Leaflets for IUCN India Country Office by vision VIBES

INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE

ÂŠ Pradeep Vyas

Founded in 1948, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oldest and largest global environmental organisation. With more than 1,200 Government and NGO members and almost 11,000 volunteer experts spread over 160 countries, the organisation forms an unmatched global reservoir of knowledge, action, influence and empowerment that has enabled IUCN to become the leading authority on environment and sustainable development.

Recognizing the organisation’s commitment and expertise, IUCN was made a permanent observer at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in 1999, making IUCN the only international organisation in the UN General Assembly with expertise on environmental issues. With growing global environmental concerns, the role of IUCN is now more critical than ever. India has a proud history of according high priority to environmental and conservation concerns, and has been one of the leaders on world stage on these issues. Naturally, India’s association with IUCN goes back a long time -India became a State Member of IUCN in 1969. Today, IUCN has 39 Member Organisations in India, the highest number in Asia, and over 435 individual experts across the six IUCN Commissions. These Commissions, which unite experts globally, continuously appraise the state of the world’s natural resources and provide expert scientific, legal and policy advice on issues of environment, conservation and sustainable development. The establishment of the IUCN India National Committee (INC) - a first of its kind committee in the region - consisting of IUCN’s Indian members and Chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India (GoI) marked the beginning of the close association between IUCN and GoI to coordinate on environmental issues. Since then, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between IUCN and the GoI has accorded IUCN the status of an autonomous, international, non-profit organisation. The IUCN India Country Office was establihsed in New Delhi in 2007. IUCN is also committed towards engaging with various State Governments and its MoU with the Gujarat government to work on local conservation challenges, is a step in this direction.

IUCN’s One Programme approach brings together Members and Commissions to address common goals whilst mainstreaming environmental stability. This forms the bedrock of the organisation’s policy framework. IUCN’s work is guided by three core principles:

? Valuing and conserving nature. ? Effective and equitable

governance of natural resources. ? Developing nature-based

solutions to environmental and developmental challenges both on the global and local level.

? Marine and Coastal

Within India, projects shaped using these core principles are categorised under the following areas:

? Inland Waters ? Business and Biodiversity ? Species Conservation

Printed in 2015

MARINE AND COASTAL © IUCN/Deepak Apte

Healthy coastal ecosystems are critical lifelines that not only sustain incredible levels of biodiversity in and around it, but are also the natural providers for numerous livelihoods in their vicinity and beyond. However, a steady increase in the demand for coastal and marine products and services over the years has resulted in unsustainable exploitation of these precious resources, thus undermining the capacity of these ecosystems itself. Recognising the aforementioned challenges, IUCN India through its flagship Mangroves for the Future (MFF) regional initiative is advising and supporting MoEF&CC in addressing the pressing need for protecting and sustainably investing in India’s marine and coastal ecosystems.

LIVELIHOOD SECURITY AND SUSTAINABILITY

? Providing supplementary livelihood options and associated skill

development to mangrove dependent communities in coastal states, thus reducing the anthropogenic pressure on mangroves as well as increasing income levels at project sites. ? Development of climate-adaptive livelihoods for vulnerable commu-

nities in the Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve, West Bengal. ? Establishment and capacity building of Disaster Management Com-

mittees and Disaster Response Teams in Odisha and West Bengal.

Experts and various stakeholder groups unanimously agree that coastal and marine ecosystems cannot be conserved in the long-run without addressing the two critical issues of securing livelihoods of communities’ dependent on these ecosystems and at the same time ensuring that this is done in a sustainable manner. The following steps have been taken by IUCN India under its MFF programme:

MARINE AND COASTAL ECOSYSTEM RESEARCH AND RESTORATION

? First of its kind programme in Gujarat, mentoring 20 private sector companies

to establish guidelines for community-based mangrove restoration. The highlight of this programme was restoration of more than 200 hectares of mangroves through capacity-building of the TATA Group to steer community driven mangrove plantations.

Apart from livelihood security and sustainability, it is equally important to promote and support new scientific research for a better understanding of these complex ecosystems. IUCN India has implemented the following steps under its MFF programme:

? Establishment of Village Mangrove Councils (linked with local Panchayats) in

Odisha to implement long-term sustainable use of restored mangroves through community stewardship. ? Development of a regional restoration protocol for degraded sea grass beds

in the Gulf of Mannar. ? Identification and targeted management of mangrove genetic hotspots

through research in mangrove community composition and distribution in Maharashtra and southern Gujarat.

POLICY INTERVENTIONS AND GOVERNANCE

? Bringing together the scientific community and government bodies from

across Asia to deliberate, discuss and establish sound ecosystem-based conservation approaches to marine fisheries, hence leading to focussed recommendations for regional interventions.

Effective policy interventions and transparent and robust governance are the pre-requisites for efficient actualization of the above-stated steps for conservation and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems. IUCN-India has been relentlessly working on this crucial aspect by:

? Development of a concrete knowledge base on marine ecosystems and

endangered dugongs and cetaceans in the Gulf of Mannar to facilitate effective trans-boundary ecosystem management. ? Development of scientifically informed and community-based ecosystem

management plans for the Vembanad-Kol backwaters in Kerala and the sea grass ecosystem of Palk Bay in Tamil Nadu, at the behest of the State and Central Governments.

EDUCATION AND AWARENESS

? Development of field-based curriculum on marine and coastal ecosystems

for schools along the western and southern coasts of India. ? Development of education and knowledge products in partnership with

MoEF&CC. These knowledge products that have been integrated as resource materials in schools and universities have now been disseminated across 10 countries in the Asia region. ? Building-up of a pool of national experts on mangrove restoration tech-

niques and framing an Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) plan to support and streamline national marine and coastal conservation efforts.

IUCN-India’s MFF programme has taken the following steps to educate and raise awareness about coastal and marine ecosystems:

INLAND WATERS Inland waters are freshwater aquatic ecosystems located within land boundaries. Inland waters are one of the most biodiverse ecosystems. Inland waters support freshwaterdependent life-forms including terrestrial species (like waterbirds), semi-aquatic fauna (like crocodiles and otters), amphibians and floral species. The world today faces considerable challenges in managing freshwater resources in light of a growing population with their ever-increasing developmental needs, particularly as we try and combat the impacts of climate change. Through the Ecosystems for Life (E4L) Initiative, IUCN India is currently working towards developing better trans-boundary governance to ensure wise management and equal sharing of water resources between Bangladesh and India in the Ganges-BrahmaputraMeghna (GBM) basin.

RESEARCH AND MULTI-STAKEHOLDER DIALOGUES

? Identification of the causes of deterioration of waterways and estab-

lishment of recommendations resulting in policy-development towards strengthening inland navigation.

IUCN India has facilitated formation of Joint Research Teams (JRTs) consisting of experts and institutions from Bangladesh and India. Supported by multi-stakeholder dialogues, these JRTs are mandated to undertake research on providing trans-boundary perspectives for suitable policy framing. This includes the following:

? Locating information gaps in the top-down dissemination of early

? Analysis of environmental flow assessment methodologies for the

Sundarbans ecosystem. Based on this analysis, a pilot to fine-tune these methodologies is currently underway in the Hooghly, Ichhamati and Gorai rivers.

flood warnings and in the communication of scientific information to local communities. A pilot project designed to address these gaps is underway in the Khagaria district of Bihar.

INLAND WATERS CAPACITY BUILDING IUCN-India has taken the following steps for capacity-building under the Ecosystems for Life (E4L) initiative : ? Establishment of an exchange programme for young scholars and professionals to work and interact with

academia, experts and practitioners in both countries. The goal is to help influence and develop betterinformed public communication and policy formulation on issues related to water management. ? Creation of an information platform towards building capacities of the media for objective, fact-based

reporting on shared ecosystems has resulted in a ready-to-use media reader and module. ? Development of a module on Hydro Diplomacy, focusing on the social, cultural and ecological impor-

tance of water and regional cooperation in the GBM basin. The module attempts to integrate the benefits of ecosystem-based approaches to technical solutions for water management.

KNOWLEDGE HUB ? Under the E4L initiative, a comprehensive knowledge database on trans-boundary water resources has

been developed. It includes a stakeholder database, a searchable bibliography of publications on projects undertaken by E4L and a River Atlas providing detailed, interactive maps of the key rivers in the region.

BUSINESS AND BIODIVERSITY

The concept of sustainable development envisions a harmonious co-existence between the health of ecosystems and the human-controlled extractive processes operating in these systems. In order to achieve this equilibrium, IUCN India collaborates with various business houses – both in Asia and beyond – by supporting and encouraging transformational and demonstrable changes at the company/sector level that help them realise the importance of conservation and sustainable development as a prerequisite for sustained long-term commercial success. IUCN, through its engagement with the private sector and the Leaders for Nature (LfN) Initiative, has implemented globally recognised tools such as Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT), Business Ecosystem Training (BET) and Ecosystem Services Review (ESR) to help private partners integrate biodiversity conservation into their business operations.

ENGAGING THE MINING SECTOR The mining sector in India - contributing almost 10-11% of the total GDP of India’s industrial sector – is slated to undergo rapid growth and expansion to meet India’s increasing energy and infrastructure demands. IUCN India has been engaging various stakeholders in order to ensure sustainable development of India’s mining sector. Some of the highlights are as follows: ? A workshop entitled International Workshop on Best Practices for Mainstreaming Biodiversity Conserva-

tion in Mining Sector was successfully organised by IUCN-India at New Delhi in March 2014. The workshop examined the current status of mining and biodiversity conservation in India and compared these to global best practices in order to incorporate them into national policy. ? IUCN India was invited by TATA Steel Limited, to help them develop a comprehensive biodiversity man-

agement policy that would not only minimise environmental impact and integrate biodiversity conservation into their mining operations, but also serve as a benchmark for the entire mining sector in India. © IUCN/Vipul Sharma

BUSINESS AND BIODIVERSITY MITIGATING IMPACTS OF PORT DEVELOPMENT ? At the invitation of Mr. Ratan Tata, IUCN engaged with Dhamra Port Company Limited (DPCL) to

develop a world class Environmental Management Plan (EMP) to minimise and mitigate the adverse impacts of port development on its immediate environment at Dhamra, Odisha. The EMP was integrated into DPCL policy and it was able to demonstrate to the wider community, the successful coexistence of development and conservation.

NATURAL CAPITAL ROADMAP DEVELOPMENT ? Leaders for Nature (LfN) as part of IUCN’s wide business-engagement network, sensitises and facilitates

private sector towards appreciating the true value of healthy natural ecosystems by convincing them to include natural capital as an integral part of their core business and strategic decisions. Through its Master Classes and in-company sessions, LfN equips companies with the necessary knowledge and tools to help them define a Natural Capital Roadmap with the long-term goal of achieving Net Positive Impact. Since its inception, LfN has been able to partner with top companies like Wipro Ltd., Hindustan Unilever ? Ltd., Cairn India and ACC Ltd., while many others have shown a keen interest in becoming members of this initiative.

SPECIES CONSERVATION India is widely recognised as one of the most biodiverse nations in the world and is home to three biodiversity hotspots â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Western Ghats, Himalayas and Indo-Burma region. One of the greatest challenges India faces today is conservation of this incredibly rich natural heritage, while catering to needs of an ever-growing population. IUCN, through its regional and national initiatives, strives to help India find this balance by maximising the positive links between sustainable ecosystem management and livelihoods of people who depend on these biological resources.

CONSERVING HILSA Hilsa, the iconic fish of the Bengal Delta has experienced population declines at alarming levels, raising fears of extinction of the species. Recognizing the urgency of the situation IUCN in collaboration Governments and concerned agencies in India and Bangladesh, is working towards the conservation of Hilsa. The project has produced significant results as enlisted below: ? Issuance of a gazette notification by the Government of West Bengal to regulate

Hilsa catch, in alliance with regulations in Bangladesh. ? Establishment of the Hilsa Conservation and Research Centre (HCRC) at Dia-

mond Harbour, West Bengal. ? Invitation to join the technical advisory committee of the HCRC for sharing

inputs on furthering Hilsa conservation in West Bengal.

TENUALOSA ILISHA IUCN STATUS: LEAST CONCERN

SAVING WHALE SHARKS Whale Sharks are the largest known fish species on the planet, inhabiting tropical and warm seas and oceans. Classified as Vulnerable by IUCN, very little is known about these gentle giants. The distribution and threats facing whale sharks along the western-coastal states of India were documented for the first time by IUCN, the highlights of the study being as follows: ? Identification of 5 aggregation hotspots â&#x20AC;&#x201C; overlapping with marine areas of

high productivity -- along the western coast - Malvan, Netrani Island, Minicoy and Kavaritti Island, and Saurashtra coast. ? Development of state-specific conservation recommendations in order to rede-

fine conservation measures and form the basis of state-level recovery plans.

RHINCODON TYPUS IUCN STATUS: VULNERABLE

SPECIES CONSERVATION SOUTH ASIA VULTURE RECOVERY PROGRAM Over the past decade the Criticially Endangered Gyps vultures suffered a devastating decline of nearly 99% throughout South Asia. In order bring these species back from the brink of extinction, IUCN and the Governments of India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan adopted a Regional Declaration on the Conservation of South Asia’s Critically Endangered Vulture Species in May 2012; this includes: ? Establishment of a Regional Steering Committee (RSC) to advise and

direct regional conservation and recovery measures. ? Recognition of the need to scale-up conservation breeding and reintro-

duction programmes, and the need for establishment of trans-boundary Vulture Safe Zones ? Sharing of captive breeding experiences with other countries by the Cen-

tral Zoo Authority, GoI

WHITE-RUMPED VULTURE (GYPS BENGALENSIS); INDIAN VULTURE (GYPS INDICUS); SLENDER-BILLED VULTURE (GYPS TENUIROSTRIS) IUCN STATUS: CRITICALLY ENDANGERED

TIGER ASSESSMENT PROGRAM India is estimated to harbour around 60% of the global tiger population; conservation of tigers in India is critical to the survival of the entire species. At the request of GoI, IUCN undertook an independent review of 28 Tiger Reserves and prepared detailed SWOT analysis reports. IUCN believes that with increased standardisation and minimal expansion, the Management Effectiveness Assessment Framework (MEAF) could become the backbone of a regular and credible assessment programme for the Tiger Reserves in India. This MEAF has now been mainstreamed into the monitoring processes for tiger reserves and protected areas in the country. In August 2014, an MoU was signed between the Global Tiger Forum (GTF) and IUCN to conserve tigers in Asia.

PANTHERA TIGRIS IUCN STATUS: ENDANGERED

PROTECTING THE OLIVE RIDLEY The Olive Ridley Turtle, classified as Vulnerable by IUCN, has recorded a significant decline in population over the years due to various threats. Gahirmatha beach, in Odisha, is the one of the largest known nesting sites of the species in the world. Fears were raised that the annual arribada site of Olive Ridleys at Gahirmatha – a natural spectacle where more than half-amillion female turtles land ashore to lay eggs – would be under severe threat due to the upcoming port just a few miles north of the beach at Dhamra. ? IUCN entered into an agreement with DPCL to avoid, minimise and miti-

gate the impacts of Dhamra Port development at this critical nesting site. The highlights of this initiative are listed below: ? Development of turtle-friendly dredging and lighting mechanisms. The

Government of Odisha has now incorporated the implementation of lighting guidelines into State policy. ? Execution of community awareness campaigns on turtle conservation in

nearby villages, including promotion of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in trawl nets, school programmes and development of alternative livelihood options.

LEPIDOCHELYS OLIVACEA IUCN STATUS: ENDANGERED