Columbia Global Centers | Mumbai invites you to a film screening and discussion on infrastructure expansion and wildlife conservation in India.
Tiger reserves and other protected areas are the backbones for conserving India's ecological diversity. The protected areas are usually small and surrounded by habitats with dense human population, whereas tigers and other large-ranging species need to move between protected areas to maintain genetically healthy populations. Infrastructure is expanding rapidly throughout the country, which threatens to impede the movement of these species. Yet the expansion of roads, rails, and hydropower is considered essential for development and economic growth in India. Is it possible to reconcile these two essential objectives of infrastructural expansion and conservation? The film suggests that with careful planning and political will, the needs of wildlife and development may not necessarily in conflict with each other.
The film screening will be followed by a discussion with Dr. Ruth DeFries from Columbia University and Dr. Krithi Karanth from the Centre for Wildlife Studies.
To register, please send an email to [email protected]
About the speakers: