The District-level Workshop for Wetland Stakeholders, was held at the Kallakurichi Collectorate on Friday under the aegis of the Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority.

Chairing the meeting, Collector J.E. Padmaja said the workshop was organised to expedite the process of notifying wetlands under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017. The workshop also focused on the importance of wetlands and their role in conservation and maintaining ecological balance.

The training was also conducted in line with directions issued by the Supreme Court of India for the swift completion of field surveys, boundary demarcation and notification of wetlands identified under the National Wetland Decadal Change Atlas – 2021.

Officials noted that Kallakurichi district had a total of 723 wetlands, and the discussions focused on the steps to be taken by district administration and the Department of Forests to ensure their protection and sustainable management.

The Collector said that notification of the wetlands would help safeguard biodiversity while creating further opportunities for environmental management and sustainable livelihood development.

The meeting also discussed on key components including the Supreme Court guidelines; the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017; the necessity of wetland notification; progress on field surveys and boundary demarcation; verification of land records and revenue records; preparation of draft notifications; inter-departmental coordination; drafting Ramsar site proposals; and preparation of Integrated Management Plans.

Ms. Padmaja said that the workshop would help speed up the wetland notification process in Kallakurichi district and further strengthen coordination among departments for the long-term protection and sustainable management of these wetlands.

District Forest Officer V. Priyadarshini, Project Director of the District Rural Development Agency K. Ramesh Kumar; and officials from the Departments of Revenue, Forests, Public Works and other line departments were present.