Western Ghats Conclave – Participants Invited

Applied Environmental Research Foundation (AERF, Pune) is a registered non- governmental organization that aims to demonstrate conservation of biological diversity through the active participation of local communities combined with the use of research techniques.(www.aerfindia.org) AERF is organizing a conclave/ 4th annual meeting this year to celebrate the 25th year since the ‘Save the Western Ghats March (in 1987/88). We are inviting participants for this conclave. AERF is a part of the Save the Western Ghats (SWG) group that came together, first- in Goa in 2009, then in Kotagiri (Tamil Nadu) in 2010 and in Moodbidri (Karnataka) in 2011. This year, AERF will organize the conclave/meeting in Maharashtra- Mahabaleshwar from 30th Nov- 2nd Dec 2012. Western Ghats are a great biodiversity hotspot and home to various types of flora and fauna. We have formed a website for this purpose www.savethewesternghats.org and want people to subscribe for this conclave. We are expecting around 300 people from NGOs, Civil Society Organizations, Corporate Houses, Government Representatives, Media to participate in this conclave. The Conclave is expected to carve new relationships, strengthen the existing ones and develop long term concrete action plans for sustainable development in the Western Ghats. At the same time, discussions resulting from the various sessions will be accounted and state-specific civil society groups will communicate these with the government representatives. These discussions/stories/experiences will also be published at the Conclave. We are keen to work with people in conservation and those with similar thoughts. Please do get in touch with me – Supriya Kulkarni Communications Coordinator AERF, supriyakulkarni at aerfindia.org