Minister for forest and environment Prestone Tynsong gives away a prize to one of the winners at the competitions in Shillong on Tuesday. Telegraph picture

Shillong, May 22: Along with the rest of the world, Meghalaya today, for the first time, celebrated International Day for Biological Diversity, 2012 with a strong call to create sustainable development in the face of destruction.

The United Nations proclaimed May 22 as International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of bio-diversity issues. This year, the theme was Marine Biodiversity.

In the state, the day was celebrated at U Soso Tham Auditorium here where state forest minister Prestone Tynsong made an appeal to preserve bio-diversity for a sustainable livelihood.

Tynsong lamented that Meghalaya’s bio-diversity was under threat because of deforestation, habitat destruction, mining, jhum cultivation and encroachment in forest areas. The time has come for every individual to take the pledge to conserve bio-diversity both for ecological balance and economic security, he said.

State principal chief conservator of forests V.K. Nautiyal said people should be conscious that forest wildlife is an integral part of all living beings and have the right to live in the planet as human beings.

He also said India, which is one of the 12 major bio-diversity hotspots in the world, is severely under threat and therefore, there was an urgency to spread the message on the need to preserve bio-diversity.

Additional chief secretary Barkos Warjri said as responsible citizens, there was a tremendous need to appreciate and respect the richness and wealth present in nature.

Prizes were also distributed to school students who took part in the essay and painting competitions.