The first Indian Biodiversity Congress began at Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala on Tuescday. Well known environmentalist Dr Vandana Shiva inaugurated the three day Congress attended by experts from India and abroad. Leading R & D centres, about two hundred organisations and biodiversity boards from different states are part of the Congress. The current status of biodiversity in India, scope for using the greater biodiversity of the country for alleviating poverty are some of the focus areas of interaction. A documentary film festival on biodiversity and national photo competition are the other highlights of the Congress.