The Hindu Business Line : Need to conserve coral reefs stressed

SPEAKERS at a three-day regional workshop on the `Status and potentials of Ramsar Sites of Southern Region' conducted at Agatti in the Lakshadweep Islands have stressed the need for conserving the coral islands there as well as exploring the possibilities of eco-tourism development in the islands.

The workshop was organised by the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM), Kozhikode, in collaboration with the Union Territory of Lakshadweep at the behest of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.

In his inaugural address, Mr Suresh Chandra, Special Secretary at the Environment Ministry, highlighted the problems faced by the fragile micro islands of Lakshadweep due to the high density of population, which ultimately have an adverse impact on the coral ecosystem.

Mr Parimal Rai, Administrator of the Union Territory, stressed the problems associated with salinity intrusion into the groundwater and bacteriological contamination of drinking water sources.

Mr D.D.Verma, Joint Secretary at the Environment Ministry, emphasised the need for water management of wetlands of India since the entire ecosystem depends on the hydrologic characteristics of the wetlands. Dr Sidharth Kaul, Director of the Ministry presented a paper on the guidelines given by Ramsar conservation to save the wetlands.

Dr E.J. James, Executive Director, CWRDM, made a detailed presentation on integrated management of small coral islands of Asia and the Pacific Region and the need for evolving appropriate tool for the analysis of data and techniques and methods for conservation practices.

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