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 set to host a three-day event, 'Vana Spandanam,' to commemorate Wildlife Week in Thiruvananthapuram from October 5 to 7. The event will be inaugurated by Rajesh Ravindran, Principal Chief Forest Conservator and Head of Forest Force, at the State Central Library hall at 10 a.m. on October 5.

The programme will cover various topics such as the rising threats to Kerala's wildlife, the importance of coexistence in wildlife conservation, the role of media in wildlife conservation, and wildlife photography as a conservation tool. A special session on the importance of building networks within the conservation fraternity will be chaired by Prakriti Srivastava, former Indian Forest Service officer.

Ritwick Dutta, founder and managing trustee of Legal Initiative for Forest and Environment, will be the lead speaker, and an exhibition of photographs will also be displayed. The event will feature a keynote address by Forest Minister Shibu baby John at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, focusing on the dilution of conservation laws and the future of wildlife.