2024-12-23

TIES proudly inaugurated a Model Community Bio-Toilet at the KDHP Tea Factory campus in Mattupetty, Munnar, marking a significant step toward improving sanitation infrastructure and addressing critical environmental challenges. Freshwater ecosystems in the region, a lifeline for biodiversity and human communities alike, are heavily polluted by sewage and septage from nearby areas, posing serious threats to both ecological and public health.

As part of the project titled Protection of Freshwater Ecosystems for the Conservation of Threatened Species in Munnar, Western Ghats, India, TIES constructed the bio-toilet complex to combat fecal pollution and promote sustainable sanitation practices. Supported by Fondation Segré through the IUCN’s Save Our Species program, this initiative focuses on reducing pollution in freshwater ecosystems, safeguarding biodiversity, and ensuring access to clean, healthy drinking water for underserved communities.

The project is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly: SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): Ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all; SDG 14 (Life Below Water): Reducing pollution to protect aquatic ecosystems and marine biodiversity and SDG 15 (Life on Land): Conserving terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity and restoring ecosystems.

Set in the ecologically fragile Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a global biodiversity hotspot, the initiative highlights the crucial intersection of community well-being and environmental stewardship. By mitigating fecal pollution, the project not only protects threatened species but also strengthens broader ecosystem conservation efforts, benefiting both present and future generations.

The inauguration event, attended by key stakeholders and members of the public, highlighted the collective commitment to addressing pressing environmental and social challenges. The programme was inaugurated by Mr. Raju Warrier, Chief Engineer, Engineering Department, KDHP, with Mr. Joseph Alex, Manager of KDHP Mattupetty Tea Factory. Dr. Shaju Thomas, Head of the Division of Environmental Education, Conservation & Natural Resource Management, TIES, delivered felicitation, and Dr. Nelson P. Abraham, Vice-President, TIES, extended the vote of thanks. Dr. Punnen Kurian, Project Lead, provided a comprehensive briefing on the project, its interventions, and anticipated outcomes.

TIES extends its heartfelt gratitude to Fondation Segré and the IUCN Save Our Species program and KDHP for their generous support and commitment to conservation. We are especially thankful to KDHP for graciously hosting the project component at their prestigious campus and for their kind commitment to ensuring its scientific maintenance and management. This collaborative effort underscores the importance of partnerships in achieving a sustainable, equitable, and resilient future for vulnerable communities and ecosystems in the Western Ghats. The programme was coordinated by Sarath Babu N B, Nihal Hussain TP, Praful V Panicker, and Bechu Punnen Abraham from TIES.