Aloysian Centre for Kole Wetland Studies and Research (ACKWSR)
- The Kole and the College
The Kole wetlands, a unique ecosystem where land and water converge, play a vital role in the ecological sustainability of Kerala. Situated between 09°00’–10°40’ N latitude and 76°00’–77°30’ E longitude, the Vembanad Kole wetlands span several districts, including Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Thrissur.The Kole wetlands surrounding St Aloysius College have always been an academic lure for the faculty and students, in addition to its aesthetic and economic relevance.
A good number of academic documents have been produced in the college on Kole wetlands. Most prominent among them are two PhD theses by Dr Tomy Francis and Dr Leema Kurian and a minor project by Prof. BI Joseph.
The Establishment of ACKWSR
The consistent academic, aesthetic and cultural linkage of the college with the surrounding Kole fields ever since the inception of the college back in 1968 eventually took a concrete form when the Aloysian Centre for Kole Wetland Studies and Research was formally founded on 2 October, 2023 by Sri. K. Rajan, Minister for Revenue, Government of Kerala.
Located within the Kole Wetlands, a Ramsar site of international importance, the Center serves multiple functions: conservation, education, and the dissemination of knowledge related to wetland ecosystems. The management of the college who owns 40 acres of the Kole wetlands that surround the campus plays a significant role in upholding the rich legacy of paddy cultivation and promoting ecological conservation of the region.
- Academic Initiatives
1. Nature, therefore literature -One day workshop
On January 17, 2024, St. Aloysius College, Elthuruth, in collaboration with the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, hosted a one-day workshop titled ‘Nature, therefore Literature’.
The event commenced with an inaugural address by the renowned poet and scholar, Prof. K. Satchidanandan.
2. Two-day national seminar on Biodiversity of Kole Wetlands and its management: A sustainable Approach. (funded by KSBB)
The Two-Day National Seminar on 24 and 25th of January 2024 was inaugurated by Dr. P. Indira Devi, Professor Emirates at Kerala Agricultural University. The seminar comprised seven sessions, including a field trip to the Kole Wetlands.
3. Project Reports of BSc Zoology batch on Kole Wetlands
The Department of Zoology chose areas linked to Kole Wetlands as the topics for sixth semester BSc projects. All the three assigned to students were chosen from life in the Kole wetlands. Altogether 29 projects have been submitted by the 2021-24 batch of BSc Zoology students. One student from MA Economics also did her project work on Kole in 2023-24.
4. Research and Kole Wetlands: Experience Sharing by a Researcher
Dr Tomy Francis, a retired professor from the Department of Zoology inaugurated the World Environment Day, 5 June 2023. The Programme was organised by NSS.
Dr Tomy who did his research on the Avifauna of the Kole Wetlands shared his experience as a researcher on Kole Wetlands with the students.
5. Audit Course on Kole Wetlands for MA English students
12 students of Semester 2 MA English chose a Malayalam book on Kole wetlands for their translation audit course in the academic year 2023-24. Kolpadangal: charitravum sastravum (Kole Wetlands: History and Science) is a book edited by Dr P Indiradevi, Professor Emirates in Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur.
- Community Initiatives
1. Sensitisation and Training Programmes
ACKWSR has organized various training and awareness programs focused on the Kole wetlands and its rich biodiversity.
Dragonflies of Kole Wetlands: Highlighting the significance of dragonflies as ecological indicators.
Avifaunal Diversity of Kole Wetlands: Focusing on the bird species inhabiting the wetlands.
Insects Around Us: Educating participants about the diversity of insects in the ecosystem
2. Nambu Paddy Cultivation
The Departments of Zoology and Botany, in collaboration with ACKWSR initiated a paddy cultivation drive in the Kole wetlands of Elthuruth on February 2, 2024, in connection with the World Wetlands Day.
3. Wetland Farmers Meet and Seminar
A meeting and seminar organized by the Paddy Farmers Forum of Thrissur took place at Enamavu on October 25, 2023 focusing on wetland protection and the challenges posed by invasive alien weeds and monitoring water quality in the Kole paddy fields. 11 NSS volunteers and the Programme Officer participated in the event.
4. Kolum Kollegum Short Story Writing Competition 2024
ACKWSR, in association with the Department of Malayalam and the College Library conducted a short story writing competition on the topic Kolum Kollegum (The Kole and the College) in March 2023. The competition was open to the staff of St Aloysius College and St Aloysius School as well as the students and alumni of the college.
5. The Kole Walk
The Kole Walk was organised on 2nd February 2024 on the World Wetlands Day. It was a joint venture of the Kole Farmers Collective and KSSP. The 12 Km long walk which was flagged off by Dr Chacko Jose P, Principal of St Aloysius College saw the participation of 21 NSS volunteers and the Programme Officer from the college.
6. Participation in Global Efforts on Wetland Conservation
ACKWSR has been formally associated with the conservation efforts pioneered by The Mediterranean Wetlands Initiative (MedWet).
Conclusion
ACKWSR, which was established hardly one year back, has accomplished remarkable progress in highlighting the academic, socio-cultural as well as economic importance of the Kole wetlands and has grabbed attention of the academic community and the policy makers. It is poised to become an international centre of immense academic and cultural importance with a slew of programmes that include establishment of a Kole Wetland museum, a national park and bird sanctuary in the Kole Wetlands, a seed bank to protect traditional varieties of cereals, a krishi paadhashaala to train the young aspiring farmers in sustainable agricultural practices that would emphasize the use of gobar and organic manures in place of chemical fertilizers , the promotion of organic pest control methods and promoting local tourism along the scenic trails of Kole wetlands and thus to become a prestigious academic and cultural hub of the nation.
Aloysian Centre for Kole Wetland Studies and Research (ACKWSR)
