The Hindu : Kerala News : Tracking success with EDC

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Wednesday, Feb 27, 2008
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Kerala

Tracking success with EDC

Tribal youths Kannan and Kuttappan from Thekkady have never travelled so long at a stretch in their lifetime.

The longest travel of their life was to New Delhi. They represented the Tribal Trackers Eco Development Committee (EDC), which won the David Shepherd National Wildlife Award this year.

They received the award, instituted by the Venu Menon Animal Allies Foundation and Wildlife Trust of India, from Kapila Vatsayan last week.

The award was in recognition of the efforts put in by the members of the EDC in protecting the sandalwood in the tiger reserve and the nature interpretation works.

Decade-long service

The EDC was formed nearly a decade ago as part of the India Eco Development Project implemented in the reserve during1996-97.

Twenty tribal youths from the neighbouring tribal hamlets of Paliyakudy and Mannakkudy were trained in essentials of tourism and wildlife conservation.

Campaigns

The EDC members are involved in the patrolling and tiger protection activities and also the plastic eradication campaigns.

Their traditional wisdom and the knowledge about the course of life in forest have also made them exceptional bird watchers.

The formation of the EDC has also succeeded in stopping their dependency on the forests for a living, says Padma Mahanti, Deputy Director of the reserve.

The service of the EDC members has been used by the researchers for fieldwork and identification of the flora and fauna.

From tribal trackers to naturalists and budding researchers, they have been successfully treading the tracks of life, she adds.

K.S. Sudhi

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