JOIN USVarsities should provide scientific data
Based on the scientific evidence given by researchers, the local people can be convinced to participate in protection of natural habitats, said Western Ghats Task Force (WGTF) chairman Ananth Hegde Ashisara.
He was speaking at a day-long workshop on ‘Relevance of conservation of Western Ghats to plain region’ organised jointly by WGTF, Karnataka forest department and University of Mysore at the Rani Bahadur Auditorium here on Tuesday.
Ashisara mentoned that a capacity study is already being carried out with the assistance of Indian Institute of Science for the past two years in Uttara Kannada to know the impact of the proposed dams, naval and nuclear projects in the region.
With pressure from the populace building on biodiversity hot spots, he stressed on the importance of participation of both state and central government in conservation of habitat. He maintained with conservation in mind, licences haven’t been issued in the Western Ghats for the last three years.
While coastal erosion is a prominent issue across the world, the state government has initiated a green belt on the coast from Mangalore to Karwar.
He said there are 13 medicinal plants on the verge of extinction in the Western Ghats. He stressed on the need to be taken to check smuggling of medicinal plants, which is far more difficult than stopping illegal smuggling of forest wood.
“The Western Ghats is home to 22 rivers and 180 tributaries. We can save the Western Ghats only if we save these water sources,” he added.
Conservator of forests (CF), Mysore circle, K B Markandaiah said 14 per cent of private lands with forest cover have been destroyed in the past few years due to rapid urbanisation. He bemoaned that due to the frequent straying of wild animals, the forest department has no time for research. Citing the frequent straying of animals, deputy conservator of forests (DCF) Manoj Kumar said it was important for the University of Mysore to conduct research about the issue.
This would be help the implementing agencies such as forest department in tackling the problems caused by straying of wild animals into urban areas.