Workshop on Biodiversity Conservation Held — ‘Butterfly Story’ Highlights Message of Ecological Balance — Experts Deliberate on Key Issues

Jaipur, Aug 2025 : Focusing on Rajasthan’s traditional heritage, community life, and natural resource conservation, a workshop on “Biodiversity and Stewardship – Understanding Ecological Psychology and Health Monitoring” was organized on Tuesday at a hotel in Jaipur.

The event was jointly hosted by Ranbanka Balaji Trust (Jodhpur) and the Foundation for Ecological Security (Bhilwara). Introducing the workshop’s objectives, Kartikeya Singh Rathore of the Trust emphasized that biodiversity plays a crucial role in today’s changing environmental landscape. He noted that the Trust, in collaboration with institutions and the government, is actively working at various levels to promote biodiversity conservation. This workshop, he said, aimed to strengthen rural livelihoods and natural resources while addressing environmental challenges through collective efforts.

Renowned naturalist and the “Butterfly Man of Uttarakhand”, Peter Smetacek, brought the sensitivity of biodiversity to life through his Butterfly Story, highlighting the ecological lessons hidden within nature. He stressed, “Butterflies and small creatures teach us that every minor change impacts the entire ecology. Without understanding biodiversity, conservation remains incomplete.”

Shweta Singh Rathore, Director and CEO of Ranbanka Balaji Trust, underlined the need for integrated efforts in conserving natural resources such as water, land, and biodiversity. She said that only collective action can ensure the sustainable development, protection, and proper utilization of these resources.

Speaking at the workshop, Abhay Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary, Water Resources Department, said that groundwater recharge and effective management of commons are critical for Rajasthan’s sustainable progress. He emphasized the need to combine scientific approaches with local knowledge and traditions.

Experts at the workshop also discussed topics such as challenges to rural livelihoods, the role of biodiversity in arid landscapes, and the interconnections between ecology and economics. They described the workshop as an important step toward mitigating the environmental impacts of development and ensuring sustainable management in Rajasthan. Partner institutions expressed confidence that such initiatives would help make the state’s ecological systems stronger and more resilient in the future.

The workshop saw participation from representatives of the Water Resources Department, Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project Corporation Limited, Watershed and Soil Conservation, Rainmatter Foundation, Dasra Centre for Microfinance, Pradan, Urmul SPGVS, Central University of Rajasthan, along with officials from various departments.