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Limgis 2001 - Winter School on Essentials in Limnology and Geographic Information System (GIS)
T.V. Ramachandra

Limgis 2001, Winter school on Essentials in Limnology and Geographic Information System (GIS) was jointly organized by the Energy and Wetlands Research Group [Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore], Karnataka Environment Research Foundation (Bangalore) and Commonwealth of Learning (COL) [Canada] from 5th to 13th December 2001 at the CES Seminar hall. Participants included research scholars and faculty (Mysore, Bangalore, Mangalore, Kuvempu, Karnataka and Gulbarga Universities, and Christ College - Bangalore and Irinjalakuda), postgraduate engineering students [University Vishveshwariah College of Engineering (UVCE), Mount Carmel College and Christ College - Bangalore, National Institute of Engineering (NIE) - Mysore, Christ College - Irinjalakuda], school students (Poornaprajna Education Society, MES Education Society, Little Lilly Education Society, K.K. English High School, and Udaya High School) and working professionals in the government and non-governmental organizations. Course faculty included Shankar Hosmani (Mysore University), Giridhar (NIE, Mysore), Madhyastha (Mangalore University), Nijagunappa (Gulbarga University), G.V. Gopal [Regional Institute of Engineering (RIE), Mysore], Kulkarni (RIE, Mysore), Col. Vijaykanth [Environmental Health Foundation (EHF), Bangalore], Vishwanath (Bangalore), Rajasekara Murthy (Environment Canada, Canada), and Ramachandra, T.V., Ahalya, N., Rajinikanth R., Anil Kumar Bhagat, Pankaj Kumar Mohanta, Mandy Payne, Pallav Julka, and Hrishikesh Mahadev (Energy and Wetlands Research Group, CES, IISc).

The primary goal of this course was to use aquatic ecosystems in the teaching of core physical, chemical, biological, and mathematical principles, as well as modern computer technology, while also improving the student's general understanding of water - the most fundamental substance necessary for sustaining life on earth. The section on lake ecology was intended to provide a general background by introducing the basic concepts necessary to understand how lake ecosystems function. 

                                   

The course introduced the participant to the fundamentals of aquatic ecology (with an emphasis on lakes) from an ecosystem perspective. General limnological principles as well as physical, chemical and biological parameters of lakes were discussed. Biological aspects included an introduction to the ecology, taxonomy of algae, zooplankton, macro invertebrates, macrophytes, and fishes. Field studies included Sankey lake survey, where participants gained experience in field sampling, laboratory analysis of samples, statistical analysis and interpretation of data for several types of lakes. Apart from these, integrated watershed management with emphasis on restoration of lakes and wetlands was discussed. The school also stimulated interest among many of the attendees from schools and colleges in the field of limnology and GIS, which was evident in the presentations of the participants on the concluding day. 

->Limgis 2001 concluded with the following recommendations towards sustainable management of aquatic habitats:
-> Include environmental courses in educational curricula especially at high school and college levels.
 Enforce existing laws related to aquatic environment to maintain it as a community resource. Develop a legal framework that supports local rights to manage resources.
-> Increase funding to NGO's and institutions to develop environmentally sound technologies. Channel government funds directly to decentralized local institutions.
-> Create councils for the management of wetlands, by drawing members from areas like engineering, life sciences, physical sciences, social sciences, health and sanitation and economics along with representatives from the local community, to overcome the conflicts of management goals. 
-> Create awareness through community education and institutions.
-> Introduce rainwater harvesting methods, at least in government organizations, and encourage the recharging of ground water facility.
-> Organise seminars, workshops, field trips and eco-clubs aimed towards capacity building.
-> Encourage biological approach to mitigate pollution problems, in preference to chemical and mechanical methods.
-> Increase and modernize the infrastructure available for the collection and treatment of wastes.
-> Undertake a scientific survey for the identification of solid waste dumping sites.
-> Undertake periodic monitoring of natural resources so that precautionary measures can be adopted before any environmental problem becomes serious.
-> Set up an information centre (database with regard to ecosystem status, conservation aspects, management issues, etc.) for students and general public to encourage their participation in keeping the environmental health.
-> Link licensing of industries to environmental quality certification.
-> Adopt an integrated watershed approach incorporating soil and water conservation, afforestation and ensuring people's participation in aquatic ecosystem management. Strengthen decentralised local institutions (panchayaths) to enable people's participation.

Dr. D.C. Sharma, Zonal Officer, CPCB, 
releasing the monograph on limnology and GIS

-> Promote decision-making forums or "adalats", where the general public and persons from various organizations concerned with environmental health or regulatory bodies meet periodically and discuss the problems regarding environment and its sustainability.