Ecological restoration: Nanmangalam RF, Agroforestry, Flood Risk in Chennai, Western Ghats

Program Area/Theme	Project Title (Brief)	Year	Major Achievement
	Forest refugia and people in Mudumalai	2003	Supported by Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute; first study on how human beings benefit by wildlife conservation initiatives; the report was instrumental in legally setting in motion the rehabilitation process of the affected villagers (321 families)
	Impact of tsunami on wildlife	2005	Supported by Wildlife Trust of India and International Foundation of Animal Welfare; shed light on the ecological reasons for loss of human life and property and wildlife along the coasts of southern India; the study provided the basis for long-term ecological restoration of coasts
	Post-tsunami needs assessment study	2005	Funded by IT Power India for the British High Commission; the study was an evaluation of the funding programme in the post – tsunami phase, results of which highlighted the skewed distribution of funding in Pondicherry and Cuddalore
	Pallikarnai Marsh evaluation	2005	Supported by TN Pollution Control Board; the ecological impact of discharging sewage and dumping garbage in the marsh was further highlighted. Resulted in the formation of a high level committee chaired by the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu to protect the marsh. Findings incorporated into the II Master Plan for Chennai.
	Kotachadri Ecologically Sensitive Area	2005	Impact of industrialization on traditional agriculture and livelihoods in the Western Ghats of Karnataka were assessed and highlighted

Program Area/Theme	Project Title (Brief)	Year	Major Achievement
	Biodiversity of IIT-M	2006	Funded by IIT-M; a survey report highlighted the impact of unsustainable development of plants and animals within the Campus that was earlier a part of the Guindy National Park; important lessons for urban ecological restoration emerged
	Nilgiri Tahr survey	2006	Funded by Wildlife Trust of India; the survey provided insight on the plight of one of the world’s rarest mountain goats in the Western Ghats
	Current Science-Ramseshan Fellowship	2006	Supported by Indian Academy of Sciences; the mandate was to periodically contribute writings of interest in science to scientists, teachers and student
	TNFD/Agro-forestry - Impact Evaluation	2006	Supported by TN Forest Department; assessed the human benefits brought about by agro-forestry in the State
	Flood risk assessment of south Chennai	2007	Project in collaboration with the University of Frieburg (Germany) and Loyola College; assessed the status of people in flood prone areas of Velachery, Madipakkam and Thoraipakkam of Chennai; outlined important strategies for managing floods in future

Program Area/Theme	Project Title (Brief)	Year	Major Achievement
	Book-Western Ghats/Editor	2007	In collaboration with French Institute of India (Pondy); book aims to summarize nature and human interactions in the past, present and future in the Western Ghats
	Book-Western Ghats: Biodiversity, People, Conservation RJRDaniels and JVencatesan	2008	Published by Rupa and Co, New Delhi; first comprehensive book on the Western Ghats; easy reading, well-illustrated, reasonably priced for wider readership
	Golden Jubilee Books on Plants and Animals of IIT-M	2008	Supported by IIT-M; two simple books for students and staff of IIT-M to identify and understand their plants and animals
2 Ecological Restoration	Watershed development & rain-fed agriculture	2002-03	Supported by Government of Tamil Nadu, Department of Agriculture; capacity building in rural people, especially women and youth, in restoring degraded agricultural fallows and wastelands; 5 villages in Kancheepuram district
2 Ecological Restoration	Coastal restoration	2006-09	Funded by CARITAS in collaboration with Pondy Multi-purpose Social Service Society; adopted 3 coastal villages in Cuddalore and Pondy that were impacted by tsunami; ecological restoration for mitigation of disasters