India

Surrounded by the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, India has an 8,000 kilometer coastline that spans 13 maritime mainland States and Union Territories (UTs). India is home to a variety of coastal and marine ecosystems that are storehouses for biodiversity. From an economic perspective, these coastal and marine ecosystems are of great importance in that they provide a wide range of ecosystem goods and services. Approximately 20 percent of India’s population lives in coastal areas, with a large proportion based in urban centers like Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. For those that live along the coastal belt, the fisheries sector provides employment to more than 6 million people and accounts for 1.2% of India’s total GDP and 5.4% of total agricultural GDP.

Rapidly increasing development has put numerous direct and indirect pressures on coastal ecosystems in the form of degradation and destruction.  Climate Change is likely to further exasperate the loss of biodiversity.  With increases in extreme weather events, sea-level rise, warming of the sea surface temperatures and ocean acidification social, economic and environmental problems will be faced by the people of India.

The Government of India has recognized that the long-term solution to coastal and marine ecosystem degradation requires a holistic and integrated approach. One that promotes multi-sector coordination to integrate environmental management principles, such as biodiversity conservation objectives, into economic production activities is necessary. Similarly, ensuring compliance with existing laws and regulations requires a coordinated response from a number of sectors.

Climate Change
Climate change is likely to have a considerable impact on coastal and marine ecosystems, including an increase in extreme weather events, as well as sea level rise, warming of the sea surface temperatures and ocean acidification.  Climate change issues have been incorporated into the priorities of the Indian NSAP, with climate change considerations featured as a key criterion in the selection of MFF India large projects.

MFF’s Programme of Work in India 
Comprised of a range of governmental departments, NGOs, intergovernmental organizations and academic institutions, MFF’s programme of work in India is overseen by a National Coordination Body (NCB). The National Strategy and Action Plan (NSAP) guides the work of the NCB.  Details of India’s programme of work can be found in the revised draft NSAP, which is implemented through the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).

Geographic Focus
MMF in India works at the national level by networking, influencing policy issues, conducting training missions and through regional coordination activities. At the local level community networking, experience sharing and site-specific actions are at the core of MFF’s activities. 

For execution of large projects, five States in India were identified as priority areas. Selection of the five States was accomplished with seven categories in mind, which include: human pressure, pollution, degradation, cyclone, climate change and sea level rise, seascape setting and unique features. The selection was largely guided by the following three measures: Large extent of mangroves (West Bengal and Gujarat) Biodiversity richness of mangroves (Orissa and West Bengal) Tsunami-affected mangroves (Andhra and Tamil Nadu)

Country strategy

The National Strategy and Action Plan is organized into two categories:

• Conservation Strategy and Action Plan for existing mangrove
• Restoration Strategy and Action Plan for potential and or degraded mangrove areas

Under India’s NSAP four priority areas have been identified in relation to MFF Programmes of Work (PoWs):

• Environmentally sustainable livelihoods to reduce pressure on coastal ecosystems (PoWs: 8.1; 8.3; 8.4; 8.5).
• Plantation of mangroves for creating green belts (PoW  9.3).
• Civil society awareness, participation in coastal decision making, and sustainable financing (PoWs: 6.1; 6.2; 6.4; 6.6; 10.3; 11.1).
• Improving knowledge gaps (PoW 1.1).
  

Alignment to ongoing in-country initiatives and priorities

• At the national level MFF goals and priorities align with the following:
• Supporting national legislation: Indian Forest Act, 1882; Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; Forest Conservation Act, 1980; Environment Protection Act, 1986; Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 1991 under the Environment Protection Act, 1986; Biological Diversity Act, 2002
• Special National Acts: Karnataka Tree Act; and Tamil Nadu Hill Preservation Act
• Relevant national policies: National Forest Policy 1988; India’s National Environment Policy (NEP)
• Under the system of democratic decentralization of responsibilities enshrined in Constitution amendment No. 73 of 1993, local bodies consisting of elected representatives, one third of whom are women, have been entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding the local environmental capital stocks.
  

Small Grant Facility (SGFs) projects 
Target groups for SGF projects are NGOs and Research Institutions. SGF projects have been selected with regards to their contribution to the following priorities:

• Sustainable coastal livelihoods
• Participatory assessment of current practices of mangrove restoration 
• Mangrove restoration and regeneration
• Coastal ecotourism strategies for conservation of habitats and generation of livelihoods
• Sustainable coastal aquaculture
• Floral biodiversity and natural recruitment of mangroves
• Demonstration of coral rehabilitation for education and awareness raising
• Assessment of status, threats and conservation measures of coral reefs in India and dissemination of information
• Hydrodynamics of mangroves
• Sustainable management practices of mangroves
• Assessment of status of  coastal shelterbelt for coastal protection
• Critical assessment of alternate livelihoods
• Action plan for conservation for mangroves

Small Grant Projects in India

Download PDF for more detailed information on SGF Projects

Large Projects
India has recently obtained one large project “Alternative Livelihood options for vulnerable mangrove resource users in the Sundarban Tiger Reserve” based in West Bengal.

Large projects will focus on the conservation and restoration of coastal ecosystems that focus on mangroves, corals and sea grasses.  Sustainable use of these valuable resources to support local livelihoods and community participation in their management will also be promoted.