Canara Green Academy,
#163, Sri Krishna Shree Vananagara,
Hubli Road, Sirsi, Karnataka 581402, India.
Email: mail@greenacademy.org
Canara Green Academy was started in October 2005 principally to conserve sea turtles and mangroves in Karnataka on the west coast of India, especially in Uttara Kannada District. The academy started its work in sea turtle conservation with the Apsarakonda fishermen of Kasarkod beach. The fishermen have been persuaded to protect the nests of sea turtles on this beach. In addition, the academy conducted surveys of mangroves in the rivers Aghanashini and Sharavati.
After surveying the area, the need for a workshop including government and other stakeholders was felt necessary. The workshop was conducted on 11th December, 2006 at Honnavar, Karnataka. The workshop was entirely funded by the Academy.
The workshop was inaugurated by Shri B.Shivanagouda, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests (Development), Bangalore, Shri Shanmugha Sundaram, IFS, Retd. Chief Conservator of Forests, Tamil Nadu and G. Satish, IFS, Conservator of Forests, Kanara Circle, Sirsi. The formal opening speech was delivered by B. Shivanagouda, IFS and G. Satish, IFS. Seven persons from the local community were honoured for their contribution towards the conservation of sea turtles and mangroves.
The session on sea turtles began with a presentation on sea turtle biology and conservation by Kartik Shanker. Annie Kurien made a presentation on the distribution of sea turtles on the Karnataka coast. Paul McCann, a volunteer with Field Services and Intercultural Learning (FSL), shared his experience in India and Rakesh Soans, President of FSL, presented FSL’s work on the conservation of sea turtles.
The afternoon session began with a presentation by Dr. V. N. Nayak, Chairman and Reader in Ocean Sciences, Department of Studies in Marine Biology, Karwar, on the ecology, distribution and threats to mangroves. Shri Shanmugha Sundaram, IFS, Retd. CCF of Tamil Nadu state, also a Technical Advisor to Canara Green Academy, made a presentation on mangroves in Tamil Nadu. Dr. C.R. Elangovan, Director of Centre for Green Philosophy, Chidambaram presented an overview of the ecology of Pichavaram mangroves. Dr. Radhakrishna, Professor, College of Fisheries, Mangalore presented a quantitative analysis using time series remote sensed data & Geographical Information Systems. There were also presentations by Rajashekhar, IFS, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Kundapura Division, Kundapur, Edwin D’Souza, Assistant Conservator of Forests, Wildlife, Dandeli, H.S.S. Murthy, IFS, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Honnavar Division, Honnavar and M.D.Kanagil, Assistant Conservator of Forests, Karwar Division, Karwar.
This workshop was attended by Forest Department officials, staff and students of Marine College, Karwar, Fisheries College, Mangalore, Forestry College, Sirsi and different colleges of North Kanara District, scholars, research fellows, representatives of Indian Institute of Science, Centre for Environmental Education and other non-government organisations.
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