A nine-day State-level nature study camp, organised by the Forest Department in association with the Green Community, a collective of environmental organisations in the State, for environmental enthusiasts concluded at Muthanga on Friday.
Forest Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan inaugurated a pond that was renovated by the members of the community as a part of the camp at Narimunda, inside the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, on the occasion.
Man-animal conflict
Mr. Radhakrishnan said that the increasing man-animal conflict could be tackled by ensuring availability of fodder and water to the wildlife inside the forest itself.
The government was formulating strategies for it.
Measures had been taken to provide remuneration to the tribesmen for the minor forest produces they collected through their bank accounts, Mr. Thiruvanchoor said. The pond, stretched over 50 cents of land, is the mainstay of wildlife in the Muthanga forest range for water, especially during summer. Though the Forest Department had renovated several minor waterholes in the area, they could not renovate the pond owing to its huge size.
Fifty-three environmental enthusiasts from across the State took part in the renovation work. The pond was desilted, and a bund was built on the lower part of it to prevent seepage.
T. Shobindran, Chief coordinator, and Shokath Ali, convenor of the Green Community led the camp.
Fifty-three environmental enthusiasts from across the State took part in the renovation work.
