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Objectives of RWMC: |
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To conduct multi-disciplinary targeted
research and conservation projects on marine ecosystems. |
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To develop and conduct education, awareness, training
and capacity building programs for school children,
forest officials, conservation managers and the
general public |
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To document and adopt traditional knowledge in
the management and sustainable utilization of marine
resources |
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To develop an Information Network of institutions
and individuals working on marine and coastal issues. |
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To provide environmental information / education
to visitors to biodiversity hotspots |
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To provide policy support and advocacy to the
concerned Ministries and Departments of the Government
of India, International Bodies, Academic and other
Institutions |
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To facilitate a dialogue and consensus at various
levels for conservation, management and sustainable
utilization of coastal and marine resources / ecosystems |
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RWMC work focuses primarily on marine
and coastal conservation. The RWMC research team
has done extensive work in monitoring and documenting
spatio-temporal changes in coral reef ecosystems
in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and in the
Lakshadweep Islands.
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RWMC has been doing research on endangered
marine animals and critical habitats for their effective
conservation and management, and has been instrumental
in getting legal protection to several marine endangered
species under Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972).
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Current research projects are based
on detailed studies of the tsunami impact on the
coral reef ecosystems Andaman & Nicobar Islands
with its relation to habitat changes, and coral
community structure. RWMC is also carrying out a
Study of the critically endangered Dugong species
in the A & N Islands. These research programs
are complemented by awareness programs among the
local communities to bring about a synthesis of
traditional wisdom and scientific understanding
in these communities with minimum intervention in
their lives and culture. We are finding that such
informal educational interactions help in bridging
the gap between the youth and the traditions of
their forefathers, especially in the changed ecological
and socio-economic scenario after the displacements
caused by the tsunami of December, 2004.
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Along with research, RWMC is also
active in the field of awareness and education,
assisting Forest Departments of coastal areas in
capacity building to protect and monitor endangered
marine animals and their habitats. Key areas of
RWMC work include training Marine Conservation Management
Authorities such as the Indian Navy and the Department
of Environment and Forests in the field of Snorkeling
/ SCUBA Diving and conservation strategies.
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In Mumbai, RWMC initiated an awareness
drive on the accumulation of plastic and other debris
on our beaches through 3 ocean clean-up events.
RWMC is now following this up with an initiative
to encourage self-sustaining school projects on
environmental issues such as solid waste accumulation,
effluent discharges into water bodies and water
management. These educational programs are planned
to sensitize school children to the immediate environment
so as to cultivate perception-action in the emerging
generation and urge civic authorities to take appropriate
action. As part of these environmental awareness,
RWMC has also initiated an education & awareness
campaign in collaboration with Tata Power Company
Ltd. with Mumbai schools on power conservation in
the city.
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RWMC is trying to bring representatives
from Industry, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board,
the BMC, Science & Technology, Environment Conservation
and prominent citizens on a common platform in order
to bring the degradation of Mumbai’s marine
environment into perspective.
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| RWMC’s mission is to translate
scientific concern to popular understanding; an
integrated movement to protect and nurture the diversity
of life on earth can take place only when the oceans
are part of our consciousness. |
