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PGI experts stress on need to preserve biodiversity
The School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, organised several activities as part of the National Environment Awareness Campaign.
The School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, organised several activities as part of the National Environment Awareness Campaign.
All activities aimed at disseminating information on sustainable and eco-friendly practices like vermi-composting, methods of reducing, reusing and recycling materials.
The event was inaugurated by Rajesh Kumar, head, School of Public Health, PGIMER.
He said the loss of habitats would lead to the depletion of plants and extinction of wild animals.
Professor Kumar further said the shrinking genetic diversity led to the flora and fauna becoming more vulnerable to diseases and less adaptable to environmental changes.
Students put up skits and posters to send the message of environmental conservation across. They also demonstrated the procedure to set up a vemi-composting unit. A workshop on 'Biodiversity and sustainable practices' was held.
Several expert lectures such as 'Why should we protect the ozone layer' by Ravinda Khaiwal, PGIMER; 'Resource recycling' by Suman Mor, Panjab University; and 'Forest and sustainability' by Aseem Sharma, Indian Forest Service, department of forest and wild life preservation, Punjab, were held.
Ravindra Khaiwal, assistant professor of environment health, School of Public Health, PGIMER, said prolonged human exposure to solar radiation may result in acute and chronic health effects.
He further said scientific evidence suggested that UV radiation may damage the immune system, increase the risk of infectious diseases and limit the efficacy of vaccinations.
Suman Mor from PGIMER spoke on the ways of reducing the exploitation of resources. She stressed on the need to adopt efficient methods of recycling waste.
She further said sustainable practices need to be promoted to preserve biodiversity in the long run.
