Date:21/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/21/stories/2007092162420900.htm

Tamil Nadu

Trust set up to implement project in Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: An exclusive trust to implement a Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded project in the Gulf of Mannar (GoM) Biosphere Reserve has been formed, Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests S. Regupathy said here on Thursday.

Inaugurating a two-day international workshop on ‘GoM Biosphere Reserve: an ecological model for bio-diversity conservation, livelihood and sustainability,’ he said the seven-year project was funded under the GEF and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and co-financed by the State and Central governments for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity of the GoM Biosphere Reserve.

“The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has forwarded proposals for the Kanchanjanga (Sikkim), Manas (Assam), Similipal (Orissa) and Pachmarhi (Madhya Pradesh) to the UNESCO for inclusion in the world network,” Mr. Regupathy said. He appealed to scientists attending the workshop to come out with practical recommendations for conservation and protection of this reserve.

Presiding over the function, Chairman of the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) of India, S. Kannaiyan, said the workshop’s main objective was to find more elucidation to conservation and management of biological resources and open up livelihood opportunities for coastal villagers along the GoM Biosphere Reserve.

The NBA Chairman said under the Environment Protection Act, the Centre could declare ecologically sensitive areas as Protected Areas.

In Tamil Nadu there were three protected areas in the marine environment — GoM Marine National Park, Point Calimere and Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary.

Minja Yang, Director, UNESCO, New Delhi, promised UNESCO’s support for GoM conservation measures and creating greater awareness among the community around it.

T. Balasubramanian, Director, CAS in Marine Biology, Annamalai University, appealed to the Minister to set up a centre for sea ranching in Tamil Nadu.

Arvind Boaz, Director General, South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP), Sri Lanka, outlined the various global initiatives in tackling marine littering and effective management of eco-systems.

Ram Boojh, Programme Specialist, Ecological and Earth Sciences, UNESCO, New Delhi, and K. Venkataraman, Secretary, NBA, spoke.