Traditional ecological knowledge greatest defence against climate change: Arunachal minister

ITanagar, Arunachal Pradesh government minister Gabriel D Wangsu on th said traditional ecologic knowledge is the state's sterling(a) defence against mood change, an official report said.Speaking after inaugurating the Arunachal Pradesh Jaiv Vividhata and Mvm Liid Soonam/Beej Utsav 2026, Wangsu described Keyi Panyor district as a pioneering model of "biohappiness-driven" development.Highlighting changing climatic conditions, the agriculture and horticulture minister said rainfall patterns have become increasingly erratic, winters are shorter, and floods more intense.He cautioned that solutions designed for the plains cannot be simply transplanted to the region's unique terrain and urged protection and promotion of indigenous crop varieties as "living insurance" against climate uncertainty.The two-day festival and stakeholder consultation, being held at the Government Higher Secondary School in Yazali, has been co-organised by the 16th YAC MLA office, Krishi Vigyan Kendra Keyi Panyor, the Arunachal State Rural Livelihoods Mission , and the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation .The event aims to position the newly established district as a living template for sustainable development that fuses biodiversity conservation with human well-being.Officials said Keyi Panyor has been recognised as India's first "Bio-Happy District", a distinction based on biological diversity, tribal cultural identity, ecological sustainability, and community well-being.They said the recognition highlights the district's traditional wisdom, resilience, and ecological practices among the country's more than 800 districts.Wangsu lauded local conservation efforts and singled out Hage Nanya from Ziro for seeking intellectual property protection under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act for 12 indigenous paddy varieties from the Lower Subansiri district.To scale such successes, the minister announced measures to bolster community seed banks, strengthen local seed certification systems, expand storage infrastructure, and mobilise networks of women-led 'Seed Guardians'.Yachuli MLA Toko Tatung, in his address, celebrated the region's rich agricultural heritage.MSSRF chairperson Dr Soumya Swaminathan said the biohappiness concept can integrate grassroots conservation with inclusive livelihoods, nutrition security, and social equity.This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.