONS, INAUGURATION OF EVERY CHILD A SCIENTIST AT POOMPUHAR

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INAUGURATION OF INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN HILLY & COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS AUGUST 7 TO 9, 2022

CHENNAI. AUGUST 7, 2022

The UN General Assembly declared the year 2022 as the International Year of Sustainable
Mountain Development and the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture,
and the theme of this year’s MSSRF Conference thus puts the spotlight on the hilly and
coastal ecosystems, particularly, in the context of climate change vulnerabilities and resulting
livelihood insecurities.

Hon’ble Thiru Siva V Meyyanathan, Minister for Environment and Climate Change, and
Youth Welfare and Sports Development, Government of Tamil Nadu, inaugurated the
international conference and spoke about the consequences of climate vulnerability and need
for immediate sustainable action. He iterated that it is only through participatory approaches
and involving local communities can climate change related concerns be managed. He called
for action by raising 10,000 small forest system (MIYAWAKI) in Tamil Nadu, and said that
the industries will be called upon to plant at least 1000 native tree species in surrounding their
respective industries. Thiru Meyyanathan stressed on the importance of growing bamboo and
recommendation that every household must plant a bamboo tree. “Bamboo trees reduce
pollution as it helps to deal with excess carbon dioxide at the same delivering more oxygen.”
He added that along with bamboo, palm trees, mangroves, neem, and seaweed help to control
erosion as it makes a water barrier. “This is especially important for Tamil Nadu since we
have a long coastline. The Tamil Nadu Government is taking up about 500 kms and we will
plant these trees.”

Thiru Meyyanathan released the 32nd Annual Report of MSSRF and inaugurated the ‘Every
Child a Scientist’ Centre MSSRF Fish for All Centre, Poompuhar. He also inaugurated the
exhibition on Diversity and Technology, and interacted with the representatives of rural
communities from Wayanad -Kerala, Kolli hills -Tamil Nadu and Koraput – Odisha.
MSSRF initiated the ‘Every Child A Scientist’ programme in 2002 to inculcate scientific
curiosity among school students, and impart knowledge surrounding conservation and
sustainable use of bio-resources. The programme enables access to modern learning tools,
well-equipped laboratories, and field visits to learn from nature and natural resources. It
focuses on providing an enabling environment for girls and boys from grade VI to VIII
studying in government schools. The programme strengthens the child’s inquisitiveness
towards understanding scientific concepts by providing access to quality learning aids and
exposure to up-to-date exciting developments in science.

Prof Dr. M S Swaminathan, in his video telecast, emphasised the need for conserving of
genetic heritage, indigenous knowledge from tribal communities, and iterated that coastal and
hilly restoration is essential for sustainable health. “97% of water comes from coastal areas
and therefore conserving and sustainable usage of water resources is the key to future food
security.”
Dr Essam Yassin Mohammed, WorldFish Interim Director-General & CGIAR Acting
Senior Director of Aquatic Food Systems, Malaysia, in his Keynote Address established the
importance of keeping our aquatic creatures safe. “Fishes emit far less greenhouse gases than
land-based systems, and therefore act as a carbon sink, so the more fish we have in the sea,
the better is our environment and for all of us.” He said that adaptation and mitigation efforts
in and through aquatic food systems must be underpinned in all policies that seek to address
climate change resilience.

Dr. Madhura Swaminathan, Chairperson MSSRF, welcomed the gathering both online and
offline, and spoke about the importance of the conference. “Over the last three decades,
MSSRF has worked closely in the hilly regions of Eastern and Western Ghats, as well as the
coastal regions of India. All of our work is with tribal and rural communities, and our efforts
focus on conserving biodiversity and natural resources, in developing sustainable and
scalable models for food and nutrition security, to ensure gender and equity, also by using
modern technologies and ICT tools to enhance rural livelihoods and empower communities.
The Conference is both timely and unique in the way that it not only brings together all the
work done by MSSRF, but also shapes the discourse at an international level for sustainable
management and resilient development. Technical sessions over the next days will showcase
research work undertaken from around the world covering several sub-themes, and a
roadmap will be drawn-up towards achieving the 2030 Agenda.”

Dr. Kundhavi Kadiresan, Leader in international development with World Bank, FAO and
CGIAR, spoke of the need for partnership between government, civil societies and private
sector to pool the technology in understanding the resources on climatic change. “Southern
states of India, especially Tamil Nadu has taken lead role in bringing partnerships together to
work towards sustainable developed in hilly and coastal ecosystems.”

Mr. Bishow Parajuli, Representative and Country Director, UN World Food Programme,
India, said that the need to work for a “second green revolution to reduce hunger,” and
MSSRF does play a major role in this outcome.

Dr. Sarada Krishnan, Director of programmes, Global Crop Diversity Trust, Germany, said
that utilising science in a participatory manner will be key in developing successful
intervention.

Prof Md Shahidur Rashid Bhuiyan, Vice Chancellor, Sher-e-Bangla Agriculture
University, Bangladesh, said that there is serious need for action to protect coastal
agricultural system from climate change consequences, and building resilience is of major
importance.

Dr A K Singh, Director, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, India, credited Prof
Swaminathan with having saved the country from hunger with the Green Revolution, and
recalled how the efforts of the 1960s are benefitting India even today.

For further details, contact

Sangeetha Rajeesh
Director – Communications
3rd Cross Street, Institutional Area, Taramani,
Chennai 600 113, India
Mobile: +91 9841051489
Email: sangeetha@mssrf.res.in
Website: www.mssrf.org