Best Practice 1
1. Title of the Practice:
Haritham Amrutham Drive
2. Objectives of the practice
'Haritham Amrutham’ upholds its vision of promoting biodiversity preservation and sustainable lifestyle practices to minimize habitat destruction and overexploitation of resources.
3. The Context
The practice of protecting and preserving species, habitats, ecosystems, and genetic diversity is of paramount importance for our health, economy, food security and energy resources we depend on.
4. The Practice
This initiative encompasses programmes aimed at generating awareness about biodiversity preservation among the youth and local residents. These programmes include organizing awareness campaigns, conducting surveys, and distributing handouts on biodiversity preservation through door-to-door delivery. Green volunteers initiated the protection of the surrounding wetland by planting mangrove saplings along the shores.
5. Evidence of Success
Biodiversity preservation encompasses the incredible variability among living organisms, making it challenging to measure directly as it is closely linked to the attitudes and actions of the youth and local residents. Initiatives have been launched to conduct a survey among the local dwellers to gauge their understanding, awareness, and engagement in biodiversity conservation efforts.
6. Problems Encountered and Resources Required
Significant limitation of current performance measurement systems is their reliance on internal self-assessments. To ensure credibility with all stakeholders, it is necessary to implement external mechanisms and additional independent verification and audit systems.
Best Practice 2
1. Title of the Practice:
Sujalam Vembanad Drive
2. Objectives of the practice
The institution's "Sujalam Vembanad Drive" involves students and locals in eco-restoration, preserving Vembanad Lake's biodiversity and sustainability.
3. The Context
Vembanad Lake in Kerala is the largest lake, a Ramsar site, vital for biodiversity, flood control, and climate change mitigation. The institution prioritizes its preservation for sustainable ecosystems.
4. The Practice
The institution's drive involves Green Volunteers to raise awareness, conduct surveys, and organize activities for the preservation of Vembanad Lake. Collaborating with local organizations, the college promotes conservation and anti-plastic campaigns, fostering a collective responsibility for sustainable lake management and development.
5. Evidence of Success
To assess awareness and involvement in biodiversity conservation, annual surveys among local fishermen gather insights on the availability of ethnic fishes in Vembanad Lake. Their observations are vital for assessing the status of indigenous fish species.
6. Problems Encountered and Resources Required
Current performance measurement systems rely on internal self-assessments, lacking objectivity. To enhance credibility and transparency, additional independent verification and audit systems are necessary for all stakeholders.