FROM THE STATE DIRECTOR’S DESK

Human beings consider themselves to be veryclever and supreme among other living forms on thisplanet. To a certain extent, this is true, because humanbeings have the ability to think and reason and actlogically. Then, we are supposed to extent the samelogic and reason when we deal with nature also. Butunfortunately what is happening now, is that, we havebeen blinded by too much information and knowledgeand we have lost the ability to balance things. Ourthinking has been side tracked to look at only our ownbenefits and not of other living and non-living forms.Ulimately what is happening now is that, knowinglyor unknowingly, we are putting axe to the branch weare sitting on. This is happening due to our vestedinterests, temporary benefits and short sightedapproach. A recent issue which was brought to ourattention is a classic example. In a place called Pandyin Alappuzha district, which is very much surroundedby wetlands, darters in large numbers made their nestson a few trees. This is a very normal activity for birds.But this created problems for the local populationbecause of droppings, foul smell from decaying fishwaste because small fishes constitute their normal diet,increase in suspended particulate leading to breathingand asthma problems. The local people came togetherand found a permanent solution to this problem – tocut down the nesting trees so that this problem doesnot recur this year or later. For a moment, everybodyforgot that just like human beings, birds also have aright to live in this environment and that we shouldlearn to co-exist with each other without harming eachother. But a few concerned local citizens have comeforward and with the support of WWF has found anacceptable solution to this problem. Another issue isthat of the killing of marine turtles along Kerala Coastespecially in Vizhinjam and surrounding areas. Theturtles are caught and killed for its meat and also theeggs are collected and consumed by human beings.Many of these marine turtles are facing extinction andincluded in Schedule I of the WPA (1972). Here alsowe see a very selfish attitude of human beings. Thiscannot be tolerated and needs to change. This changecan be brought in through a multi pronged approachof enforcement and education and awareness of thesociety. So we need to make sure that our activitiesdoes not harm any other living being and leads to itsextinction and also that other non-living resources areused sustainably.

Renjan Mathew Varghese, State Director

November - December 2008

Newsletter of WWF - India, Kerala State Office, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035

for a living planet

Mruthika / November - December 2008 / 1

IMPORTANT NEWS ONENVIRONMENT AND NATURE

GLOBALSouth Africa holds huge ivory auction

South Africa recently held the world's biggest legalsale of ivory since the last 20 years. The auction inPretoria of more than 51 tonnes of elephant tusks wassanctioned by the UN body which oversees trade inendangered species. The tusks sold for $142 per kilo,netting the government $6.7m (£4.2m), less thanexpected. The South African Government has beencondemned by conservation groups and other Africancountries for the sale. The ivory can only be sold toofficially approved buyers from China and Japan andthe money has to be spent on conservation. They arenot allowed to export the ivory, and the Conventionon International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)says it will monitor trade to make sure companies arenot mixing illegally sourced ivory with the legalshipments. All these tusks came from elephants whohad natural deaths or were culled as part of apopulation control programme. In previous sales, theivory had been sold for $150 (£94). WandaMkutshulwa, from South African National Parks, toldthat she welcomed the sale. "We're seeing less and lessfunds being channelled towards conservation andyet... there is so much work that still needs to be done."Critics of the auction - such as Kenya - say creating alegal ivory market encourages elephant poaching andmakes it easier for illegal tusks to be sold. However,data collected by the wildlife trade monitoringnetwork TRAFFIC shows that seizures of illegal ivoryfell in the years following the last legal sale in 1999,says the BBC's environment correspondent RichardBlack. The ivory trade was banned globally in 1989because poaching was decimating elephantpopulations. These sales and the 1999 sale are the onlyexceptions. Last month, the internet site eBay bannedvirtually all products containing ivory after lobbyingfrom animal welfare groups. (Source: BBC News, 6 Nov2008).

New gecko species discoveredA previously unknown species of gecko has been

discovered in the South Pacific by French scientists.The species, named Lepidodactylus bulel, was describedby scientists after it hatched out of an egg at France's

2 / Mruthika / November - December 2008

National Museum of Natural History — some 12,000miles from Espiritu Santo, its island home in the SouthPacific. The 3-inch-long (8 cm) species was first sightedby scientists during a 2006 expedition when a surveyoraccidentally killed an individual while climbing in theforest canopy. The researchers then scoured the canopyuntil they found eggs which they took back to Francefor further study. Only one of the eggs hatched butthe specimen was enough to show that the gecko wasindeed a new species. Lepidodactylus bulel is likelyendemic to Vanuatu. Overall, 21 percent of the island'sdescribed animal species are found nowhere else. Thecountry recently was accepted into the World Bank'sForest Carbon Partnership Facility, a scheme tocompensate developing countries for protecting theirforest cover. (Source: mongabay.com, 8 Nov 2008)

Toxic toads killing Australian crocodilesToxic cane toads are killing alarming number of

Australia's freshwater crocodiles as the alien pests hopinexorably across the continent, research showed. Thewarty amphibians, which have poisonous sacs on theirheads, have cut the number of crocodiles in someNorthern Territory rivers by more than half, saidProfessor Keith Christian of Charles DarwinUniversity. "A recent survey on the Victoria Rivershowed that in a one-year period as many as 77% ofthe crocodiles have died as a result of eating canetoads," he said. The marauding toads, Bufo Marinus,were introduced to Australia in 1935 from their nativeCentral and South America in an attempt to controlbeetles ravaging sugar cane fields in the tropicalnortheast. The toads have spread into the wetlands ofthe world heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, andall attempts to fight their relentless march westwardhave failed. (Source: The Times of India, 18 Nov 2008)

NATIONALRiver Ganga to be declared a national river

The government has decided to declare the Gangaa ‘national river’ and set up a high-power Ganga RiverBasin Authority to stop its pollution and degradation.The Authority will be chaired by the Prime Ministerand will have as its members Chief Ministers of theStates through which the Ganga flows. This wasdecided at a meeting chaired by Prime MinisterManmohan Singh. The details of the Authority, to bevested with appropriate powers, will be worked outin consultation with State Governments and CentralMinistries of Water Resources, Environment andForests, and Urban Development. The Authority willdraw its powers from the Environment Protection Act.The unit of planning, it was felt, should be the riverbasin and action related to pollution abatement,sustainable use of water and flood managementshould be integrated. The Authority will promote

inter-sectoral coordination for comprehensiveplanning. Various agencies working on differentaspects of river conservation and pollutionmanagement will be brought under it. (Source: TheHindu, 05 Nov, 08)

STATEIncrease in tiger density in PTR

Increase in tiger density has been reported fromthe Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) following therecounting of tiger population in the reserve.According to a recent study conducted by the Reserveand the Periyar Foundation, the tiger density of thereserve is 24 tigers in 640 sq. km. The recounting wasdone by the Forest Department after a report by theNational Tiger Conservation Authority had recordedsharp fall in the number of tigers in the State.

The Authority had reported early this year thatthere were only 23 tigers in the Periyar landscape fromthe Reserve to Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary covering2,314 sq. km. of tiger-occupied forests. It had alsoestimated the tiger population of the State at 46 in 6,168sq. km. of tiger-occupied habitat. These figures hadcreated widespread disbelief in the State, as it wasearlier estimated that there were about 75 tigers in theKerala forests. There were also complaints that thesurvey was carried out in an unscientific manner. Thesurvey was conducted as part of the nationalprogramme for monitoring of tigers, co-predators, preyand their habitat project.

In PTR, camera traps captured the pictures of 18tigers, including seven each in the Thekkady andVallakadavu ranges, three in the Periyar range and onein the West Division. It was also revealed that therewere six males and 12 females in the population. TheFoundation carried out the study between Februaryand May this year and camera traps were used widelyto identify and count tigers. (Source: The Hindu, 02 Oct,2008)

Forum for wetland protection by 2009Water Resources Minister N.K. Premachandran

said that the proposed Wetland ConservationAuthority under the State Government would comeinto being in 2009. Mr. Premachandran mentioned thatthe responsibility and powers to maintain and managethe wetlands of the respective region should be vestedwith the State Government and not the Centre, andthat the absence of an exclusive authority withstatutory powers had caused confusion in the past.“The rough draft of the bill for the proposed authorityis ready and the body having statutory powers wouldcome into being by 2009,” he said. Mr.Premachandran, who stated that conservation ofwetlands, watersheds and paddy fields were “toppriorities” of the government, said only a focussed

Mruthika / November - December 2008 / 3

legislation in this regard would ensure theconservation and proper management of “thesepriceless assets.” (Source: The Hindu, 18 Nov, 2008)

CZM norms worry fisher folkSpeakers at a meeting organized by the Kerala

Swathantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation (KSMTF) aspart of the World Fisheries Day highlighted the threatsfaced by the fishermen community in Kerala and othercoastal states. Pannian Ravindran, MP, whoinaugurated the meeting called on the CentralGovernment to scrap the move to replace the CoastalRegulation Zone with the Coastal Zone Managementstrategy since it would cause hardships to fisherfolk.He decried efforts by global players to appropriatemarine and coastal resources. “The government mustunderstand the concerns of the fishermen who arealready facing a threat to their livelihood from foreigntrawlers and big business groups. They should bebrought back to the mainstream of social life,” he said.State president of the KSMTF T. Peter said theproposed Coastal Zone Management would spelldoom for fisherfolk. “We are not against development.But developmental activities should not affect people’slivelihood,” he said. (Source: The Hindu, 22 Nov, 2008)

Students to the rescue of Vellayani LakeFive students of Mannam Memorial Residential

Higher Secondary School, Neeramankara,Thiruvananthapuram submitted a report on theirstudy on conservation of Vellayani Lake to WaterResources Minister N.K. Premachandran recently. Thestudents who are members of the school Eco Club,undertook the project titled ‘Conservation of VellayaniLake as a drinking water source’ to participate in theNational Children’s Science Congress. They conductedsurveys, interviews and experiments of water qualityof Vellayani Lake under the guidance of their teacher,Jayasree.

According to their project report, the analysis ofwater samples from the lake, conducted at theGovernment Analyst’s Lab, indicated a high contentof iron, ammonia and E-coli bacteria. The students saidthat they observed an open drain directly dischargingwaste into the lake near Bund Road. The lake is alsopolluted by runoff from agricultural fields and nearbyareas. Fish culture by the Fisheries Department hadalso affected the natural biota of the lake causingpollution, the students observed.

Another factor degrading the lake wasconstructional aspects and development works in thename of tourism. Sand mining is also posing a threatof decrease of groundwater recharge and increase ofturbidity by intervening with the natural filteringsystem, the report said. It has also been observed thatthe area of the lake, which was 750 ha in 1962, hadbeen reduced to 397.5 ha by 2005. The students have

suggested some solutions to put an end to thequantitative and qualitative deterioration of the lake.This includes conducting in-depth studies andpreparing lake conservation and management plans,demarcation of the lake to evacuate illegal encroachersand sand miners and replacement of roads by bridges.The project has also been selected for the StateChildren’s Science Fair. (Source: The Hindu, 22 Nov, 2008)

Wayanad forests gift a new plantA new species of plant belonging to the

Annonaceae family (Custard Apple family), MiliusaGokhalae, has been discovered in the KurichiarmalaReserve Forest area of Kalpetta Forest range inWayanad district. The large shrub species was collectedby Ratheesh Narayanan, Senior Scientist, andSujanapal, Research Associate, M.S. SwaminathanResearch Foundation (MSSRF), Kalpetta.

Kesler and J.F. Veldcamp, experts of Annonaceaegroups, who are based at Rijks herbarium in theNetherlands, have confirmed the identity of the newspecies, Dr. Ratheesh Narayanan said. The Journal ofTaxonomy, Texas, has accepted the publication, he said.He discovered Miliusa wayanadensis, another newspecies, last year which also belongs to the Annonaceaefamily. (Source: The Hindu, 04 Dec, 2008)

Alien fish species in the BharathapuzhaAn exotic species of fish, native to Africa and West

Asia, has been discovered in the Bharathapuzha,raising concern about its impact on the native aquaticecosystem. Dr.A. Bijukumar of the Department ofAquatic Biology and Fisheries, University of Kerala,discovered Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) whiledocumenting the biodiversity of the river. It wascollected from Chamravatom, Shoranur andOttapalam regions. The identity of the species wasconfirmed by K. Rema Devi, Ichthyologist at theZoological Survey of India, Chennai. Tilapias havebeen transplanted to many parts of the world foraquaculture. “They are large, fast-growing and toleratea wide variety of water conditions. Once introducedinto a habitat, they generally establish themselves veryquickly. Though predominantly phytoplanktonfeeders, in many water bodies, they act as omnivoresand even carnivores. They may spread to a new riversystem via estuaries and coastal waters in which theyare able to breed,” says Dr.Biju.

Out of the 112 species of fishes collected by theresearchers from the river, the exotic fishes wererepresented also by the common carp andMozambique tilapia. These fishes were found in theChulliar, Meenkara and Malampuzha reservoirs andthe tributaries of the river.

“However, the presence of Nile tilapia in the rivercomes as a surprise as this species has not beenintroduced in the State formally for aquaculture.

4 / Mruthika / November - December 2008

Tilapias have already established breeding populationsand hence their negative impacts on indigenousspecies should be viewed seriously,” Dr.Biju said.“They could compete with local species and prey onthe eggs and larvae of other fish.”

The Food and Agriculture Organisation has namedtilapia as a biological pollutant after several countriesreported adverse ecological impact after theintroduction of the species. (Source: The Hindu, 8 Dec, 2008)

Malabar giant squirrelMalabar giant squirrel is a large rodent found

mainly in the canopies of our evergreen, semievergreen and moist deciduous forests. This is a veryattractive animal with maroon and black fur on dorsaland off white on ventral part. The black bushy tailhanging down attracts everyone’s attention. Its limbsare short like any rodent, but highly adapted forwalking, climbing and perching along the tree trunksand branches. The powerful clinging claws help themfor easy movement. The skill to jump from branchesto branches helps them for food searching as well as

escaping from predators. These marvelous animalsfeed on tender leaves, fruits, and tree trunks. They areused to nectaring from trees like Bombax ceiba.

These animals play a significant role in the ecologyof forests through seed dispersal, pollination and seedcontrol. These arboreal mammals make platform nestwith twigs and leaves and the very interestingbehavior is that, they build pseudo nests around theoriginal one to confuse the predators. Though theselarge squirrels have not been considered asendangered, the fragmentation and degradation offorests are commendable threats. Eagles and owls arethe major predators for these canopy dwellingmammals.

A.K.Sivakumar

Make your own Water filterHere is an activity for you to make and demonstrate

your own water filter!

You need:A large clear bottle, preferably a discarded one, two

clear jars or beakers, cotton wool, clean washed sand,clean washed gravel, paper napkin/towels, gardensoil, an old spoon, scissors……………

Method:Carefully cut the bottom off the bottle, turn it upside

down and plug the neck with cotton wool. Put a thicklayer of clean, washed gravel on top of the cotton woolfollowed by a thick layer of clean washed sand.

Cut out a circle of paper towel and lay it on top ofthe sand and let your filter stand on top of a clear jaror beaker. Mix two or three spoonfuls of garden soilwith some water in the separate jar and stir itthoroughly. Slowly pour this muddy water on to thedisc of paper towel in your filter.

Observe the water that comes out of your filter, isn’tit sparkling clean !!!

CHILDREN’S CORNER

ACTIVITIES OF WWF-INDIAKERALA STATE OFFICE

Teachers Training WorkshopsFour Teachers Training Workshops on Environment

Education was conducted jointly by WWF-India andCPREEC, Chennai for the school teachers during themonth of November and December. The workshopswere conducted with an objective of capacity buildingof school teachers and teacher trainees to implementthe Environment Education programmes in an efficientand effective manner.

Millath College of Teacher Education,Suranad, Kollam

The workshop organized on 3rd November 2008was inaugurated by Smt.Radhamani Amma, Principalof the college in the function that was presided overby Mr.Yunis, Secretary of the Nature Club.Sri.A.K.Sivakumar, Education Officer from WWF-India briefed on the objectives of the workshop andabout the organizers. Sri. Renjith Lal, College UnionChairman welcomed the participants andSmt.Divya.S, Nature Club Adviser of the Collegedelivered vote of thanks. Eighty trainees and 5 teachersparticipated in the workshop. Session on “the needfor Environment Education and the resources thatKerala have on account of its great biodiversity”, wasled by A.K.Sivakumar. Session on follow up for

SPECIES OF THIS ISSUE

Mruthika / November - December 2008 / 5

Environment Education programmes was led bySri.Abraham Thomas of Peet Memorial TrainingCollege. During the afternoon a game, the Spots andStripes was conducted.

Excel Public School Kunnamkulam, ThrissurThe workshop organized on 18th November 2008

was inaugurated by Sri.A.O.Varghese, Principal MDCollege, Pazhanji in a function that was presided overby Col.Jacob, Administrator of the school.Sri.A.K.Sivakumar, Education Officer from WWF-India briefed on the objectives and the organizers.Sri.Jain J. Therattil, Nature Club Adviser of St. AlociousCollege, Thrissur welcomed the participants andSri.Reju James of Dhwaja Nature Club delivered voteof thanks. Thirty teachers from different parts ofThrissur and two teachers from Malappuram districtsparticipated. Sessions on “Need for EnvironmentEducation with respect to the local environmentalissues”, “Environment Education – Principles andAction”, and “How to run a Nature Club?” was ledby Sri.Jain J.Therattil, Education Officer andDr.C.V.Sreerenjithkumar of Govt. Victoria College,Palakkad. The afternoon session was an activity called“Bear in our Culture”. The workshop came to an endwith the preparation of action plan for implementingenvironment education activities in the comingmonths.

Govt. Vocational Higher Secondary School,Kannur

The workshop organized on 20th November 2008was inaugurated by Sri. P.K.Sivanandan, Principal ofthe school. Sri S.P.Madhusudanaan of Govt.HSS,Kannur City welcomed the participants.A.K.Sivakumar, Education Officer from WWF-Indiabriefed on the objectives and the organizers. Sri. AjeshK. of Sir Syed Institute for Technical Studies,Taliparamba delivered vote of thanks. Sessions on“Environment Education – Principles and Action”,“Environment Education activities at grass root level”,“How to run a Nature Club” were led by EducationOfficer and Sri.C.Sunilkumar, Member of Kerala StateWildlife Board and Senior Photographer,Mathrubhoomi Daily. The last session was an activitysession on local environmental problems and thepossible intervention by student community. Theworkshop came to an end with the finalisation ofaction plan and feedback.

Govt. Girls HS, AlappuzhaThis workshop was conducted on 16th December

2008 in association with District Science ClubAssociation and was attended by 46 teachers fromdifferent schools who are in charge of Science Club.Smt.T.Ambujakshi, District Education Officer ofAlappuzha inaugurated the workshop in a functionthat was presided over by Smt.S. Meerabhai, Principalof the school. Sri.Romeo James, Secretary DSCAwelcomed the participants and guests.Sri.A.K.Sivakumar, Education Officer from WWF-India briefed on the objectives and schedule of theprogramme and about the organizers. Sri. Sobhithlalfrom Aravukad HSS delivered vote of thanks. Sessionson “Environment Education - Principles and Action”and “Methods of Ecosystem Interpretation” was ledby Sri. A.K.Sivakumar. Sri.Abraham Thomas from PeetMemorial Training College, Mavelikkara led a sessionon “Initiation of Nature Club and how to run it”. Theactivity session on ecosystem interpretation was donewith five teams and they were asked to interpretdifferent topics and themes. Another activity was“Tiger in our Culture”.

6 / Mruthika / November - December 2008

Friday Forums

November 2008The programme was attended by more than 250students from 8 educational institutions of the city on7th Nov at Museum Auditorium, Thiruvananthapuram.Sri. Renjan Mathew Varghese, State Director WWF-India presented the topic “Reducing our CarbonFootprint”. It detailed on the carbon emission throughour daily life and the ways we can reduce the same.December 2008This was a special one with presentations by studentteams from participating schools and colleges. Eightteams did their presentations on various themes likeUnsustainable agricultural practices, NaturalCalamities, Consumeristic Lifestyles, Local ClimateChange, Water Pollution Encroachment, Environment,and Wetland Reclamation. The discussion followed byeach presentation was dynamic and informative. It wasa process of data exchange through student initiative.

Class on Biodiversity at St. Mary’s HSS,PattomEducation Officer conducted a multimedia

presentation on “Biodiversity of Kerala” at St.Mary’sHSS, Pattom, one of the regular participants of FridayForum at Thiruvananthapuram on 11th November2008. The presentation depicted an overview ofbiodiversity at global and national levels and detailedthe scenario at the State level also. The resourcerichness, potential, role in society, threats andconservation efforts were detailed during thepresentation. The concept of endemism was alsoexplained. After the presentation, the students hadvery dynamic interaction with the resource person andthey came up with very good suggestions also.

Salim Ali Day at NSS Hindu College,Changanassery

A multimedia presentation on “Biodiversity ofKerala” with special focus to birds of Kerala was doneby Education Officer at NSS Hindu College inassociation with Dr.Salim Ali Day on 12th November2008. The session was attended by 80 students fromPG and Graduate classes of different disciplines.Sri.P.Chandran, Principal of the college inauguratedthe programme.

One day Awareness Programme atGovt. Girls HS, Mavelikara

A single day Environment Education programmewas conducted on 25th November 2008. Sessions onbiodiversity conservation, running nature clubs,importance of wetlands etc were delivered bySri.C.Harikumar, Sri.Maneshkumar and Sri.AbrahamThomas. Games, quiz competition and film screeningalso were done.

Orientation on Nature Club activities at KVVSCollege of Science and Technology, Adoor

Education Officer did an orientation session on“Nature Conservation and Environmental Protection”on 28th of October. Since the Nature Club was newlyformed, necessary guidelines for effective running ofthe same was also given. The need for conservation,its potential, role of Nature Club in the same, theactivities to be undertaken etc were explained in thissession.

Poster Exhibition on biodiversity of Kerala atSB College, Changanassery

A poster exhibition on Nature and Environmentwas conducted on 3rd December 2008 in associationwith the Nature Club of the college. Principal of thecollege inaugurated the workshop. More than 100posters were exhibited. Students from neighboringeducation institutions also visited the exhibition. Theposter series prepared by the students on endangeredspecies was well appreciated. Poster series onmangroves, ecosystems, climate change, wildlife ofKerala, medicinal plants were exhibited.

Mruthika / November - December 2008 / 7

Nature Education Camp to VazhachalA camp was conducted in Vazachal forest area from

6th to 8th December 2008 with 14 participants. Theteam visited Athirappilly tourist area, the low lyingriverine forests of Vazhachal, teak plantations,puliyilappara, Irumpupalm on the way to Karanthodeetc. During the field onservations they could seeseveral birds and lot of butterflies including Parispeacock were observed. In the depth of evergreenforests, they saw Malabar Pit Viper, another endemicspecies. Many mammals were also sighted. The nightsafari through the evergreen forests of Sholayar wasmuch interesting and helpful for the campers to feelthe wilderness of the forests.

Nature Orientation trip to ChathancodeA team of 20 IT professionals from UST Global of

Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram were taken for asingle day nature trip on 13th of December toChathancode, a tribal hamlet within the boundariesof Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary. They were givennecessary orientation on nature conservation and theimportance of nature watch. The team enjoyed birdwatching and the trekking through the wild streamand waterfalls. The trip helped them to understandthe importance of forests and the resources it holds.

Malabar Pit Viper

Kerala Bird Race 2008 at ThiruvananthapuramKerala Bird Race 2008 was held in

Thiruvananthapuram on 9th November 2008 at ten

SPECIAL REPORT

different locations in and around ThiruvananthapuramCity with the active participation of 78 birdwatchersranging from the age of 10 - 60. The Bird Race,sponsored by HSBC was coordinated locally by WWF-India, Kerala State Office and Warblers & Waders. Theparticipants were grouped into ten teams and wereequipped with binoculars and field note. The race wasflagged off by Sri.T.Pradeepkumar, Divisional ForestOfficer, Thiruvananthapuram at 6.30am from theMuseum – Zoo premises. Peroorkada, Akkulamwetlands, Punchakari paddyfields, Vellayani Lake andsurrounding areas, Arippa, Kovalam, Peppara,Museum – Zoo compound, Chathancode which is partof Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, Kallar-Ponmudy andThenmala were the bird race sites. Each teamcompulsorily included an expert bird watcheraccompanied by budding birdwatchers. All the teamswere out in the field the entire day up till 5 pm. Onreturn to the City, the participants gathered togetherin the Conference Hall at Hotel Pankaj,Thiruvananthapuram by 6pm. The gathering wasinaugurated by Sri.T.P.Narayanankutty IFS, Director(Ecotourism), Government of Kerala. He appreciatedthe young bird watchers, mainly school students, forbeing a part of this conservation programme. He alsoexpressed his concern over the frequency and numberof birds coming down at an alarming rate in the recentpast. Sri.A.K.Sivakumar, Education Officer of WWF-India and Sri Arun Mahesh, Relationship Manger ofHSBC also spoke on the occasion. The team leadersshared their experience and presented the findings.

EDITORIAL BOARD

Mr. A.V. GeorgeMr. Renjan Mathew Varghese

Mr. A.K. Sivakumar

8 / Mruthika / November - December 2008Computer Graphics: read concepts, Sasthamangalam, Phone: 9447451314, Printed at: G.K.Printers, Kochi

“We are blessed with this

beautiful, bountiful earth;

We should ensure

that we pass on a

better earth than we inherited”

Kerala State Pollution Control Board(under the Department of Environment of the Government of Kerala)

Head Office: Pattom P.O., Thiruvananthapuram-695 004. Tel: General: 0471-232910, 2318153, 2318154, 2318155

e-mail: kspcb@keralapcb.org Fax: 2318152 web: www.keralapcb.org

Head Office of the Board is at Thiruvananthapuram. Regional Offices at Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode, District Offices

in all the districts. The Central Laboratory of the Board is at Ernakulam.