Symposium focusing on lakes popularly known as “Lake symposium” was initiated by the Energy & Wetlands Research Group at Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore in the year 1998. The theme was broadened  in 2000 (Lake 2000) with a wider participation of organisations. The basic idea of the symposium was to bring out the trends in ecosystem conservation, restoration and management including the hydrological, bio-physical, people’s participation and the role of non-governmental, educational and the governmental organizations and the future research needs. Lake 2012 will be the 8th Biennial Lake Conference focussing on  “Conservation and Management of Wetland Ecosystems”.

Wetland ecosystems are cradles of biological diversity, providing water and primary productivity upon which countless species of plants and animals depend for survival. The degradation of these vital ecosystems is linked to continuing problems of land cover changes, deforestation, habitat fragmentation, pollution, indiscriminate disposal of liquid and solid wastes.

Lake 2012 : “Conservation and Management of Wetland Ecosystems” would focus not only on updating of the current knowledge of the scientific community on wetland consevation and management and also would bring in awareness among students, teachers and public. This conference would provide a platform for interaction among researchers, policy makers, academics and NGOs , also would address the issues related to wetlands and biodiversity in an era of climate change. The conference it has been decided to have theme based lead lectures by the eminent scholars, oral and poster presentations by researchers, school and college students.

Vembanad wetland, a Ramsar site in India, having an area of 36500 ha, is the largest brackish, humid tropical wetland ecosystem and receives an average annual rainfall of about 3,300 mm. It is of great significance due to its hydrological function rich biodiversity, huge fish population and it is well connected with Arabian sea through Cochin estuary. Vembanad Lake besides providing feeding, spawning and rearing areas for fishes and clams also act as a sink of the agricultural and municipal waste. The environmental condition of the wetland is steadily declining due to over exploitation of the resources and dumping of agricultural run-off, municipal and other wastes. One among the major focuses of Lake 2012 would also focus the present status, possible restoration and management aspects of the Vembanad wetland, which is the lifeline of Central Kerala. A special session on Vembanad wetland is being planned as a floating session on the Vembanad Lake in a House Boat.

Papers are invited on the following themes from researchers, planners, social scientists, school (VIII – X students) and college students, school and college teachers.

Topics for Paper/Poster Presentation in Lake 2012:

1. Wetlands: Restoration, Conservation and Management
2. Climate Change and Coastal wetlands
3. Tourism and Wetlands
4. Biodiversity: Western Ghats, Rivers and Wetlands 
5. Interlinking of Rivers
6. Application of Geoinformatics in Wetland Management
7. Environmental Education and Sustainable Consumption
8. Natural and Anthropogenic disasters 
9. Waste Management
10. Pollution – atmospheric, terrestrial and aquatic - Monitoring and Management
11. Sustainable Agriculture.
12. Wetland Resources and Livelihood.
13. Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy.
14. Limnology.
15. Green Technology

School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala would be the venue. Kottayam town is in the central Kerala and is well connected with other parts of the country by road, rail and air. Nearest air ports are  Kochi   and Thiruvananthapuram  which are  80  and 150 km \away from Kottayam respectively.

Registration Fee

Delegates                                  : Rs. 2500/-
Research scholars and students  : Rs. 1500/-
Accompanying person                  : Rs. 1500/-

No spot registration

Mode of payment of Registration fee
Either through Demand draft Infavour of ‘ The Convener, Lake 2012, M.G.University, Kottayam’ [OR] Bank transfer through NEFT in to our account number 67191738224 with state bank of Travencore, M.G.University Campus branch, Kottayam IFSC Code:SBTR0000669).

The organizing committee has decided to waive registration fee to school students and school teachers whose papers are accepted for presentation in the technical session.

Last date for :

Abstract submission   :   September 10^th, 2012 
[Intimation of acceptance of abstract September 17^th,  2012]

Full paper submission:   October 5^th, 2012

Registration closes on :   October 6^th, 2012.