Workshop on Biodiversity Concerns and Human Well Being: Towards Landscape Approach


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Workshop on

“Biodiversity Concerns and Human Well Being: Towards Landscape Approach”
on 17th,18th and 19th November, 2014 at Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh

 
BACKGROUND


Biodiversity Conservation is becoming a corner stone to advance livelihood options and inclusive economic development aspirations of the local communities in ecologically rich areas. However, conservation efforts are constrained due to near absence of an integrated approach to land and natural resource management. Recognizing this, India has been experimenting with participatory approaches for managing biodiversity conservation and has achieved global recognition through programmes like Joint Forest Management and Ecodevelopment. Over the years, a need has been felt to expand such approaches to larger landscapes with multiple land uses, so as to integrate the range of development and livelihood concerns with biodiversity conservation.

To achieve this objective, the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Government of India is implementing the World Bank assisted project on ‘Biodiversity Conservation and Rural Livelihood Improvement (BCRLI)’ in India for managing large landscapes having conservation values. It is a multi-sector and multi-theme project, based on landscape approach to conservation and emphasizes collaboration between Forest Department, local communities and different development agencies for its success.

As a test case for demonstrating such an approach on ground, two important landscapes in the country i.e. Askot in Uttarakhand and Little Rann of Kutch in Gujarat were picked up as pilot sites for implementation during 2011 and three ‘Field Learning Centres’ at Gir in Gujarat, Periyar in Kerala and Kalakkad-Mundanthurai in Tamilnadu, well known for fostering inclusive management approach were identified for supporting the implementation. Wildlife Institute of India (WII) is one of the implementing partners in the project for enhancing capacities of project implementers and as a knowledge management centre on landscape approach to biodiversity conservation.

The project implementation is indicating encouraging trends in engendering benefits to local people and thus receiving wider socio-political acceptance for conservation. Recognizing the significance and relevance of the approach, the project has now been extended for implementation to two additional landscapes, namely Agasthyamalai (Kerala and Tamilnadu) and Satpura (Madhya Pradesh) landscapes. This workshop on “Biodiversity Concerns and Human Well Being: Towards Landscape Approach” is intended to initiate the process of collaborative adaptive management for integration of conservation and development in the Satpura landscape.

The workshop has been designed as a core programme for middle level officers in forest and other development departments and a programme of M.P. Forest Department in collaboration with Wildlife Institute of India. The aim of this workshop was to disseminate the core concept of landscape approach, the global discourses governing need for such an approach, impediments and bottlenecks in putting this approach on ground and thereby to evolve strategic guidance for development of an enabling policy framework that facilitate inclusive and collaborative management of the landscape in question towards integrating development and conservation concerns. This opportunity had also be used to formally launch the project in Satpura landscape of Madhya Pradesh.

OBJECTIVES

  • To disseminate the core concept of landscape approach for biodiversity conservation
  • To discuss and debate on need, impediments and bottle necks in putting this approach on ground
  • To share existing experience of linking biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods
  • To guide evolution of a framework  (policy, administrative, Institutional and planning) required for effective implementation of landscape approach in Satpura landscape

DATE AND VENUE

17th to 19th November, 2014 at Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh

STRUCTURE OF WORKSHOP

The workshop was designed in such a way that of the three and half days, the first day was utilized for the launch of this project in Satpura landscape and remaining time utilized to discuss on various issues and modalities of landscape approach in general and for Satpura landscape in particular. After detailed sessions on first two days, the third day was utilized for getting the recommendation of participants for evolving a strategic framework for implementation of project in Satpura landscape. The objective was to appraise the participants about the concept of landscape management approach, explore the ground situation with the field practitioners and evolve a common understanding for developing a policy framework on landscape approach to conservation for Satpura Landscape. The programme of the workshop is accordingly structured.

CONTACT PERSONS:

Shri Jitendra Aggarwal, Additional PCCF (WL),
O/o PCCF (WL) & Chief Wildlife Warden, Pragati Bhavan, III rd Floor, Press Complex,
Maharana Pratap Nagar, Zone-I, Bhopal-462003; Mobile: 9424790004
E-mail: jitendraifs [at] gmail [dot] com

Shri R.P. Singh, CCF (WL) and Field Director,
Satpura Tiger Reserve, Bhopal Road, Hoshangabad, M.P.;
Ph.:  0942501107; E-mail: rpinforest [at] gmail [dot] com

Project Coordinator, BCRLIP,
Wildlife Institute of India, Post Box No. 18, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand
Ph. 0135-2640111 to 2640115, Extn. 207 (O)

Dr. Anil Kumar Bhardwaj, Scientist F& Head, Dept. of Ecodevelopment Plng. & Participatory Mgmt.,

Wildlife Institute of India, Post Box No. 18, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand
Ph. 0135-2640011 to 2640115, Extn. 203 (O), Mobile: 9412056376;
Email:
anilbhardwaj [at] wii [dot] gov [dot] in.

Shri. Aseem Srivastava Scientist-F and Workshop Coordinator, BCRLIP,

Wildlife Institute of India, Post Box No. 18, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand
Ph. 0135-2640111 to 2640115, Extn. 248 (O), Mobile: 9458315288; Email:
aseem [at] wii [dot] gov [dot] in.

 

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