How individual efforts at conservation in the Konkan could pave the way to policy decisions

The Konkan is a lush green pocket of Maharashtra; a haven for nature lovers and travellers who seek respite from the heat and dust of city life. Prateik More feels fortunate to have grown up in Ratnagiri. He used to wander among the plateau and forests watching birds and taking photographs.

- GNS News Agency, April 24

More gradually, became aware of an impending calamity, the first trigger being the changing nature of the sacred groves - forest patches that are tied to local faith, customs and lifestyle - where the "biodiversity had reduced".

Ratnagiri has almost 900 sacred groves that used to be thick with old trees and endemic species of birds and animals. "With generational transitions, the fear of god disappeared. Aided by education and technology, the new generation altered land management patterns and prioritised development. My problem was that I had only a little awareness. I did not know what biodiversity was present in the region, what laws we could apply to protect these, what are endemic species and how laterite plateaus play a role in the ecology or water harvesting," he says. More did not let his lack of knowledge stop him from trying to protect the environment. Today, he is one of the forces of conservation. He rattles off pain points, from the crop raids by the gaur, monkey, sambhar and leopards and the decline in the Malabar Pied and Malabar Grey hornbill populations to the disappearance of old forests. He will tell you how 80-90 trucks of felled timber leave the district every night. Soon, More got together like-minded people, such as Dr Shardul Kelkar, and formed the Sahyadri Sankalp Society.