UoM urged to form action research group
Western Ghats Task Force (WGTF) chairman Ananth Hegde Ashisara urged the University of Mysore to form an action research group comprising researchers, representatives of NGOs and forest department staffers to provide information on conservation undertaken in the area.
Addressing a media conference at the office of the deputy commissioner here on Tuesday, he said eco-sensitive areas such as ‘Devarakadu’, ‘Shaalavana’ and ‘Amruthkaval’ were declared as biodiversity hot spots due to the findings put forward by researchers.
He also said that the University of Mysore would submit its findings about the studies to the WGTF, which would be considered for policy-level decision making.
Mentioning that a policy-level discussion would be held on December 20 in Bangalore, he said the emphasis would be on reviving about 4,500 Village Forest Committees (VFCs) in the state.
At present, around 1,500 VFCs are actively participating in preventing forest fires and smuggling in reserve forest areas. Under the ‘Aranya Janasamparka Abhiyaana’, he said interactions with locals would be held in 210 places across the state.
The opinion of locals would be taken into consideration while formulating the forest policy.
Discussing about the proposal for setting up a Western Ghat Conservation Fund, which was sent last year, he said the task force is hoping for its inclusion in the budget this year.
Taxonomy
Observing that the state lacked experts in taxonomy, he said WGTF and forest department should join hand to increase the number of taxonomists.
Unesco tag
Commenting on the Unesco tag for the Western Ghats, Ashisara said the WGTF is still in favour of the proposal.
He said the centre has again asked the state government for its opinion on the Unesco tag, but no decision has been made as yet.
