Teacher in Charge: Dr. Smitha Asok V. (PG Dept. of Environmental Sciences)
Under collaboration with the Kerala State Biodiversity Board, a Biodiversity Club is functioning in the college, the main objective of which is to carry out programmes for conservation of local biodiversity in accordance with the Sate Biodiversity Acts. Under the Patronage of the Principal, All Saints’ College, the P G Department of Environmental Sciences is entrusted with the activities of the Biodiversity Club. Dr. Smitha Asok V., Assistant Professor of the Department of Environmental Scieces is the Co-ordinator of the activities of the Club in the College.
- In addition, the Board has also sanctioned the prestigious ‘Santhisthal’ project to All Saints’ College in which initially, 15 cents of land in the campus was set aside for making a wood-lot with Rare, Endangered and Threatened (RET) species. Later, an additional 85 cents of land was allocated for this purpose and thus a total of 1 acre of land was brought under the project, which in due course of time was to be turned into a biodiversity rich thick forest area without human hindrance.
- As part of the Club activities, about 300 saplings were obtained from different agencies such as Kerala Forest Department and Kerala Gandhi Smarak Nidhi and plantation activities had been carried out since its inception in 2012 onwards till the last academic year (2015-16). All members of the Biodiversity Club and the college NSS unit participated in the plantation activities.
- Dr. Smitha Asok V., Club Co-rdinator delivered an Invited Lecture in association with the World Environment Day Celebrations 2016 at Kerala University College of Teacher Education, Kariavattom on the topic, ‘Meeting Environmental Challenges – A Citizen’s Role’ on 14th June, 2016.
Mathrubhumi dated 17th June, 2016
- A team from the Meghalaya State Biodiversity Board visited Shanthisthal on 24.11.16, as part of the Peer Learning Process to observe the successful implementation of Santhisthal project in the campus. Dr. Smitha Asok V, Co-ordinator of the Biodiversity Club, briefed the participants on the activities carried out, thus far.
- All members of the Biodiversity Club including the students of College NSS unit is engaged in follow up activities of the plantation. A gardener is also engaged for the purpose and the planted trees are taken good care of, by way of routine watering, manuring and guarding, as required.
- A team from the Kerala Forest Department visited Shanthisthal on 14.12.2016, as part of Field Training for the newly inducted Wildlife Assistants in the Department, to observe the successful implementation of Santhisthal project in the campus. Dr. Smitha Asok V, Co-ordinator of the Biodiversity Club, briefed the participants on the activities carried out, thus far.