Agasthyamalai Community Conservation Centre (ACCC)

Pothigai hills or Agasthyamalai is a great treasure for southern Tamil Nadu. River Tamiraparani is one of the few perennial rivers of Tamil Nadu that originates from the hills and symbolises a rich culture, unique biodiversity and overall human wellbeing. The banks of the 128 km long river is studded with several ancient temples, countless local deities with their own legends and rituals, and an ancient civilization at Adichanallur now an archaeological site that dates back 3800years. With time an irrigation system was established that connected Tamiraparani with several wetlands and transformed the semi-arid region of Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts into a rice bowl and banana basket of southern Tamil Nadu. These wetlands support large number of waterbirds and diverse aquatic fauna and flora apart from providing livelihood options. While some popular bird spots such as the Koonthankulam Birds Sanctuary are well known, the whole landscape can be considered an ideal ha

நீர்இன்று அமையாது உலகெனின் யார்யார்க்கும் வான்இன்று அமையாது ஒழுக்கு                                                               - திருவள்ளுவர். Thiruvalluvar in this couplet ‘Neer Indru Amaiyathu Ulagu’ recorded the universal truth, there is no world without water and further stated there will be a collapse of morality if the rains fail. In this context and present scenario on water usage and conservation, there is an urgent need to create awareness about wetlands and its wildlife. In connection to this, following its successful first edition ATREE’s The Family WilD Quest 2.o (Wetlands Special Edition) was conducted as a part of ATREE’s Tamiraparani WaterBird Carnival 2020 arousing a general awakening in the common man in favour of protection of wildlife and wetlands in special through a quiz competition with 49 teams jointly organized by ATREE’s Agasthyamalai Community Conservation Centre (ACCC), Manimutharu, Tamil Nadu Forest Department, Kalakadu Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve

THE HINDU 13 November 2019 Page-2 DINATHANTHI 13 November 2019 Page-19

HINDU TAMIL 18 Nov 2019 Page 4

HINDU TAMIL 05 November 2019,page-3 DINAMANI 06 November 2019, page-3

Hindu Tamil 26 October 2019-Page 2 THE NEW SUNDAY EXPRESS 27 November 2019-Page-3 (Tirunelveli)

Vagaikulam Bird Sanctuary வாகைக்குளம் பறவைகள் வாழ்விடம்  Sorimuthu Ayyanar Kovil சொரிமுத்து அய்யனார் கோவில்  Kurumalai Ayyanar Kovil குறுமலை அய்யனார் கோவில்  Tamiraparani Waterbird Carnival - 2020 தாமிரபரணி நீர்வாழ் பறவைகள் திருவிழா - 2020