``India's biodiversity is our birthright,'' said Dr E K Barucha, Director, Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune, speaking on forests and biodiversity on the occasion of World Environmental Day on Saturday. He said India is rich in all the three kinds of biodiversity - genetic, species and eco-systems. The diverse ecosystem of the Himalayas which consists of the deciduous forests, the thorn forests, the mangroves, the desert, the evergreen forests, the plains, and the aquatic ecosystems support an animal and plant life which comprises 6.5 per cent of all the world's species.

Emphasising the potential these eco-systems have for the pharmaceutical sector, he said, ``We don't even know what half these species are or their potential to earn foreign exchange.''

The organiser of the meet, MaharashtraPollution Control Board (MPCB) had adopted the motto `Our earth, our future, just save it,' on the occasion which also marks the silver jubilee year of the promulgation of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. Other experts focussed on environment related issues like industry and environment, water laws, forests and biodiversity.

Dr Pramod Deo, secretary, energy and environment, revealed that MPCB's infrastructure is inadequate to the tasks it has been assigned to which include finding out the source of pollutants, ensuring and authorising safe disposal of pollutants, checking pollution, reusing and recycling and advising industry. He stressed the proposed Environment Consultancy Organisation, a private sector body with an 11 per cent equity participation by the MPCB, should be a reality as soon as possible. ``MPCB will provide infrastructure and facilitate all its activities,'' he added.

Speaking on the link between the industry and water management, consulting engineer Dr SatishChilekar said water management options should be part of planning an industrial operation, and not an afterthought. ``Treatment of water,'' he said, ``should be the last option.'' He stressed the need for setting industrial benchmarks for water consumption and setting aside part of profits for treatment of water so that it can be recycled and reused.

A K Mhaskar's, former regional officer of MPCB, said the the old legislation on water preservation was far more stringent against violators and allowed for conviction and provided a 30-day warning period which allowed industries time to take steps.