Three-day ‘Vana Spandanam’ event to open on Monday in Thiruvananthapuram as part of Wildlife Week celebrations

The Coexistence Collective, Kerala, and the State Central Library are organising ‘Vana Spandanam,’ a three-day event to mark the Wildlife Week celebrations, from October 5 to 7 in Thiruvananthapuram.

Rajesh Ravindran, Principal Chief Forest Conservator and Head of Forest Force, will inaugurate the programme at 10 a.m. on October 5 at the State Central Library hall, the organisers told a press conference here.

The three-day event includes sessions on ‘Threats: Status and the rising tide of threats on Kerala’s wildlife in the age of growing intolerance,’ ‘Coexistence: Why wildlife conservation must embrace coexistence,’ ‘Media and wildlife,’ ‘Wildlife photography and videography as a tool for conservation of forests and wildlife in Kerala,’ and an open forum on the importance of building networks within the conservation fraternity.

At 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Forest Minister Shibu baby John will deliver the keynote address at a session on ‘Waning protection: Diluting conservation laws and the future of wildlife.’ Former Indian Forest Service officer Prakriti Srivastava will chair the session. Ritwick Dutta, founder and managing trustee, Legal Initiative for Forest and Environment, is the lead speaker. An exhibition of photographs also will be part of the event.