World Environment Day 2022: Launching MAD Week Event

Every year we celebrate the World environment Day on 5th June to promote the actions and awareness to protect our mother nature. As part of the Environment Day Week celebrations, the Western Ghats Hornbill Foundation (WGHF) in collaboration with the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) and Research Department of Botany, MES Asmabi College, Kodungallur jointly organized the launching of “Make A Difference Week" on 07th June 2022 at the college Seminar Hall, announcing a yearlong campaign, actions and workshops on ecorestoration. The programme announced the public campaign for action “Local Gene pool in Local Nurseries for Ecosystem Restoration and Climate Resilience” to spread the message of “Only One Earth”. The MNREG members of SN Puram panchayath, teaching, non-teaching staff and students of the college and other stakeholders were gathered. The programme was started with a brief introduction by Dr. K.H. Amitha Bachan, Assistant Professor of MES Asmabi College and Director of the Hornbill Foundation and he welcomed the gathering. The event was presided over by Dr. A Biju, Principal of MES Asmabi College. He addressed the importance of World Environment Day and the various ongoing activities of our college in collaboration with Western Ghats Hornbill Foundation in eco-restoration programmes. His valuable words encouraged the students to participate in such conservation programs. The programme was inaugurated by the Chief Guest, Smt. R. Lakshmi, Divisional Forest Officer, Vazhachal Forest Division by lamp lightening followed by her inaugural talk. She briefed about the uniqueness of evergreen forest in the Western Ghats and the role of forest in contributing to the sustenance of living organisms across the world. She also conveyed the need to restore and conserve our wilderness in the only one earth. The event continued with a video message from Mr. John Salisbury, the programme associate of SER revealing the MAD week event across the globe. Mr. Rajesh K.R., member representative of SN Puram Grama Panchayath shared his experience regarding the ongoing coastal restoration actions in the SN Puram Grama Panchayath in collaboration with WGHF and the role of MNREGA working in the restoration process. The occasion were felicitated by Mr. Salim Arakkal, Secretory and Correspondent of MES Asmabi College followed by Dr. Reena Mohammed (Vice Principal), Dr. K.P Sumedhan (Director of Self-financing Department), Ms. Ekaterina (SER Asia Network Core Team Member). Next to that, we launched a recorded video of WGHF to promote the message of ecorestoration through spreading the necessity of “Local Gene pool in Local Nurseries for Ecosystem Restoration and Climate Resilience”. A different week different thought for a different year of ecorestoration. Ecological Restoration could be a key for living sustainably in harmony with nature in the only one earth. The message for local gene pools and nurseries ensure diversity up to the genetic level, involvement of local community and a sustainable livelihood in all ecorestoration programs. The event was successfully conducted with the wholehearted prescence and support of MNREG members, students, colleagues and other stakeholders. The program ended with a vote of thanks by Dr. Girija T.P, Department Head of Botany, MES Asmabi College.