.

Thanal Conservation Action
and Information Network

Thanal was formed in 1985 and registered in 1986 in Kannur, Kerala. The area of operation was State of Kerala. In 1994 this was revised and area of operation expanded to South India, essentially to cover the work area on the geographical landscape rather than the political. Thanal is a public interest research organization working on policies as well as taking an activist role when required and works in collaboration with other groups and communities.Thanal is primarily anchored on two long-term goals, which is its mission - that is to research and study the issues in relation to the survival of life and education to bring more people to gather for life on earth.

Thanal was started as a group to undertake studies in Natural History and also to take up Nature Education programmes. Study and documentation of toxics in environment became a major focus by the end of 1997. Thanal is a public interest group, which believes in working with other groups and communities. It is member of Health Care without Harm, Waste not Asia and IPEN. Eliminating incineration from hospitals, factories and municipalities, Persistent Organochlorines from daily lives, searching sustainable options, partnership with community groups to care for common resources, working with children and schools to understand the other side of the development paradigm, working with official agencies to draw long-term and short term plans are the immediate goals.

Thanal engages in active research and documentation to develop support for campaigns and community actions. Networking , partnerships with communities, information dissemination , education and awareness, policy lobbying, legal interventions and becoming a pressure group are the main methods used to achieve the goals We adopt non-violent activities with in the scope of the organisation work and believe in the democratic right to express and up hold the values essential for sustaining life.Thanal is supporting several organizations and local communities by providing technical information, research inputs, policy analysis and networking. It is also organizing educational interactions, skill shares and public education programmes.