Meaning of grassroots democracy
Grassroots democracy means democratic institutions at the local level and its practice. Panchyati raj institutions in India, Counties and municipalities in the USA; regions, the departments and communes in France; prefectures and the municipalities in Japan etc. Local Governments are administrative centres where national policies get pruned to suit local or regional needs. These government systems can ensure governance at par with direct democracy. In many political systems, the local governments are mere agents of the central government. In some of the democratic states, these grassroots democracy enjoys considerable autonomy; for example panchayat raj institutions in India.
Conservation is an agenda backed by legal system of the country. There are two types of conservation; in situ conservation and ex situ conservation. These methods are usually used if genetic diversity is identified in a given place. In situ conservation is the ‘on-site conservation of genetic resources in natural populations’; of plants, animal species, forest resources etc. it is the process of protecting an endangered plant or animal species in its natural habitat. It is the most appropriate method of protecting bio diversity.
The ex situ conservation means the conservation of biological diversity outside their natural habitats. In comparison with in situ conservation, ex situ conservation suggests many ways for the conservation of bio diversity or endangered species away from their habitat. Most common methods adopted by ex situ conservation are gene banks, seed banks, sperm and ova banks, in vitro plant tissue or microbial culture collection (tissue culture etc), captive breeding of animals and artificial propagation of plants, establishment of zoos, aquaria, botanic gardens etc. The ex situ conservation provides better facility for research and controlled conservation models.
Conservation and Local self-governments:
Local self-governments are at the base level of administration. Conservation movements or strategies need local support and initiatives rather than usual tickle down process. The best method of bio diversity conservation is in situ conservation. Local governments are in touch with their unique ecological needs of the bio-diversity in their jurisdiction. The central administration may not have that much linkage with the local flora and fauna. Experts at the village or regional level can identify the plant diversity or bio diversity and can decide if they are endemic or endangered.
For example; the Bio Diversity Management Committees (BMCs). Kerala is the first state in India to implement BMCs in every panchyats. The section 41 of the Bio Diversity Act suggests constitution of Biodiversity Management Committees in every panchayat ‘for the purpose of promoting conservation, sustainable use and documentation of biological diversity including:
a. Preservation of habitat
b.Conservation of land races, folk varies and cultivers,domesticated stocks and breeds of animals, micro-organisms, chronicling of knowledge relating to biodiversity.
The chairperson of the BMC is the secretary or the executive officer of the local body. The local body can nominate members of the BMC. The selection of its members are with the local body but guidelines are issued by the state bio diversity board. The nominated members must include traditional medical (Indian System of medicine) practitioners, teachers, research scholars in bio diversity, office bearers of department of fisheries etc, The BMC consists of a Chairperson, and six persons nominated by local bodies, including 1/3rd women and 18% SC/ST.
The functions of BMCs:
1.Prepare, maintain and validate People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR) in consultation with the local people.
2. Advice on any matter referred to it by the State Biodiversity Board or Authority for granting approval
3. To maintain data about the local knowledge and practitioners using the biological resources
4. Revival of local biodiversity hot spots
5. They should inform the state Bio diversity board about the possibilities of Intellecual property right for traditional knowledge system in connection with preservation and conservation of seeds, soil erosion, wind breaking etc. (nattarivual)
6. The BMC should take care of local eco systems like Kavukal – land with exceptional bio diversity, water bodies etc.
7. They should explore the commercial viability of available or extractable bio-resources in a village.
8. It is the duty of the BMC to orient people on the importance and biodiversity and its conservation.
9. They should take care for the preservation or patenting of traditional knowledge system as existing in the locality.
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