After three years of research, environmental experts are poised to set up India's first marine conservation reserve, which is expected to attract more eco-tourists to the country.

An area off the west-coast of Kerala has been earmarked for the project which revolves around the importance of the Giant Clam to both communities and local wildlife.

The study found that a high population of the clam reflects a healthy reef and is vital in helping to maintain a healthy eco-system and thus improving the local economy through fishing.

Assistant director of the Bombay font change Natural History Society Deepak Apte said: "This reef helps a large part of aquatic fauna to survive through their life cycles.

"Fast depletion of these reefs was also causing disappearance of the entire fauna in the area."

A proposal to turn the area into a conservation reserve is now being handed to the Ministry of Environment and Forests which is expected to give the green-light to the plans.

The project was funded by the Darwin Initiative set up by the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

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