Date:09/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/09/stories/2009010961220300.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Minister expresses concern over fall in number of marine turtles

Staff Reporter

Local bodies, NGOs told to help in conservation
Action against violation of Wildlife Protection Act

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister for Forests and Housing Benoy Viswom has sought the active participation of local bodies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for the conservation of marine turtles along the Kerala coast.

Inaugurating a State-level workshop on ‘Marine turtle conservation’ organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF), Kerala Forests and Wildlife Department and the Union Ministry of Forests and Environment here on Tuesday, the Minister expressed concern over the reduction in number of marine turtles nesting along the coast over the years.

The Minister urged the participants and organisers to develop an action plan for the conservation of marine turtles. He appreciated the initiative of the WWF in bringing together people from different groups involved in conservation.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests T.M. Manoharan presided over the inaugural function. K. Vijayakumaran, Senior Scientist, CMFRI, Mangalore, delivered the key note address.

Representatives from NGOs and research and educational institutions participated. NGOs working for turtle conservation like Naithal from Kasaragod, Theeram from Kozhikode, Green Habitat from Thrissur and Thanal from Thiruvananthapuram shared their experiences. The workshop called for strict enforcement and punitive measures for violators under the Wildlife Protection Act and participation in conservation involving local bodies, schools, colleges, and youth clubs.

The other recommendations included education and awareness programmes for the different sections of society and possible co-ordination between the various enforcement agencies like the Forest Department, the Coast Guard and the Fisheries Department. Chief Wildlife Warden K.P. Ouseph, who chaired the valedictory session, stressed the need for developing successful models of participatory conservation.