AARDE Pulicat Interpretation Centre: Star Wetland Centre for People
In their own words
AARDE Pulicat Interpretation Centre is unique because it promotes and conserves the second largest wetland in India, Pulicat Lagoon. The water body covers an area of 759 sq.km, km. and is located in the fourth-biggest city of India, Chennai (Madras). The interpretation centre empowers more than 225 women through Palmyra tree leaf handicrafts and sustains the centre with its profit.
The UN-Habitat and the Government of India recognise the AARDE Foundation. Every year, we organise the only traditional wood katumaram race for the Indigenous people. And regular heritage walks with the support of the regional government and ICOMOS-India. The interpretation centre disseminates information in Tamil and English through visual media about the lagoon, northeast monsoon, and coastal tribal. India's rocket launch centre is located in the centre of Pulicat Lagoon, hence there are bit restrictions and less attention from the local administration.
Unlike the western ghats of India, the southeast coast of India depends on coastal lagoons to attract rain clouds. After years of neglect of this coastal lagoon, we NGO formed in May-2009 to bring awareness and much-needed attention to protection. This lagoon has the last surviving coastal wetlands tribals, who have a very unique lifestyle and language. They catch fish, prawns, and crabs with bare hands.
The Pulicat Lagoon is not a World Heritage or Ramsar Site. We are working towards bringing positive policy changes and much-needed a governing body "Pulicat Wetland Authority" to conserve the lagoon.
The judges love
Its innovative and respectful approach to engaging people, from festivals to distributing native plants, and exhibits on the changes people can make.