The need for reducing ecological footprint to lessen the stress on natural landscapes and wildlife habitat was stressed at a seminar that concluded at Sulthan Bathery in the district on Friday.
The seminar was organised by the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WSS) in connection with the Wildlife Week observance.
Handling a class on ‘Conservation of wildlife’ on the occasion C.K. Vishnudas, a wildlife researcher, said while the natural rate of extinction of species in a century was four, more than 400 species were wiped out in a century owing to the over-exploitation of natural resources by humans.
Recent studies showed that the sixth mass extinction had already begun and the climate change as well as the extinction of various species as a part of it. The speed of the processes could be reduced only by bringing changes in individual lifestyle and reducing ecological foot print.
I.C. Balakrishnan, MLA, inaugurated the programme.
The sanctuary is organising various programmes such as a walkathon, seminars, bird watching programme for students, plastic eradication programmes at eco tourism centres and film shows in the coming days to mark the wildlife week observance, S. Mohanan Pillai, wildlife warden, WSS, said.
