CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES …

1 49To address the problems of environment anddevelopment holistically, the Ministry has enunciatedseveral policy instruments which takes into considerationvarious cross-sectoral issues having a direct bearing onconservation and sustainable uses of NATURAL resourcesincluding forestry and ReservesBiosphere Reserves are areas of terrestrial andcoastal ecosystems which are internationally recognizedwithin the framework of UNESCO s Man and Biosphere(MAB) Programme. These reserves are required to meeta minimal set of criteria and adhere to a minimal set ofconditions before being admitted to the World Networkof Biosphere Reserve designated by UNESCO forinclusion in the World Network of Biosphere world s major ecosystem types and landscapes arerepresented in this network, which is devoted toconserving biological diversity, promoting research andmonitoring as well as seeking to provide models ofsustainable development in the service of humankind.

2 [Biosphere Reserves, CONSERVATION and Management of Wetlands, Mangrovesand Coral Reefs, Biodiversity CONSERVATION , National Biodiversity Strategy andAction Plan, Genetic Engineering Approval Committee, All India CoordinatedProject on Taxonomy, Assistance to Botanical Garden, Botanic Garden ofIndian Republic, Forest CONSERVATION , Regional Offices of the Ministry, ForestPolicy, National Forest Commission, Integrated Forest Protection Scheme, JointForest Management, Wildlife CONSERVATION , National Board for Wildlife, NationalInstitute of Animal Welfare, Statutory Bodies - Animal Welfare Board of India,Project Tiger, Project Elephant, Wildlife Institute of India, Central Zoo Authority,National Zoological Park] CONSERVATION OF NATURALRESOURCES INCLUDINGFORESTRY AND WILDLIFET hese reserves are rich in biological and culturaldiversity and encompass unique features of exceptionallypristine nature.

3 The goal is to facilitate CONSERVATION ofrepresentative landscapes and their immense biologicaldiversity and cultural heritage, foster economic and humandevelopment which is culturally and ecologicallysustainable and to provide support for research, monitoring,education and information exchange. The scheme is apioneering effort at pursuing the increasingly difficult yeturgent task of conserving ecological diversity undermounting thirteen Biosphere Reserves set up in thecountry so far not only aim to protect representativeecosystem, but also serve as laboratories for evolvingalternative models of development.

4 The Ministry providedfinancial assistance to the respective State Governmentsfor CONSERVATION and management of these BiosphereReserves. Research and development projects were alsosupported. On the basis of the proposal submitted by thisMinistry to the International Coordinating Council (ICC)of Man and Biosphere Reserve (MAB) Programme of50 UNESCO, three Biosphere Reserves; Sunderban (WestBengal), Mannar (Tamil Nadu) and Nilgiri (Tamil Nadu)have been included in the International Network ofBiosphere Reserves. Efforts are on for getting otherBiosphere Reserves included in the World Network ofBiosphere Reserves.

5 This facilitates internationalrecognition and attracts additional funding in these Ministry provided financial support to therespective State Governments for managementinterventions in the buffer zones of these biospherereserves based on the recommendations of the IndianNational MAB Committee. A number of research projectshave been completed during the year which providedbaseline data helpful in the scientific management ofthese reserves. A number of new research projects werealso initiated during the year. A list of Biosphere Reservesset up so far along with their area and location is givenin and Management ofWetlands, Mangroves and CoralReefsWetlandsWetlands are lands transitional between terrestrialand aquatic system where the water table is usually ornear the water surface and land is covered by shallowwater.

6 They are life support systems for people livingaround and are effective in flood control, waste watertreatment, reducing sediment, recharging of aquifers andalso winter resort for variety of birds for shelter andbreeding and provide a suitable habitat for fish and otherflora and fauna. They also act as buffer against thedevastating effect of hurricanes and cyclones, stabilizethe shore-line and act as bulwark against theencroachment by the sea and check soil erosion. Apartfrom that, they are valuable for their educational andFig 27. A view of Sunderban Biosphere Reserve51scientific interest and provide durable timber, fuelwood,protein rich fodder for cattle, edible fruits, vegetablesand traditional of wetlands can be attributed to thefollowing three main factors, viz.

7 When an area is permanently or periodicallyinundated When an area supports hydrophytic vegetation When an area has hydric soils that are saturated orflooded for a sufficiently long period to becomeanaerobic in the upper these criteria, Ramsar Convention defineswetlands as areas of marsh or fen, peat-land or water,whether artificial or NATURAL , permanent or temporary,with the water that is stastic or flowing, fresh, brackishor salt including areas of marine water, the depth ofwhich at low tide does not exceed six meter. Mangroves,corals, estuaries, bays, creeks, flood plains, sea grasses,lakes etc are covered under this into consideration deterioration of waterbodies, a programme on CONSERVATION of wetlands wasinitiated in 1987 with the basic objective of assessmentof wetland RESOURCES , identification of wetlands of nationalimportance, promotion of R&D activities and formulationand implementation of management action plans of theidentified wetlands, which are at present 27 covering 15 States.

8 Under the management action plans for identifiedwetlands, activities also includes survey and demarcation,catchment area treatment, desiltation, weed control,fisheries development, community participation, watermanagement, public awareness, pollution abatement, Steering Committees have been constituted in allthe concerned States under the chairmanship of ChiefSecretary having members from various subject matterdepartments relating to wetland CONSERVATION in the achievements during the year: Financial assistance increased from Rs. 5 crores to6 crores The main focus for wetland CONSERVATION is now onbiological methods of CONSERVATION rather than ofadopting engineering options under the catchmentarea treatment - 3 List of operational Biosphere Reserves in the Name of Biosphere ReserveDate of , Tamil Nadu and and Nicobar of Nadu and Kerala52 The main thrust is on waterhshed management andactivities under this component is aimed at involvingclose participation of stakeholders in order to covermore CONSERVATION activities and also to see itssustainability.

9 Four new wetlands have been added to the nationallist on recommendations of the Committee. Newwetlands are : East Calcutta and Sunder banswetland from west bengal , Pt. Calimer from TamilNad and Kottuli wetland from Kerala. Management action plans have been prepared fortwenty two wetlands out of twenty Assistance released for CONSERVATION of Wetlandsto following States during the current financial year:J&K (Wullar), Himachal Pradesh (Renuka,Chandertal and Pong), Orissa (Chilka), Manipur(Loktak), (East Calcutta & Sunderbans),Tamil Nadu (Pt. Calimer) and Rajasthan (Sambhar),Kottuli and Sashthamkotta (Kerala).

10 Two more proposals received from Mizoram andSikkim for their inclusion in the national list whichis being processed. Four more research proposals approved forassistance during this year. On the basis of results obtained in UNDP projecton inland wetlands of India, PDF-B project isproposed for taking up of intensive CONSERVATION ofsome wetlands in totality. Two Regional workshops on wetlands have alreadybeen organized in Gujarat, Cochin, Orissa andImphal during the year. Two more workshops arescheduled to be held in Bhopal and Lucknow. Nineteen sites have already been designated asRamsar sites in India till date.