EchoGoa announces names of awardees for 'Echo' awards

Panaji, June 12 (UNI) Parag Ragnekar's book ''Butterflies of Goa'' has been adjudged the ''Echo Best Book of the Year 2007-08'' by EchoGoa, a voluntary organisation engaged in protection and conservation of nature and wildlife in Goa.

Parag, an ardent bird watcher, has compiled ''A Catalogue on the Birds of Goa'' for WWF-Goa Chapter besides photo-documenting lesser-known fauna in the Western Ghats.

EchoGoa president Gurudas Kamat announced the names of three more awardees who would be conferred awards, comprising a citation and a certificate, for their valuable contribution in the preservation of ecology in Goa. The awards function will be held in October in presence of noted ecologist Mike Pandey.

Daily ''Gomantak'' chief reporter Sadguru Patil will receive the ''Echo Journalist'' of the year award for his efforts at bringing about public awareness and supporting the cause of Madei river ecology. He is the founder member of ''Madei Bachao Abhiyan''.

Photographer Arnold Noronha, an ardent nature lover and avid trekker who has participated in various rescue operations of wildlife including snakes and leopards, was adjudged the ''Echo Photographer''.

Herpetologist Nirmal Kulkarni, working in the Western Ghats and instrumental in discovering a new species of Sicilian in Goa, would receive the ''Echo Naturalist'' award.

Meanwhile, Mr Kamat said EchoGoa has decided to adopt the remote ''Mhavus/Mhausi'' village in North Goa's Sattari taluka for its scientific development and to provide encouragement to its artisans and foster eco-friendly activities.

It also plans to undertake ''audit'' of various natural resources of Goa such as springs, lakes, traditional irrigation systems and cisterns for generating maps using GPS technology, he added.

UNI