Seminar on wetlands

Kochi: The State Land Use Board in collaboration with the Department
of Agriculture, Government of India, is organising a state-level
seminar on the 'significance of wetlands in the development of the
State' at the Town Hall here on Tuesday. Minister for Water Resources
N.K. Premachandran will inaugurate the seminar that is expected to
give fresh insights into the measures for protection of wetlands.A
report based on the study conducted by the Land Use Board on wetlands
in the district and digital maps of Panchayats will also be released
at the seminar. In the study, carried out making use of the GIS-aided
remote sensing technology, data has been collated on the disappearance
of wetlands after paddy fields got levelled for other purposes. The
report contains digital maps of land use, assets and water resources
in the district which would be of use to local self-governments while
planning and executing projects.About 300 delegates, including
scientists, government officials, representatives of local bodies,
planners, environment activists, representatives of voluntary
organisations, researchers and model farmers, will attend the seminar.

The Hindu, 12th January 2009