MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)
(a) & (b) Yes. Taxonomy plays a vital role in understanding the biodiversity of any geographic region in general and plant diversity in particular. However, this traditional science is on the verge of extinction. In India, taxonomy is neglected at school, colleges and at university level too. It is mainly due to lack of interest among students in the discipline and significantly lower career prospects. In fact, even at research level, the funds allotted for taxonomic research are meagre, and there are only a very few organisations like BSI and ZSI doing exclusive research in taxonomy and systematics in India.
The science of taxonomy has been declining for several years now, with very few qualified practicing taxonomists and teachers in lndia. ln 1999 the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change launched an All lndia Coordinated Project on Capacity Building in Taxonomy which has trained several students in various groups of plants like Algae, Fungi, Lichens, Bryophytes, gymnosperms and some families of flowering plants. But, the full cataloguing of diversity of life in lndia is far from complete.
The mission of the AICOPTAX is "Enhancement of country''s capabilities for inventorying, monitoring, conserving, community participation in the assessment and utilizing biodiversity as well as for establishing leadership in the field of taxonomy at regional and global levels -also survey, collection and maintenance of collections of taxonomic groups including microbes for which no information is available. Out of 30 identified thematic areas, l5 have been implemented so far, and the investigation under AICOPTAX in the balance 15 thematic areas is under progress.
BSI & ZSI are the implementing agencies for the scheme and are responsible for achieving quality milestones of the scheme.
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