MADURAI: A volunteer network named as ‘Grass Guards’ will be launched by the end of December this year to safeguard grasslands across Tamil Nadu.
This was the unanimous resolution taken at a special training workshop on ‘Protecting the Commons: Grasslands and Waterbodies-pastoral rights and ecological future’ which was organized at NABARD-MABIF Hall in Agricultural College and Research Institute (ACRI) here on November 15th 2025 by inviting farmers and pastoralists.
The training workshop was held with the inititative of non-governmental organization ‘Thozhuvam’ fro Madurai which is actively engaged to safeguard the rights and welfare of pastoralists for rearing their cattle and sheep.
Organic farming expert Pamayan, ATREE senior research associate M.Mathivanan, Madurai-based veterinary officer Dr.M.S.Saravanan and cultural ecologist Thamizhthasan were among those who shared their insights on ecological practices, pastoral systems and conservation challenges.
Pastoral bio-economist Dr.P.Kabilan who coordinated the workshop on behalf of ‘Thozhuvam’ has said that the training sessions had focused on commons protection, grassland restoration, waterbody stewardship, the socio-economic challenges faced by pastoral communities and the recent legal / judicial directives related to the protection of commons in Tamil Nadu.
