Conference on ecologically sensitive regions in Western Ghats

Alva’s College and Alva’s Institute of Engineering and Technology, in association with Energy and Wetlands Research Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, will organise a international conference on ‘Conservation and Sustainable Management of Ecologically Sensitive Regions in Western Ghats’ from December 28 to 30.

Principal Dr Kurian said the conference will provide a unique opportunity to increase understanding of the role of wetlands in sustaining the food, water and human livelihood with the challenges faced by thesefragile ecosystems.

Wetland ecosystems are cradles of biological diversity, providing water and primary productivity upon which countless species of plants and animals depend for survival. The degradation of these vital ecosystems is linked to continuing problems of land cover changes, deforestation, habitat fragmentation, pollution, indiscriminate disposal of liquid and solid wastes, and issues related to economic productivity and ecological security, he said.

He said an exhibition of software and hardware related to restoration and monitoring technologies, water quality analysis, GIS, GPS, remote sensing, image processing and Cartography, as well as products and services of other organisations and agencies working in the area related to the theme of the conference, will be organised. In addition, the work on rejuvenation of lake in Moodbidri will be taken up on December 31.