Indian Ocean Turtle Newsletter No. 14

Green Habitat ,

James N.J.

Executive Director, Green Habitat Guruvayur, .P.O., district, Kerala, Email: [email protected]

The organisation “Habitat” was formed in 2001 by a major part of our efforts towards conservation is group of high school science teachers in Guruvayur. directed towards environmental awareness and These individuals decided to further extend their education among local communities in the area. activities for the conservation of the environment and thus evolved a branch “Green Habitat” in We work hand in hand with local bodies and 2002 which subsequently became an independent local self-government institutions like the organisation. The organisation pilots activities Block Panchayath, Pavaratty Grama for wildlife and environmental conservation in Panchayath, municipality, Seethi Chavakkad taluk in Kerala. Our areas of focus Sahib V.H.S.School, , Open Scout include the mangroves of Chettuwai, nesting Group of Enammakal, and various voluntary and turtles of , birds of Enamakkal other local clubs. The community readily accepts Kole lands and house sparrows, among others. A and acknowledges our activities.

Activities: the sea turtles”) programme.

Our main activities include: 2. Planting and protection of mangroves in the backwaters of Pavaratty – we have thus far 1. Protection to nesting turtles and eggs during planted twelve thousand seedlings. the nesting season at Chavakkad. In 2010, following the completion of ten years of the 3. Protection of common sparrows – we built and establishment of the organisation, we started distributed 50 nests and guarded them during the Kadalamakale Samrashikkuka (or “Save January and December 2010.

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The organisation currently consists of ten members. district ‘turtle friendly’. We organise our awareness and other programmes in collaboration with other organisations and 3. Establishing a nursery for mangroves and institutions like schools, colleges and local youth facilitating the collection of saplings from clubs. Our turtle conservation programme is run various sites. primarily in collaboration with the Seethi Sahib V.H.S. School in Edakkazhiyur. The school’s Role within the network (TAG): National Green Corps members are our main volunteers, some of whom are also our associate Green Habitat became part of the Turtle Action members. A majority of these members belong Group in 2010. As part of this network, we seek to the local fishing community. Through their general guidance and assistance with the design involvement in our activities, we are able to reach and execution of turtle conservation programmes. out to the local community at large. We now also have the opportunity to interact with other organisations, visit their field sites and Plans for the future: discuss common issues and potential solutions.

Having gained recognition in the area and being Contact information: successful in involving local communities, we would like to extend our current activities to Mr. James N.J., Executive Director, Green Habitat include the following: Guruvayur.

1. Establishing a hatchery at the Chavakkad beach Postal address: area and setting up a turtle exhibition centre. Green Habitat, Guruvayur, Pavaratty.P.O., , Kerala, India 2. Involving local communities and government Phone: 0487 2640055, 9605580981 agencies in making the beach in Thrissur Email: [email protected]

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