Shillong, Nov 10: Meghalaya Governor Chandrashekhar H Vijayashankar has urged scholars to document climate disturbances scientifically and build research-based frameworks for policy makers to safeguard the future of the Northeast.
Speaking at the fourth annual international conference of the Society for Pathways to Sustainability (PathS) in Raj Bhavan today, the Governor highlighted the vulnerability of the region to climate disturbances.
He referred to the visible impact of climate change in Mawsynram – the highest rainfall region in the world, where rainfall patterns, seasonal distribution and climatic rhythm have begun to show changes. He stressed that the increasing frequency of abnormal rainfall, shifts in monsoon behaviour, erosion and habitat loss are clear signs that climate change is already affecting the North East.
He expressed concern that in the modern industrial era, development patterns in many parts of the world have become “highly extractive” resulting in the loss of natural resources, environmental degradation and widening socio-economic inequalities.
Referring to the present ecological crisis, the Governor said that monoculture plantation patterns cause serious long-term ecological imbalance, destroy natural nutrition cycles, and weaken the biodiversity linkages of fragile ecosystems. He emphasised that native species must always be prioritised along with due care for the endangered species and special focus over medicinal plants because they protect the ecosystem, conserve genetic diversity and enhance natural resilience.
He urged researchers, academicians, students and stakeholders in the conference to take a pragmatic, evidence-based and practical approach in their research and policy recommendations so that sustainable solutions can be developed which are relevant to real local ecosystems and can support the country’s long-term development pathway.
The two-day conference is being held on the theme “Sustainable Development: Theory, Practice, Approach and Policy”. Organised by the Department of Economics, North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Society for Pathways to Sustainability (PathS), OKDISCD, Guwahati, AAS and ICSSR-NERC, more than 100 research papers are scheduled to be presented both in online and offline mode, along with multiple thematic panel discussions, including a special panel session on “Sustainable Development in the North East: Challenges and Opportunities.”
