Kerala proposes eco-sensitive zones in its protected areas

Kerala government today said thatit has proposed eco-sensitive Zones for all protected areas in the state.
Delivering his address at the conference of state Environment Ministers, Environment and Forest Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said that Kerala has proposed Eco Sensitive Zones "for all our twenty two protected areas and submitted it to the government of India."
Considering the Human Development Index (HDI), the Minister also said that Kerala is rated on par with many European countries.
"When we keep such a huge part of our resource for natureconservation whose benefits occur globally and also under thecircumstances of high pressure on land resources, there is a need to compensate the same by the union government so that the common goods flowing from such an asset remain sustainable," Radhakrishnan underlined.

Highlighting the achievements of Kerala in protecting forests, he said that his state is highly concerned about the health of its forests.
"Kerala is highly concerned about the health of its forests, we are vigilant to avoid degradation of forests. Special efforts are made to afforest degraded forests and to eradicate exotic or alien species such as Mikania, eupatorium etc.," he added.