Field guide release: "Introduction to the Coastal and Marine Biodiversity of Maharashtra"

01 Jul, 2017

As part of this year’s annual celebration of “Van Mahotsava”, or “Forest Day”, Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis released the field guide “Introduction to the Coastal and Marine Biodiversity of Maharashtra”. The ceremony was attended by members of his cabinet and many other dignitaries, which included Jaggi Vasudev, who, in 2012, had been voted among the hundred most powerful Indians for his contribution in the field of environmental protection. The author of the field guide, the renowned naturalist Isaac Kehimkar, and GIZ Adviser Supriya Jhunjhunwala were also present on the occasion.

Release of the field guide by Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis (c.), Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, and Union Minister for Road Transport and Shipping Nitin Gadkari.

The field guide, which was commissioned by the CMPA Project, provides essential information about the various coastal ecosystems occurring in Maharashtra. Taxonomy and salient ecological facts are given for some 170 species covering a wide range of taxa. Its many illustrations will facilitate identification of these species in the field. The guide comes in a handy pocket format and is available both in English and Marathi. It is hoped that the field guide will help deepen the understanding and appreciation of the biodiversity along the shores of Maharashtra’s coast. The CMPA Project will ensure that the field guide will be widely available in coastal villages of Maharashtra.

For more information, please contact Supriya Jhunjhunwala at supriya.jhunjhunwala@giz.de.