The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, represented by Dr JR Bhatt, hosts the Colloquium on August 30-31. Representatives from IUCN, GIZ, and government agencies from across the MFF region are present in the event. The Colloquium will discuss the economic and environmental values of mangroves; lessons learned from mangrove rehabilitation projects; guidelines for good practices; and relevance to climate change. As a way forward, participants will endorse a "Call to Action" statement based on the recommendations from the meeting. The Call to Action will be MFF's contribution to the Convention of Biological Diversity COP XI in Hyderabad, India on October 2012.
Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Viet Nam participated in the Colloquium. International mangrove scientist Dr Norman Duke (James CooK University, Australia) and Executive Director of Mangrove Action Project (MAP USA) Alfredo Quarto are also present at the event.
A field trip to the Pichavaram mangroves, site of one of MFF's small grant facility projects, will follow on September 1-2.