National Biodiversity Congress - India 2012

First National Biodiversity Congress 2012 (NBC) is being organized as the important biodiversity mega event of India, to be conducted in a sequel, every year. It will be governed by a national coordination committee (Indian Biodiversity Council) under the Chairmanship of Hon'ble Minister for Environment & Forests, Government of India and Hon'ble Chairman, National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) as Vice - Chairman. Executive committee of the Council includes Chairmen and Member Secretaries of all State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs). The first NBC 2012 is being hosted by Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) under the auspices of MoEF and NBA, with the involvement and cooperation of all State Biodiversity Boards, and other organisations involved in conservation and promotion of biodiversity in the country. KSBB and Govt. of Kerala are proud to host this prestigious biodiversity event in Thiruvananthapuram, as Kerala, the land of unique biodiversity with 19 out of 39 sites listed in Western Ghats heritage list in the ideal venue for such a national event.

The focal theme of NBC 2012 is "Biodiversity for food security". A special session on "Western Ghats in World Heritage Status: Challenges and Opportunities" is also planned along with the Congress, to bring into focus the serious threats faced by biodiversity of the Western Ghats and to gear up the conservation initiatives.