About Jalapadom - Water lessons in Mullakal street, Alappuzha

Community Environment Resource Centre
Vembanad Wetland Conservation Program was initiated by ATREE in 2007 and led to the establishment of the Community Environmental Resource Center (CERC) in Alappuzha, Kerala. CERC’s goal is to ‘identify and develop the capacity needs and institutional networks for participatory integrated management of Vembanad Wetlands’. A multi-stakeholder, interdisciplinary approach has been designed and implemented to bring democratic principles into wetland conservation. Having identified priority thrust areas and networked with stakeholders, ATREE devised a conservation approach that addresses wetland-related conservation and livelihood issues here.

About Jalapadom
Ever since the position paper by the national focus group on the habitat and learning prepared by NCERT in 2006 (http://www.ncert.nic.in/new_ncert/ncert/rightside/links/pdf/focus_group/habitatlearning.pdf), the concept of habitat learning has gained significant importance in the country. The main objectives of jalapadom is learning about the environment; learning through the environment and learning about the environment. The landscape of Vembanad along with its rich cultural and ecological linkages have been deceased by the unscrupulous developmental activities, and the children are increasingly becoming unaware of its rich cultural and ecological significance.
The Jalapaadom program has strong influence and presence in schools and communities in Vembanad. The Education department of Govt. of Kerala has formally approved the program and now it has become a part of the education system in Vembanad. The long-running relationship helps us to have a good rapport with the educational institutions. The unique programs and workshops organized by Jalapaadom make it a favourite among teachers and students. ATREE CERC also works with the LSGs around the Vembanad in water and wetland conservation.

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