MSSRF Community Agrobiodiversity Centre, Wayanad inaugurated the launch of Keidaran Nature Conservation Fund (KNCF) Japan supported Project, “Building Climate Resilient Production Landscape” on July 29th 2022. The project will be implemented by M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation in partnership with Pozhuthana Grama Panchayath with technical support of Mananthavady University Campus of Kannur University and The Tropical Institute of Ecological Sciences (TIES), Kottayam.
Dr. Shakeela V, Director, MSSRF CAbC welcomed the audience and shared insights on the newly launched project of three years duration to protect Wayanad landscapes from climate change effects. It is evident that climate change is a big threat to our natural resources especially the agricultural sector and the farming community and the project will take much-needed efforts in this regard.
Mr. I C Balakrishnan, MLA, Sulthan Bathery inaugurated the event and congratulated the centre for taking up a project to tackle climate change-related issues in the district. He emphasized that natural resource management and agricultural productivity must be aligned in a better way to provide better opportunities to the farmers. He also reflected that anthropogenic activities and the high use of chemicals in modern agricultural practices has led to more aggravating climate change effects.
Joseph John, Scientist, MSSRF CAbC talked about the major areas of work to be taken up through the project in the district. Primarily the project will study the impact of climate change on the Socio-Ecological Production Landscapes (SEPLs) of the Wayanad district. The project plans to document the vagaries of climate change and its effects on the life and livelihood of the people. Through the project intervention, efforts will also be made to document the changes that occurred in the natural resources, particularly on soil, water, ecology, economy and social nexus of life. Activities of the project are planned to be implemented in the Sugandhagiri region of Pozhuthana Grama Panchayath of Wayanad. The area was selected because of the vulnerability of the region as reported by the Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishath and District Disaster Management authorities and the likelihood of region for landslides and mud slips occurrences.
The project is also aimed at preparing the local self government institutions especially the Grama Panchayath in disaster preparedness in the changing climatic conditions. The resource mobilization from various government and non government machineries towards the carbon neutral development of the village is also aimed through the project. Cooperation from the Local Self Government Department (LSGDs), line departments and private donors in the sustainable village development will be facilitated to source the expertise and resource mobilization.
Various dignitaries and officials from various government departments also graced the occasion.