2024-12-31

The exit meeting for the IUCN-supported project undertaken by the Tropical Institute of Ecological Sciences (TIES) was held at Grove Hall, TIES. The meeting marked the formal conclusion of the project and provided an opportunity to reflect on its achievements, challenges, and future prospects. Dr. Punnen Kurian, Project Lead, presented a comprehensive overview of the project, highlighting key outcomes such as improved access to clean drinking water for underserved communities, and the establishment of sustainable sanitation infrastructure. The project’s contributions to the conservation of threatened species in the Western Ghats and its alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6, SDG 14, and SDG 15, were emphasized.

The event was inaugurated by Dr. G. Prasad, Working Plan Officer, Munnar Working Plan. Mr. Ajayakumar M. N., Odonate Specialist, Dr. Bindhu B. K., Head of the Environmental Engineering Division, TIES, Mr. Jijo Mathews, Chief Accountant, TIES, and project staff shared their valuable feedback on the project’s impact and discussed opportunities for future initiatives.

As part of the project, 100 BOMA Biosand filters were distributed to anganwadis and households, a model bio-toilet was constructed at the KDHP Tea Factory campus in Mattupetty, a photo exhibition was held at the Government Botanical Garden in Munnar, and various seminars, workshops, and painting competitions were conducted for schools and communities, collectively reaching over 10,000 people. The project also assessed the conservation status of odonates and fish species in the region, which remained unchanged.

The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Punnen Kurian, who expressed gratitude to Fondation Segré, the IUCN Save Our Species program, and all stakeholders for their support. He reiterated the importance of collaborative efforts to sustain and scale the project’s outcomes, reaffirming TIES’s commitment to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. The project was implemented with the support of Fondation Segré through IUCN Save Our Species.