Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today said protection network in forests has to be strengthened with modern technology like satellite-based communication systems, early warning systems, drones and radio collars to preserve forest wealth from poachers and smugglers.
Inaugurating Forest Ministers' conference of southern states here, Chandy said some recent incidents of elephant poaching in Kerala and red sander smuggling in Andhra Pradesh point to a worrying re-emergence of organised criminal gangs.
"This demands a closer and cohesive approach among us as they have trans-border repercussions", he said.
"I understand that the kingpins of such activities operate from distant places, using local people as hunters and tree cutters", he said.
Such problems have to be tackled by strong protection to deter entry and improvement of the socio-economic status of local communities, he said.
"We need to strengthen our protection network with modern technology like satellite based communication systems, early warning systems, drones and radio collars", he said.
Chandy said forest cover in the region face serious threats. Illegal cutting of trees like teak, sandal and red sander, cultivation of ganja in the interior forests and poaching of animals like elephants and tigers may destroy our ecological foundations.
Encroachments of forests, degradation of elephants and tiger corridors and the emergence of extremist activities in forests pose serious challenges, he said.
"We realise that while our states have contiguous forests, the animals also move freely across our boundaries. In the event of inadequate inter-state coordination among us, they may become vulnerable to poaching and illegal activities," he said.
Forest Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan presided over the meeting, which was attended by Andhra Pradesh Forest Minister B Gopalakrishna Reddy, Karnataka Forest Minister Ramanath Rai, Telegana Forest Minister Jogu Ramanna and senior forest officials of the southern states.
