India is a diverse country rich in biodiversity and associated traditional knowledge. In this century, ecosystems are either being fragmented or eliminated, and the extinction of several species has increased dramatically because of human activities. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change indicates that the fragmentation, degradation, and loss of habitats are irreversible and pose a serious threat to biological diversity, harming our wellbeing. Hence, conservation of biodiversity is, therefore, a national priority Besides, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (ISPBES), France also highlighted the undeniable fact: “Ecosystems, species, wild populations, local varieties, and breeds of domesticated plants and animals are shrinking, deteriorating, or vanishing. The essential, interconnected web of life on Earth is getting smaller and increasingly frayed. Around 1,000,000 species are threatened with extinction. This loss is a direct result of human activity and constitutes a direct threat to human well-being in all regions of the world. Since the current global response to counter is insufficient, ‘Transformative Changes’ are mandated to restore and protect nature, for the public good”
Against this backdrop, to complement the struggling global response to protect and conserve the species that are threatened with Illegal poaching, trafficking, and extinction, a ‘Transformative Change’ is necessitated for ‘broad-based action’. To establish such a change to restore and protect the world’s ‘natural capital’ for common good, the consortia of organizations: Pondicherry University; Government of Puducherry Departments like the Department of Wildlife and Forest, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Directorate of School Education, and the Association for Promoting Sustainability in Campuses and Communities (official partner of the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity) as the lead organization, joined hands in reaching out to millions, to bring out the ‘Transformative Change’, through the students and the public centered program ‘Fauna Protection and Conservation’, fostering the themes of the UN Decade on Biodiversity 2011-2020 – ‘Living in Harmony with Nature’ and 2021-2030 – ‘Ecosystem Restoration’.
As part of the 1st Phase of this initiative, the ‘faunas of concern’ were identified and strategies evolved based on the Aichi Biodiversity Targets 11, 12, & 13 of the Strategic Goal – C. Choice-based, ‘student and public centered conservation network’ is identified as a tool, to conserve multiple faunas of concern like Peacock (sp. Pavo cristatus), Indian Grey Mongoose (sp. Herpestes edwardsi), Olive Ridley Turtle (sp. Lepidochelys olivacea), Monitor Lizard (sp. Varanus bengalensis), Bee (sp. Apis cerana indica), Pondicherry Shark (sp. Carcharhinus hemiodon), House Sparrow (sp. Passer domesticus), & Indian Spectacled Cobra (sp. Naja naja). In addition to these species, ‘Wetland’ was also included in the conservation networks as it is one of the significant habitats for the diverse nature of species.
For more details, download the concept note here: WildlifeConservationNetwork
To become part of the network, complete google form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdHiD40iJOixrHfdV8uJpzZdIHcVp0UZxNp9ySY6ES4DTw0cg/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1
