Latest news with #SupriyaSahu
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
TN to set up centre for conservation of hornbill
CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government has approved the establishment of a centre of excellence for hornbill conservation at the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR), Coimbatore. The decision follows a proposal by the principal chief conservator of forests and chief wildlife warden. A sum of Rs 1 crore from the Endangered Species Conservation Corpus Fund has been allocated to support this initiative in the Western Ghats, a region home for four hornbill species, including the Great Hornbill, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Malabar Pied Hornbill, and Indian Grey Hornbill. The centre will conduct research, restore habitats, and engage communities to address threats like habitat loss and climate change. It will monitor hornbill populations and their habitat use, using methods like distance sampling and GPS telemetry to track seasonal movements. Studies on foraging and nesting ecology will inform restoration efforts, said Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Forests and Climate Change Department, in a G.O. issued on Monday. The centre will also map food and nest trees to identify areas for conservation and restoration. It will establish a nursery for native species like Ficus and Syzygium to restore degraded forests and install artificial nest boxes to support breeding.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu to set up hornbill conservation centre at Anamalai Tiger Reserve
The Tamil Nadu government has announced the establishment of India's first Centre of Excellence for Hornbill Conservation at the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) in Coimbatore district. An official release said hornbills, often known as 'farmers of the forest', play a crucial ecological role as seed dispersers, helping regenerate native forests. However, these keystone species are increasingly threatened by deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and the impacts of climate change. Hence, the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Forests has sanctioned ₹1 crore under the Endangered Species Conservation Corpus Fund to establish the Centre. The Centre will focus on four hornbill species found in the Western Ghats — the Great Hornbill, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Malabar Pied Hornbill, and Indian Grey Hornbill. Activities will include habitat mapping, nest monitoring, scientific research, climate impact assessments, and restoration of degraded forest areas by planting native trees such as fig and canarium that support hornbill populations. The G.O. issued by Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Departments of Environment, Climate Change, and Forests, said that Anamalai Tiger Reserve was selected for its ecological richness, existing conservation infrastructure, and for its track record in protecting endangered species including tigers, elephants, lion-tailed macaques, and other endemic wildlife. The initiative also places a strong emphasis on community participation. Local residents will be involved in conservation efforts through nest adoption programmes, scholarships for students, and sustainable livelihoods such as seed collection. Additionally, the project will offer capacity-building programmes for forest staff and host awareness activities including field visits for school children and community outreach. The Tamil Nadu Forest Department will collaborate with leading national and international organisations, including the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Nature Conservation Foundation, Wildlife Institute of India, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Hornbill Specialist Group. In addition to ATR, similar hornbill conservation activities will be undertaken in other landscapes such as the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR), Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR), and parts of Kanyakumari district. These efforts will include habitat mapping, geotagging of trees, phenological studies, and community-based conservation initiatives.
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
ATR to house hornbill conservation centre
Chennai: Tamil Nadu govt sanctioned 1 crore for establishing a Centre of Excellence for the conservation of Great Indian Hornbill at Aanamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR). The announcement was made in the assembly in March this year, and the govt order was issued on Monday following the finance department's concurrence, said forest secretary Supriya Sahu. The centre will focus on research, monitoring, breeding, climate monitoring, movement ecology, natural history documentation, food and nest tree surveys, and genetic diversity studies. Habitat management efforts will include ecological restoration of hornbill habitats, protection of nesting and roosting sites, raising saplings from ethically collected seeds through a nursery, and installation of artificial nest boxes. The forest department will set up a research and training facility with field and lab equipment, seminar and training halls, and accommodation for researchers. The department has begun efforts to identify suitable land for the facility at foothills of the tiger reserve. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai The centre will work with expert organisations including the Nature Conservation Foundation, Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation, and Wildlife Institute of India. Supriya Sahu said the initiative aims to fill knowledge gaps on hornbill ecology, and involve local communities in conservation efforts.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Mass clean-up drive organised in Courtallam and adjoining forest areas
The Department of Forest organised a mass cleaning programme in Courtallam on Saturday ahead of the 'Saaral Thirvizhaa' to commence on Sunday (July 20). In a recent communique, Secretary, Department of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Supriya Sahu had instructed the District Forest Officers to organise massive clean-up programmes to remove plastics strewn around in the forest areas as the discarded plastic products have profound destructive impact on the pristine ecosystems. Besides educating the public on the impact of plastic products on environment, they should be encouraged to avoid single-use plastics and promote the use of sustainable alternatives, she had said. 'Hence, the Department of Forest, with community participation, should organise massive clean-up programmes every month to remove the plastics from forest areas,' the letter said. Subsequently, the mass cleaning programme for removing plastics from the forest and the adjoining areas was organised of Courtallam on Saturday in which NGOs, volunteers, students and local body workers participated. District Collector A.K. Kamal Kishore, District Forest Officer Akhil Thampi, Assistant Conservator of Forest Nellai Nayagam, Forest Range Officer Chelladurai, students of Sri Parasakthi College for Women, Courtallam and the volunteers participated in the drive. 'We appeal to the tourists visiting Courtallam to avoid use-and-throw plastics here to conserve nature,' Mr. Kamal Kishore said.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Forest Department holds training programme for snake rescuers
As part of World Snake Day celebrations, 27 snake rescuers from Chennai and other districts such as Tiruchi, Madurai, Coimbatore, and Tirunelveli underwent specialised training at Guindy Children's Park on Thursday. The training was held a day after the unveiling of the Naagam app, which is aimed at promoting the safe and scientific rescue of snakes and raising public awareness about the reptiles. Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary to the Departments of Environment, Climate Change, and Forests, who inaugurated the World Snake Day event, unveiled the app and launched the training programme in the presence of Rakesh Kumar Dogra, Chief Wildlife Warden, H. Venuprasad, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Ritto Cyriac, Director of Arignar Anna Zoological Park, and Pramila Rajan, Director of the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust. The Forest Department has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust to manage the app and conduct training sessions for rescuers. According to Ms. Sahu, Tamil Nadu is home to 142 species of snakes, yet misconceptions and fear about snakes persist. The reptiles are, in a way, the silent architects of the forest ecosystem, she said, adding that there was a need to shift public perception through awareness and education. The training focused not only on snake-handling techniques but also on soft skills such as effective communication, especially when engaging with the public during rescue operations. Gnaneswar Ch, project lead, Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, said a key feature of the Naagam app was its ability to systematically record snake rescue operations, in addition to allowing the public to request rescues. 'At present, snake rescues are not formally regulated or monitored. This app provides the Forest Department with a much-needed tool to oversee these operations, including live tracking of rescues and verification of snake release locations,' he said. The app is expected to be made available to the public in the coming months.
