In a development that could have an impact on the conservation of over 4,200 species of marine life in the Gulf of Mannar and the 21 islands in the country’s first marine reserve, the State government has recently merged the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust (GOMBRT) with the wildlife division of Ramanathapuram.
The Chief Conservator of Forests and the staff of GOMBRT in Ramanathapuram have been redeployed to Madurai and the Wildlife Warden’s Office in Ramanathapuram respectively, with effect from April 25.
Official sources claimed that the recent changes were part of the departmental reorganisation and were only temporary. When contacted, a senior official said: “The Trust [GOMBRT] is not there but some other arrangements have been made.”
On Monday, staff at the project office in Ramanathapuram started shifting the office, said sources. “The functions of the project would be affected since it was a specific project for conservation of marine life in the Gulf of Mannar and regular wildlife units will not have the required expertise,” an official said. The changes have taken wildlife enthusiasts by surprise since it was only in December last year the State government decided to support the GOMBRT so that its activities could continue for another five years.
Formed in 2000
GOMBRT was formed in 2000 for implementing the assistance of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) of about $7.8 million to save the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve. The project period was later extended till 2012. The State government took over the functioning of the trust in 2012. The reserve has a rich marine life with some two lakh people dependent on artisanal fisheries-based livelihood.
