Goa is home to over 400 species of birds making it a very unique ecosystem in the larger context. However recent moves by the authorities to push through projects that would cause immeasurable harm to this ecosystem do not bode well. 

Goa has always had a history of nature and wildlife conservation. Remember, we are one of the only range states to have declared its entire stretch of Western Ghats as protected areas. But today, this conviction and conservation precedence seems null and void. The three linear projects at Mollem if implemented will translate into an irreversible death sentence for Goa’s flagship wildlife Park and its denizens. This wildlife week, I hope better sense prevails. 

- Nirmal Kulkarni, Herpetologist and wildlife photographer

For the love of Goa’s wildlife, we desperately need to fulfill two low hanging fruits: One is more youth becoming freelance naturalists and guides to showcase the exemplary nature here, and second, a dustbin at every 500m! 

- Kshitij Garg, Director, Wild Otters Research, Chorao, Goa

Today is World WildLife Day. We have our space as well as land zoning as per regional plans but we still encroach upon space reserved for animals. Sustainable development is need of the hour, not development with severe after effects. 

- Julio Cedric Aguiar, Team Save Mollem

Today on world Wildlife day, it is important for us to reflect on how we as humans must coexist with the other species of the world. We must realise the impact our actions have on them. Today, we have lost a lot of forest cover, wet lands and hundreds of species and if we don’t stop to think and rectify our way of leading our lives, one day, we are going to suffer. It’s time to wake up and open our eyes to reality. 

- Mithila Prabhudesai, Student

“Love for any animal or bird is pure because in that love u don’t expect anything from them” 

- Julian Ferrao, Aldona

Isn’t it ironic how PM Modi, on World Wildlife Days, says that ‘everything possible should be done to preserve forests and safe habitats for animals’? But in actuality, is okay with regressive policies like draft EIA2020, and allows protected forests, such as #AmcheMollem to be ravaged for projects? 

- Lorraine Fernandes, Student

On World Wildlife Day, the Prime Minister says ‘everything possible should be done to preserve forests and safe habitats for animals’. I am sure that the state government will allow Goa’s protected forests to be governed under the Wildlife Protection Act as legally mandated and reinstate a focus on a rights-based inclusive vision of Goa. 

- Dr. Nandini Velho, Researcher

“Goa despite its small coastline is home to a bewildering range of marine & coastal species amongst which are those protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act such as coral reefs, Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin, Finless Porpoise, Indian Mugger, Olive Ridley sea turtles & mangroves. The state has taken steps to protect sea turtle nesting sites, mangroves and has also enabled a marine wildlife stranding response & monitoring network that runs as a voluntary initiative between Drishti Marine, Terra Conscious and Goa Forest Department that has reported 350+ stranding incidents across the state’s coastline in the past 4 years. Many livelihoods such as fisheries, tourism etc depends on these fragile ecosystems & species which are threatened by a range of anthropogenic stressors. Thus, it is imperative that Goa establishes a dedicated marine conservation programme that’s inclusive, bottom up and supported by the necessary capacity building and infrastructure. Else we stand to lose these flagship species and ecosystems upon which we all depend.” 

- Puja Mitra, Founder - Director, Terra Conscious

The forests of Mollem are some of the most biodiverse on the planet. The infrastructure projects proposed in the protected area will not just lead to the destruction of these rich jungles but of our shared cultural heritage as well. 

- Farai Patel, Wildlife Biologist

With an ongoing pandemic, a climate crisis and the environment threatened by weak assessment reports, Wildlife Conservation is an undeniable keystone for balance. With animal corridors being marred with infrastructure projects, an increase in animal-human interaction and large forest covers erased, we see ourselves precariously hanging on to a very questionable future. As our PM mentioned today, “We should do everything possible to ensure protection of our forests and safe habitats for animals”...One hopes that these are not merely words, and will translate into action by listening to those voices who have been advocating and practicing the very message on ground. 

- Smrithi Amarendran, Writer