Training and Development
Report on Fresh Water Bio diversity – Work shop at Key Stone Foundation – Kotagiri
"Even as efforts to conserve tigers and elephants are increasingly pronounced such attempts are conspicuous by their absence when it comes to conserving smaller species"
Focusing on this shortcoming and underscoring the need for a balanced approach in protecting the eco-system and enhancing awareness about its importance, a teacher training programme on, “Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation” for teachers was organized jointly by the Zoo Outreach Organization (ZOO), the Wildlife Information Liaison Development (WILD) and the Nilgiris Natural History Society (NNHS) at the Keystone Foundation in Kotagiri on Tuesday, 12th November, 2013.
Averring that freshwater ecosystems are essential for human survival, B.A.Daniel of ZOO pointed out that they ensured water supply to the majority of the people and they were home to several species of fish, amphibians, invertebrates, birds, mammals etc. Their importance notwithstanding, these ecosystems are constantly under threat due to anthropogenic pressures. Several species of fish and amphibians have become extinct in recent decades. While a lot has been done for the conservation of large mammals like the tiger and elephant precious little has been done for the smaller species that form part of the ecosystem even though they play a vital role in its proper functioning.
The programme dwelt on Odonates, Fish, Snails and Aquatic plants and their significance. It concluded with the participants taking a pledge to commit themselves to the cause of conservation.
Those among the delegates were staff and students from Forest College MTP, Education Department Kotagiri, Agriculture, Horticulture Department, Govt. Botanical Garden and Rose Gardens, Few schools from Kotagiri, NGO’s and The Lawrence School.
We were provided with a teaching manual conceived and developed by WILD to help educators address issues relating to freshwater species conservation and a certificate of participation.
Sashikala Radhakrishnan.