A two-day international conference, 'Ecosystem Services of Wetlands - Ardrabhumi-2016' will be held here on February 16-17.
Dr Vijay V Bedekar, chairman of Vidya Prasarak Mandal, an organisation which runs various educational institutes, said the conference is being organised by Zoology department and department of Environmental Science of BN Bandodkar College of Science here.
Organisations SACON (Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History), HOPE (Here on Project Environment) Nature trust, Mangrove Society of India and Mangrove Cell, Mumbai is also collaborating with the event.
"The conference is a forum which aims at offering an opportunity for the amateur and young environmentalist, globally, to present their findings about the wetland- biodiversity and habitat as well as about the sustainable utilisation of ecological services provided by mother earth," Bedekar said.
He further said that wetlands and their ecosystem services are immeasurably valuable for ecological and economical benefits to mankind. These habitats play an important role in balancing the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide, help in maintaining life and livelihood.
However, these are under threat due to anthropogenic activities like reclamation for agriculture and construction, domestic and industrial pollution. So, now the onus is on human beings who have to be responsible for protection and restoration of these resources, he added.
A number of research papers would be presented in the conference, to be held in the college premises, in which delegates from the country and abroad will participate and exchange their views.
