Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History

Research

Research activities are coordinated by the Director Incharge and conducted by five research divisions, namely conservation ecology, ecotoxicology, environmental impact assessment, landscape ecology and restoration ecology. Within the divisions there are research programmes in: Avian ecology and endangered bird conservation, Man and biodiversity conservation, Wetlands conservation, Environmental contamination and biodiversity, Environmental Impact Assessment, Modelling and simulation and Nature Education. The scientific staff includes three Senior Principal Scientists, four Senior Scientists, and one Nature Education Officer.

During 2007-2008 SACON undertook 19 research projects:

Conservation ecology

Status and ecology of the Andaman Crake;

Mumbai trans-harbour sea link project: Study of Flamingos and migratory birds;

Inventory of the biodiversity of Attappady with GIS aid;

Ecology and conservation of the Spot-billed Pelican in Andhra Pradesh;

Identification and mapping of Lesser Florican breeding sites to develop a fodder producing grassland network in western India;

In-situ & Ex-situ conservation of the Edible-nest Swiftlet (Collocalia fuciphaga) in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands;

Strengthening community conservation efforts in Nagaland – A programme to impart technical support on biodiversity conservation and livelihood options to communities, Phase 1: Phek, Tuensang, Kiphere, Longleng and Mon Districts;

Ecology of the endangered Indian Rock Python (Python molurus) in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India;

A study on the Herpetofaunal communities of the Upper Vaigai Plateau, Western Ghats, India.

Landscape ecology

ENVIS Centre on Wetland Ecosystems, Multilevel and multiscalar analysis of wetland systems to evaluate balance in ecosystem services and sustainability concerns – Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary, a Ramsar site in Andhra Pradesh;

GIS for Rajahmundry Parliamentary constituency, Pollination and seed dispersal by animals in the dry deciduous forests of southern Eastern Ghats;

Ecology of Indian Grey Hornbill (Ocyceros birostris) with special reference to its role in seed dispersal in southern Eastern Ghats;

Plant-bird interactions with special reference to identification of bird-attracting plants for afforestation of Attappady valley, Kerala.

Ecotoxicology

Impact of agricultural pesticides on the population status and breeding success of select species of fish-eating birds in Tamil Nadu

Environmental Impact Assessment

Rapid Environmental Impact Assessment of the India-based Neutrino Observatory, Singara, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu;

Management Plan for the Eco-restoration of Pallikaranai Reserve Forest;

Status of Blewitt's Owl in Araku Valley and Environmental Management Plan in View of the Proposed Bauxite Mines.

Education

The SACON is affiliated with Bharathiar University. In 2006–07, 26 SACON students were enrolled for PhD and 2 for M.Phil. One PhD degree was awarded and three theses for PhDs submitted. Eight MSc students from different colleges and universities did their dissertation work at SACON for the partial fulfillment of their degree.

The nature education division conducted several programmes including a one-month residential vacation training programme on Bioresources for School Children.
SACON collaborates with the Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, on the People’s Biodiversity Register through School Children programme, involving five local schools.

In addition to student research programmes, other nature education programmes conducted during 2006–07 included Nature Camps for students of Coimbatore,
Wildlife Week Celebrations,
Nature Awareness Competitions and Sálim Ali Trophy awards,
Young Bird Watcher of the Year contest,
Sálim Ali Birth Anniversary celebrations,
World Wetlands day Programme,
The 3rd Children’s Ecology Congress (CEC) and
Naming common butterflies in Tamil.

"Song of Sparrow: Nature Education e-Newsletter" a bimonthly e-newsletter was also published and circulated to the Salim Ali Naturalists Forum during the period.

SACON also conducted short term training programmes on instrumentation and analytical techniques and offered analytical service to industries and academic institutions.

Consultations and conferences

A rapid environmental assessment of the Kundah pumped storage hydro electric project in the Nilgiris was completed. Another EIA project for the Mumbai trans-harbour sea link project: Study of Flamingos and migratory birds was completed. Andhra Pradesh Community Based Tank Project – Environmental and Social Assessment Study was also completed.

During 2006–2007, SACON conducted a Workshop on Conservation and Management of Biodiversity in Teesta Valley, Sikkim at Gangtok, Sikkim.
A National Conference on Biodiversity Conservation and Human Well-being was conducted jointly with the Department of Zoology, Osmania University.

SACON staff presented papers in 58 national and international conferences, workshops and seminars and delivered 13 invited/plenary lectures.