Precursor to the 5th International Congress on Kerala Studies
Two-Day Seminar: Forest, Western Ghats & Plantation
📅 May 10-11, 2025 | 📍 Marian College, Kuttikkanam, Idukki
Context & Objectives
This seminar addresses the severe crisis in the highland regions, focusing on the collapse of the plantation sector following the ASEAN agreement, human-wildlife conflict, land use complexities, and environmental degradation.
It also serves as a venue to evaluate the progress of the Kerala Government's special package for the comprehensive development of Idukki. The event is organized by the M. Jinadevan Study Research Centre and the AKG Centre for Research and Studies.
Program Schedule
Day 1: Forest & Plantation Sector
Key Presentations & Discussions
- Kerala's Forest Status, Management, and Biodiversity
- Forest Laws, Contradictions, and Invasive Plants
- Forest Resource Collection and Livelihoods
- Land Reforms, Land Conflicts, and Local Bodies
- Issues in Rubber, Tea, Coffee, Cardamom & Pepper Plantations
- Highland Farming and Plantation Diversification
- International Trade: Concerns and Opportunities
Day 2: Western Ghats & Wildlife
Key Presentations & Discussions
- Human-Wildlife Conflict: Escalation and Concerns
- Wildlife Laws, Rules, and Contradictions
- Local Perspectives on Human-Wildlife Interaction
- Western Ghats: Migration, Land Use, and Biodiversity
- Natural Disasters: Mitigation and Rehabilitation
- Climate Change and Water Management in the Ghats
- Carrying Capacity and Farm Tourism
Organized by: AKG Centre for Research and Studies & M Jinadevan Centre for Research and Studies
Academic Committee: Dr. R. Ajayakumar Varma (Chairperson) | Convener: S. S. Nagesh
