Biodiversity, climate change discussed in Buddhist conference

DHARAMSALA: Biodiversity, climate change and natural disaster preparedness were discussed in a five-day conference which begins here today on the occasion of World Environment Day.

Over 60 representatives from 45 monasteries across the Himalayas and South Asia participated in the event organised by Rangjung Khoryug Sungkyob Tsokpa (RKST), an association of Buddhist monasteries that help protect the Himalayan region from environmental degradation.

Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, who heads RKST, said the Tibetan Plateau is not only of great importance to the people of Tibet and the Himalayas but to the entire world since it is the main source of water for many Asian countries.

"We should all try our best to protect the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas and preserve these ecosystems," he said after inaugurating the conference.

RKST consists of thirty-six monasteries across India, Nepal and Bhutan that are working together to help create an environmental awakening in the Himalayas about the importance of forest protection, water conservation, wildlife preservation, climate change adaptation and waste management.