‘Use ecological data forregion-specific models’

The data available on Indian ecological systems should be used for the development of models for conservation, according to an expert.

Inaugurating the short-term course in ‘Integrated Coastal Zone Management’ at the College of Fisheries in Mangalore on Wednesday, K.M. Shankar, Dean (Fisheries) of the college, said that the country has different ecological systems. While some of them are neither used nor conserved, and some of them are overused and misused.

A good amount of data on these ecological systems is available in the country. There is a need to use these data for developing models for the conservation of the eco system in each region, he said.

Adding that the Indian Meteorological Department has huge amount of data on weather system of the entire country, he said this data should be used to develop weather models suitable to each place in the country.

Speaking on the occasion, H.R.V. Reddy, Director of Research of the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, said that ecological systems in the globe are facing challenges from the human settlements and from climate change.

The policies of liberalization and globalization have affected the coastal regions in the country, he said.

Delegates from various parts of the country are participating in the one-week programme at College of Fisheries here.

vinayak.aj@thehindu.co.in

COMMENT NOW