Japanese team inspects works in Kalvarayan hills

JICA officials inspect climate change response project in Tamil Nadu's Kalvarayan hills, focusing on ecosystem improvement and mitigation.

Officials from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which is funding theTamil Nadu Biodiversity Conservation and Greening Project for Climate Change Response (TBGPCCR), inspected various works being carried out in Kalvarayan hills of Kallakurichi district on Saturday.

The aim of the project is to mitigate and adapt to climate change, and improve the ecosystem. Started in 2022, the initiative will be implemented in the State till 2029-2030.

According to an official release, the team from JICA comprising Ishikawa Saya and Siddharth Parameswaran, TBGPCCR’s Muhammed Shabab, Chief Conservator of Forests (Villupuram Circle) A. Periyasamy, and Villupuram District Forest Officer K. Karthikeyani inspected various tribal land reclamation works, such as the stone bund, gabion check dam, and farm and community pond constructed in Mettukadu eco-development village under the TBGPCCR for 2024-25.

The team visited Konakadu eco-development village and inspected skill development training activities such as bee-keeping, tailoring for women, and soap making among others. Completion certificates and training equipments were given to the Eco-development Committee members at Vellimalai.

The team also inaugurated an eco-shop, set up at Periyar falls in Innadu Range, for the marketing of value-added forest products.