Thrissur: Humans can only work with nature and cannot work against nature, said Dr. T V Sajeev, Kerala Forest Research Institute Chief Scientist, who has close to three decades of experience in the fields of forest entomology, landscape fragmentation, forest insect population dynamics and invasion biology. The major challenges posed by climate change are rising sea levels, melting of polar ice caps and extreme weather disasters. Nimbus clouds are one of the worst weather disasters. They will flood wherever they fall in a very short time. When it rains in the mountains, it stirs the surface soil and flows it into the sea. Trees will be affected, leaves will be lost, and small worms will have no food and thus causing great harm to our interconnected ecosystems. He also pointed out that the current climate change has harmed species that are beneficial to humans and has benefited species that are harmful. For example, when the bees were destroyed, it created favorable conditions for the proliferation of mosquitoes. The water that pours down the hill will ultimately destroy the foundation of the stone walls that are built to withstand the storm surge. So black walls are not a permanent solution to sea turbidity. At the same time, they only pave the way for more quarries and cause more environmental damage.

The characteristics of the two monsoons in Kerala have also changed. Thunderstorms are a recent phenomenon with southwest monsoon. The gap between the two monsoons has also narrowed dangerously. Dr. Sajeev also shared the results of a survey conducted among the visitors to Athirappily Falls and its surroundings. The average response to the question of how many times they visit Athirappily was a high of 16. We are now suffering from nature deficit syndrome. He also pointed out that all human beings naturally want to live in harmony with nature. But without realizing this, we are living by overusing natural resources. For example, in Kerala, the raw materials used for the construction of a wall can be used to house all the homeless people in one or two neighboring states. During his visit to China, he saw that the construction of the wall was banned in Beijing. Kerala should also think that way.

In response to a question, Dr Sajeev, who is also the head of the nodal center that studies the invasion of African snails and slider turtles, said that a few animals like crow pheasants (uppan), wild boars, ducks and flightless female glow worms have been found to be eating African snails. However, there are limitations in using them. Only small snails can be eaten by them. Even ants can predict natural disasters. This is possible because it is a matter of life and death for them. It should be assumed that man was also able to do so. It's just that people use this faculty to identify in advance if there is any conspiracy against them at their workplace today.

Sunil Kumar V, Founder and Managing Director of Asset Homes, who gave an introductory speech at the event, said that as part of a new project with 136 residential units by Asset Homes in Thiruvananthapuram, the company is launching a sustainable model by making owners planting 136 trees on the same property.