Kerala is seeking the help of other south Indian States to combat wildlife poaching and smuggling of sandalwood and red sanders.
The southern Forest Ministers’ conference beginning here on Thursday will provide a platform to forge an action plan to tackle forest crimes and strengthen protection along the porous interstate boundaries. Forest Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan told the media here on Wednesday that the creation of a databank of wildlife poachers, smugglers, and traders would be among the proposals to be taken up for discussion at the meet.
The delegations comprising Ministers and senior officials from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana besides Kerala, would deliberate on steps to check the smuggling of sandalwood and red sanders and to protect the habitat of the tiger and elephant. Reconstruction of elephant corridors and strategies to tackle man-animal conflict would also be given priority.
Mr. Radhakrishnan said the other States had agreed in principle to set up a permanent secretariat of southern Forest Ministers. The secretariat, he said, would organise joint inspections of forest zones across State borders, coordinate with national investigation agencies to check forest crimes with international links, and exchange information on trans border crime.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy is scheduled to inaugurate the conference at Hotel Leela, Kovalam, on Thursday.
