CONGRESS OVERVIEW & RATIONALE
Reimagining life and livelihoods in mountain regions through interdisciplinary science, indigenous taxonomy, field transects, and biocultural stewardship.
THE PROCESSUAL MOUNTAIN
The concept of the Processual Mountain rejects static cartographic representations of mountain ranges. Mountains are not fixed masses of granite and soil; they are continuous dynamic processes of water vapor condensation, monsoon interception, elevational species migration, slope mass movement, and human adaptation.
In the Western Ghats, this processual reality is vividly visible: every square kilometer of high-altitude shola forest acts as a fog collector, soaking up monsoon mist and releasing it slowly into headwater streams that feed major peninsular rivers.
PRIMARY CONGRESS OBJECTIVES
Elevational Microclimate & Hydrology
Present peer-reviewed research on high-altitude cloud hydrology, shola grassland carbon dynamics, and microclimate buffering along the Western Ghats.
Indigenous Knowledge Systems
Bridge academic taxonomy with Adivasi vernacular knowledge of seeds, weather indicators, medicinal plants, and forest governance.
Montane Stewardship Blueprints
Formulate actionable policy frameworks for landslide-resilient land-use planning, slope protection, and sustainable mountain livelihoods.
Next-Generation Field Ecology
Train young researchers and community naturalists through hands-on field transects, bio-acoustic labs, and seed preservation workshops.
WHO PARTICIPATES IN THE CONGRESS
Approximately 500 registered participants from across India and international mountain regions will convene in Wayanad.
HUME CENTRE FOR ECOLOGY & KVASU
Hume Centre for Ecology and Wildlife Biology: A premier non-profit research organization headquartered in Kalpetta, Wayanad. Hume Centre conducts pioneering community rain-gauge monitoring networks, bird atlases, and climate adaptation research across the Western Ghats.
Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU): KVASU Campus at Pookode hosts the Congress auditorium, lecture halls, and field laboratory space nestled at 770m ASL alongside Pookode Lake.
KVASU CAMPUS, POOKODE, WAYANAD
- • Nearest Airport: Calicut International Airport (CCJ) — 85 km
- • Nearest Railway Station: Kozhikode (Calicut) Railway Station (CLT) — 62 km
- • Highway Connection: NH 766 (Kozhikode – Mysore Highway)
- • Coordinates: 11.5432° N, 76.0264° E