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Report by OD Correspondent; Bhubaneswar: Climate change is having a major impact on biodiversity and in turn biodiversity loss is a major driver of climate change. This is the theme of discussion in today’s seminar on climate change organized by SPAR, a NGO.
Land degradation such as soil erosion, deteriorating soil quality and desertification are driven by climate variability such as changes in rainfall, droughts and floods. Degraded land releases more carbon and greenhouse gasses back into the atmosphere and slowly kills off forests and other biodiversity that can sequester carbon, creating a feedback loop that intensifies climate change.
Speaking to OrissaDiary, Tanzeena Mukherjee of SPAR said “Water degradation is exacerbated by climate change as it plays havoc with the hydrological cycle, destabilizing ground water tables, altering the levels of nutrients and sediment in the water and ultimately increasing biodiversity loss and leading to further land degradation. Odisha has started experiencing it” “Chemicals discharged into the soil, waterways, and oceans are having a broader impact as climate change is altering ocean currents and weather patterns and changing animal migration.” adds Vijay Swain.
Present on the occasion were Prof.Radhamohan, Ex State Information Commissioner, Odisha, Mr. Bhanumitra Acharya, eminent wild life activist,Mr. Ghasiram panda, Programme mananger RCDC, Mr. Pranab Choudhury, Independent consultant, Mr. Abani Ray, Ms. Tanzeena Mukherjee, In-Charge PISA desk, Mr. Vijay K. Swain, In-Charge-SPAR Odisha Chapter, along with participants from various NGOs from 24 districts in Odisha.
SPAR is a non government organization that works on issue of climate change in Sundarban and Similipal.
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