Wetlands Learning Centre Inaugurated at KSMDB College During International BODHI Symposium
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Capacity development
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Healthy Wetland Nature
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Wetland values, status and trends
In a landmark moment for environmental education and participatory conservation, the Wetlands Learning Centre was officially inaugurated at the Department of Botany, KSMDB College, Sasthamkotta, during the internationally attended BODHI Multidisciplinary Symposium on Climate Crisis and Consciousness. Held from January 28 to 31, 2025, the symposium brought together scholars, conservationists, and students to deliberate on the theme “The Future of Weather, Climate and Water Across Generations.”
Organized by the IQAC of KSMDB College in collaboration with Wetlands International South Asia and Shinawatra University, Thailand, the symposium served as a confluence of thought leadership and local action. The college is located amidst the Sasthamkotta Lake, a designated Ramsar site and the largest freshwater lake in Kerala.
The Wetlands Learning Centre, set up within the Botany Department, aims to serve as an information, training, and community engagement hub on wetland ecosystems.
Mr. Harsh Ganapathi from Wetlands International South Asia delivered a dedicated session on youth engagement and the Wetlands Learning Centre concept, supported by Dayadra Mandal and Nikita Mishra. The session highlighted the pivotal role academic institutions can play in advancing wetland stewardship by promoting volunteerism, citizen science, and wetland positive behaviour. Mr. The session received an enthusiastic response from students and faculty alike, with many expressing keen interest in enrolling as volunteers and contributing to the development of the Centre’s annual action plan.
Over 200 participants, including students, researchers, and conservation professionals from various states and international institutions, participated in the sessions, making it a truly global exchange of ideas and strategies.