Agenda No: 1/28
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AGENDA NO: 1/28 Confirmation of the minutes of the 27th meeting of the Research, Monitoring and Advisory Committee of SACON held on 5th September 2014 at SACON, Coimbatore The minutes are given in the Annexure – 1. Since no comments were received, the same may be confirmed. AGENDA NO:2/28 Action Taken Report on the minutes of the earlier meetings SN Observations of the 27th RMAC Action Taken by SACON 1 Under Sl. No: 8 The RMAC noted that SACON could not appoint Public Relation Officer since it Suggestion of the RMAC is noted. In case involves creation of new posts with the sufficient grant is available, we would hire approval of the central government. a person for the position of Public Relation However, the RMAC suggested that Officer. responsibilities of the PRO can be entrusted with one of the faculty of the centre or else a person can be hired on contract basis. 2 Under Sl No: 17 Had discussion with the Directorate of Monitoring pesticide residues in select Environment & Climate Change, components of an agro-ecosystem Government of Kerala and we will follow adopting organic and chemical farming in up the matter. Padayetti village, Palakkad district, Kerala The RMAC noted the action taken and it also advised the PI to conceive a larger project on the same line 3 Under Sl. No: 20 Copy was dispatched in October 2014 to Impact assessment of prospecting BNHS. The reports are also available for exploration activities, through 3D seismic download at our Website data acquisition by Oil India ltd, on mangrove fauna at Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh The Chairman asked the PI to send a copy of the report to the BNHS 4 Under Sl No: 22 Already in contact with the MSSRF, 1 SN Observations of the 27th RMAC Action Taken by SACON Wayanad Centre and they have shared Ecological and Ethno-Cultural Examination valuable information. We also propose a of The Rise and Fall in Rice Diversity in workshop in the topic and we will be Southern India, With Special Reference To inviting MSSRF researchers for the same. The Western Ghats The RMAC asked the PI to have linkage with MSSRF, Chennai that is undertaking studies in similar line. 5 Under Sl No: 23 Interim report was submitted to the Monitoring nature through birds funding agency, DBT, Government of India; A copy of the same would be placed The RMAC noted that a brain-storming at the time of the meeting for the workshop was organized during 18-19 information of the RMAC. June 2014 at SACON, Coimbatore. And also a national orientation programme was organized during 13-14 August 2014. The RMAC said it expects an interim report on the programme at the next RMAC meeting. 6 Under Sl. No: 24 A proposal will be drafted and suitable A Survey for the Fishing Cat (Prionailurus funds will be sought in the near future to viverrinus) in coastal Kerala, India explore this hypothesis. The PI will be attending an International conference on The RMAC noted that species is not found Fishing cats this November and will meet along the western coast of the study area researchers working on fishing cats from and the PI reasoned that this may be due across its global distribution. This will to higher salinity level in the western provide an opportunity to request coast. However, the RMAC opined that information on distributions across coastal such hypothesis relating the occurrence of regions, especially Sri Lanka, which will the species with the salinity of water further inform on distributional limits of should be corroborated by scientific this species. methods. 7 Under sl. No: 26 Consideration of White Paper and Vision The White Paper of SACON was finalized of SACON with the help and guidance of Drs Erach Bharucha and Jay Samant and it was The RMAC noted that the White Paper of placed at the meetings of the 66th SACON is approved by the Governing Governing Council and 23rd Annual Council at its 66th meeting held in July General Meeting of the SACON Society 2014. held on 30 July 2014 at the MoEF. After in- 2 SN Observations of the 27th RMAC Action Taken by SACON depth deliberations, the GC and SACON Society approved the White Paper. Now we understand that the MoEF has forwarded the finalized white paper of SACON to external experts for their comments. On receipt of the comments, the document would be further fine-tuned for circulation. 8 Under Sl. No: 27 Publication Noted for compliance The RMAC noted the research outputs of SACON during the period under review and proposed plan of action submitted by SACON for compilation of its research work of Andamans; However, the RMAC suggested that more quality papers should come out of SACON's Research program and each faculty member should set targets for publications and take care to produce more quality papers in peer- reviewed journals. 9 Under Sl. No: 29 The Recruitment, Assessment and Grant of retrospective promotion to the Promotion Committee, constituted by the senior faculty members Chairman, Governing Council, SACON, met on 22 December 2014 chaired by Dr R The RMAC noted that the Chairman, Sukumar (Professor, Centre for Ecological Governing Council of SACON has Sciences, Bangalore). The recommenda- constituted a committee ‘Recruitment, tions of the RAPC would be placed at the Assessment and Promotion Committee’ forth-coming meeting of the Governing (RAPC) under the chairmanship of Dr R Council to be held on 16th June 2015. Sukumar, Professor, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Bangalore which is going to look For the assessment of promotion, into the issues related to the due date confirmation of probation, the RAPC had promotion to some of the faculty of the set up a Sub Committee and the Sub centre. The RMAC advised the Director, Committee met during 24-26 April 2015 SACON to flag the following issues for the and has submitted its recommendations consideration of the Committee: which would be submitted to the RAPC for its consideration and approval. 3 SN Observations of the 27th RMAC Action Taken by SACON Contract appointment of scientists for a period of 5 years and steps to be followed by SACON after completion of five year tenure by the faculty concerned. Issues with regard to the due date promotion to the eligible scientists 10 Agenda No: 3/27 Consideration of the progress on the ongoing research projects/ EIA studies 11 1. Owl assemblage and occupancy in We are awaiting for a good quality photo Andaman archipelago, India image of Andaman Scops Owl and once we are successful with that then we will The Principal Investigator said the immediately start the preparation of preliminary survey is completed. The posters. RMAC advised the PI to prepare informative posters depicting the five species of owls of Andamans and send it widely especially to the forest departments. 12 3. Patterns of distribution of selected Draft Final Report (STPR) has been Faunal Groups in the Agasthiamalai Hills, prepared and sent to the Funding Agency Western Ghats, Kerala, India (Department of Biotechnology, Government of India) on 5 May 2015. This The RMAC noted that the duration of the will be put up before the next DBT study is over and now it is on no-cost Environmental Biotechnology Task Force extension till December 2014. The PI meeting scheduled to be held on 5-6 June intimated that the balance fund is yet to 2015 for its approval. be released and on receipt of the same the pending field work would be completed. Once again, the RMAC reiterated that the PI should avail the expertise of statistician for the analysis of data. Dr K Thiyagesan, one of the members of the RMAC, said that SACON can approach him at any time for statistical assistance for their projects, if required. 13 6. Social organization, behaviour and As intimated by the PI in the last RMAC, on 4 SN Observations of the 27th RMAC Action Taken by SACON phylogeography of Macaca fascicularis analysis of the size, it was found that the umbrosa on the Nicobar Islands, India mean group size reduced from 36.12 ±7.07 in 2000 to 26.75 (±28.23) by 2006, The PI said that he could not see any and increased to 41.30 ± 20.02 by 2014. difference in the group size of the species, analysis is going on, and the results would Group size relatively increased compared be submitted to RMAC. to before tsunami. 14 7. Spatio-temporal burrow use patterns The term ‘burrow’ is used to address ‘the by vertebrates in Keoladeo National Park, burrows created by porcupine’. Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India Geo-scanner is purchased, and that will be The RMAC noted that the PI has taken the sent soon to field. charge of the project recently due to the sudden demise of Dr Bhupathy who was PI However, the earlier supplier could not of the project. While noting the progress, supply the burrow video camera. Later, we the RMAC said that the term ‘burrow’ came to know another person who can should be defined appropriately. The PI build a customized machine and placed said that the inner side of the burrow the order. We have tested that recently, would be studied by using geo-scanner to and suggested some more modifications. be purchased shortly. The RMAC asked the Once we get the same, both will be taken PI to utilize an appropriate sensor, for to field for the study. which he could seek technical expertise from appropriate institutions, to map out the inside configuration of the burrows. 15 8. Ecological investigation of woody As the project period got over by March vegetation and nest tree use by birds in 2015, final report preparation is in the riverine forests of Athikkadavu preparation and the report includes the Valley, Western Ghats importance of snags for cavity nesting birds.