CEL, NUALS organised the inaugural function of the Centre and a National Seminar on Envisioning a Legal Framework for Mainstreaming Environmental Conservation on 11th and 12th March, 2013 at the NUALS Campus, Kalamassery, Kochi.
The Centre for Environment and Law was formally inaugurated by Sri G. Karthikeyan, Hon’ble Speaker, Kerala Legislative Assembly. The welcome address was given by Prof (Dr.) M. C. Valson, Honorary Director, Centre for Environment and Law(CEL), National University Advanced Legal Studies, while the presidential address was delivered by the Honourable Vice-Chancellor(i/c) Adv. Shreedharan Nair of the National University of Advanced legal Studies.
On this occasion a National Seminar was organised with the topic as Envisioning a Legal Framework for mainstreaming Environmental Conservation. Eminent scholars and activists led the technical sessions of the seminar.
The objectives of the seminar were:
- To provide a platform of discussion for government, academia, media, NGO’s, scientists, think tanks, private players etc for a dynamic inter disciplinary approach for the evolution of a legal framework;
- To develop the skills of environmental advocacy and lawyering, policy making and research through various student focused activities; and
- To promote greater interest and awareness of contemporary challenges threatening the ecology and the livelihood of people with a special emphasis on Western Ghats.
The panel discussions were divided into three sessions, with each session having one moderator and three speakers who were experts chosen for the designated topics. A time constraint of half an hour was given to each panellist and this was followed by an interaction with the audience.
The theme for the first session was forests and wildlife. The discussions involved moving from an anthropocentric approach to eco- centric approach. The second session was about Community Rights and discussions involved Moving from management of resources to ownership of resources. The third session was based on Agriculture and Industry and the discussions involved moving from Impact Assessment to Enviro-Legal due diligence.
Apart from the Panel discussions two selected papers were also presented in front of the panellists. All authors were allowed poster presentations. The valedictory address of the seminar was delivered by Honourable Justice K. T. Sankaran.