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A one-week Asian Development Bank supported training workshop to build capacity for conserving and managing natural capital during the planning and implementation of transportation projects in South Asia was held at WII, Dehradun from 15^th July to 19^th July, 2019.

The key objective of the training workshop was to support the capacity building of individuals and organizations working in the implementation of Green Linear Infrastructure projects in the transportation sector in South Asia.

Transportation infrastructure projects invariably involve considerable amount of land diversion and long-term investments. These projects also have the potential to cause severe impacts to the environment and wildlife. To counter these adverse effects of developments, it is imperative to enhance capacity to address the negative impacts of linear infrastructure projects on biodiversity and harmonize conservation with development goals.

In this context, Asian development Bank has partnered with Wildlife Institute of India (WII) on the project ‘Protecting and Investing in Natural Capital in Asia and the Pacific’. Building capacity to promote ecologically friendly and sustainable road and rail development projects in Asia forms an important component of this project.

Shri. Parveen Pardeshi, Commissioner, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Mumbai while inaugurating the programme highlighted the need to harmonize conservation concerns with developmental imperatives. Dr V.B. Mathur, Director, WII, emphasised that capacity constraints in planning green transportation projects remain one of the biggest challenges for avoiding and mitigating potential impacts of road, rail and other transport infrastructure across South Asia. He said that the outcome of the programme would help guide responsible development in consonance with conservation of natural capital.

Twenty participants from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka representing sectoral development agencies for roads and highways, railways as well as from development banks attended this programme.