Awareness programme on ecosystem service analysis for wetlands and estuaries at CWRDM, Kerala

    An awareness programme on ecosystem service analysis of wetlands and estuaries was conducted on 10 October 2025 at KSCSTE-CWRDM, Kozhikode, Kerala. The event brought together 20 participants (12 male and 8 female), including state-level officials, scientific staff, and researchers from the Govt. of Kerala and State Wetland Authority, Kerala (SWAK). During the programme, Dr. Sreekanth G.B., Senior Scientist (FRM), ICAR-CCARI, Goa, delivered an expert lecture focusing on the ecological and economic importance of estuarine and wetland ecosystems. He discussed their key features, fisheries resources, identification of ecosystem services, stakeholder involvement, methodologies for evaluating ecosystem services, and the development of a Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) approach to support their conservation. This awareness session was a component of the broader four-day Master Training Programme on "Wetland Conservation and Management" organized at CWRDM. Dr. Renjith K.R., Scientist B, and programme coordinator from CWRDM, emphasized the critical role of ecosystem service analysis in the effective conservation and sustainable management of wetlands and estuaries. Participants appreciated the insights shared during the session and expressed their commitment to supporting the development of a comprehensive ecosystem service analysis framework for estuarine and wetland ecosystems in Kerala. ICAR-CCARI and CWRDM will work on the development of the ecosystem service analysis framework for the estuaries and wetlands.