APSCC, together with Pondicherry University and departments of the Government of Puducherry, jointly launched the Wildlife Protection & Conservation Network — a coordinated effort to protect nine species of concern, including the Olive Ridley Turtle, the Peacock and the critically endangered Pondicherry Shark.
India faces alarming rates of habitat loss and species extinction. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has warned of irreversible ecosystem degradation, while the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) estimates that around one million species are globally under threat. The Network was conceived as a grassroots response to this crisis — mobilising academia, government and community around measurable conservation action.
The initiative is aligned with the UN Decade on Biodiversity (2011–2020) and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030), positioning local action within the global framework for reversing biodiversity loss and restoring degraded ecosystems.
Nine focal species — Phase 1
Phase 1 of the Network prioritises nine focal species and habitats selected for their ecological significance and vulnerability within the region:
Grounded in the Aichi Biodiversity Targets
The Network is based on Aichi Biodiversity Targets 11, 12 and 13 (Strategic Goal C) — which address the protection of ecologically representative areas, preventing the extinction of threatened species, and maintaining genetic diversity. These targets provide the scientific and policy backbone for the initiative's four strategic goals.
The Network places strong emphasis on women's participation and youth engagement, recognising that inclusive, community-driven stewardship is essential to lasting conservation outcomes.
Aligned with the SDGs
The Wildlife Protection & Conservation Network advances the following Sustainable Development Goals — protecting life below water and on land, and strengthening partnerships for the goals:
Biodiversity is the living fabric of our planet — every species, from the Olive Ridley Turtle to the humble bee, is a thread in an interconnected web of life that sustains us all.
Initiative: Wildlife Protection & Conservation Network, launched by APSCC with Pondicherry University and Government of Puducherry departments · 1 November 2020.