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TheSálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) is the centre ofWildlife Institute of India, located in Anaikatti,Coimbatore,Tamil Nadu (India), near the foothills of theNilgiri Biosphere Reserve. It is a national centre for information, education and research inornithology andnatural history in India.
According to SACON, its mission is "To help conserve India’sbiodiversity and itssustainable use through research, education and peoples' participation, with birds at the centre stage".
11°6′13″N76°47′3″E / 11.10361°N 76.78417°E /11.10361; 76.78417
Area: 223,000 square metres (2,400,000 sq ft)
SACON's main campus is at Anaikatty, 24 km (15 mi) northwest ofCoimbatore, near the trijunction ofKerala, Tamil Nadu andKarnataka at the foothills of theNilgiri Biosphere Reserve. It offers multiple opportunities for long-term studies on various aspects ofavifauna and the biological principles and phenomena involved in the maintenance of fragileeco-systems.
Its 223,000 square metres (2,400,000 sq ft) of land is built up with around 3,438 m2 (37,010 sq ft) of buildings for housing offices, laboratory, library, common facilities and a student hostel. The unique round buildings of the campus were designed byLaurie Baker (1917–2007), a world-renownedeco-friendly architect,[1] and was dedicated on 11 February 2000.[2]
The 1,022 m2 (11,000 sq ft) SACON laboratory is equipped with advanced scientific equipment to support their research and educational programmes. It is probably the best in the country forecotoxicological studies of birds and wildlife and includes the following:
The 1,394 m2 (15,000 sq ft) 2-story library building can accommodate around 50 people. Total holding of the library is 2813 Books, 2381 back volumes of periodicals, 75 Current periodicals (Indian 44; International 31), 2706 maps and 51 CD-ROMs of reference materials. Internet literature searching is available to the staff and students. The library facilities are available to students, scholars and scientists from other institutions.
Each scientist is provided with alaptop computer andPentiumPC. There is a general facility for students and visiting scientists. All are connected with abroadbandlocal area network.[1][3][4]
Research activities are coordinated by the Director Incharge and conducted by five research divisions, namelyconservation ecology,ecotoxicology,environmental impact assessment,landscape ecology andrestoration ecology. Within the divisions there are research programmes in: Avian ecology and endangered bird conservation, Man and biodiversity conservation,Wetlands conservation, Environmental contamination and biodiversity, Environmental Impact Assessment, Modelling and simulation and Nature Education. The scientific staff includes three Senior Principal Scientists, four Senior Scientists, and one Nature Education Officer.[5]
During 2007-2008 SACON undertook 19 research projects:
The SACON is affiliated withBharathiar University. In 2006–07, 26 SACON students were enrolled for PhD and 2 for M.Phil. One PhD degree was awarded and three theses for PhDs submitted. Eight MSc students from different colleges and universities did their dissertation work at SACON for the partial fulfillment of their degree.
The nature education division conducted several programmes including a one-month residential vacation training programme onBioresources for School Children.
SACON collaborates with the Centre for Ecological Sciences,Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, on thePeople’s Biodiversity Register through School Children programme, involving five local schools.
In addition to student research programmes, other nature education programmes conducted during 2006–07 includedNature Camps for students of Coimbatore,
Wildlife Week Celebrations,
Nature Awareness Competitions and Sálim Ali Trophy awards,
Young Bird Watcher of the Year contest,
Sálim Ali Birth Anniversary celebrations,
World Wetlands day Programme,
The3rd Children’s Ecology Congress (CEC) and
Naming common butterflies in Tamil.
"Song of Sparrow: Nature Education e-Newsletter" a bimonthly e-newsletter was also published and circulated to theSalim Ali Naturalists Forum during the period.
SACON also conducted short term training programmes on instrumentation and analytical techniques and offered analytical service to industries and academic institutions.
A rapid environmental assessment of theKundah pumped storage hydro electric project in the Nilgiris was completed. Another EIA project for the Mumbai trans-harbour sea link project:Study of Flamingos and migratory birds was completed.Andhra Pradesh Community Based Tank Project – Environmental and Social Assessment Study was also completed.
During 2006–2007, SACON conducted aWorkshop on Conservation and Management of Biodiversity in Teesta Valley, Sikkim atGangtok, Sikkim.
ANational Conference on Biodiversity Conservation and Human Well-being was conducted jointly with the Department of Zoology,Osmania University.
SACON staff presented papers in 58 national and international conferences, workshops and seminars and delivered 13 invited/plenary lectures.[3]
Several research communications were made during 2006–2007 by SACON researchers. These included 12 scientific reports, 28 research papers, 8 chapters in edited books and 5 articles in technical newsletters.[3]
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