Rupandehi, March 24:

Knowledge and expertise of the indigenous people should be utilised while drafting policies on environment and taking up

environment conservation measures in the country, participants said at a three-day seminar on Environmental Justice and Coordination, which began here today, said.

Sustainable development should be the objective of national development policy, they said, adding that the locals should have a say on environmental utilisation and conservation.

Presenting a working paper on the Role of Policy-makers, Planners and Decision-makers in Environment Conservation, a former member of the National Planning Commission, Dr Lekhnath Belbase, said: “Rather than focusing on the experiences of Australia and the United States of America, skills and knowledge of our farmers should be utilised while taking up environment conservation measures.”

Teachers, journalists, lawyers, judges and 40 officers of NGOs are taking part in the three-day seminar.