E N V I R O N M E N T A N D E N E R G Y

P R O J E C T I N F O R M A T I O N

Area: Environment and Energy

Budget: US$ 3,438,294

Co-financing: US$ 12,000,000 (In-kind) (Government of India and Government of Maharashtra)

Duration: 2011-2016

Implementing Partner(s): Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India

Other Partner(s): Department of Forests, Government of Maharashtra

Location(s): Sindhudurg Coast including three Talukas, viz., Deogad, Malvan and Vengurla

Mainstreaming Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Conservation into Production Sectors in Sindhudurg Coast in Maharashtra Background

India is endowed with a long coastline of about 7,500 kilometers, an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 2.02 million square kilometers and a continental shelf of 468,000 square kilometers. The coastal and marine habitats include gulf waters, creeks, tidal flats, mud flats, coastal dunes, mangroves, marshes, wetlands, seaweed and sea grass beds, deltaic plains, estuaries, lagoons and coral reefs. The state of Maharashtra is among the top five states in India in terms of overall species diversity.

Towards the southern end of Maharashtra’s coastline lies the Sindhudurg coastal district. The district derives its name from the Sindhudurg fort constructed by King Shivaji in the 16th century on an island near Malvan. The area is also remarkable for its unique coastal and marine biodiversity. The surrounding areas are reported to be a congregation site for migrating marine animals like whales and whale sharks.

The Sindhudurg Coastal and Marine Ecosystem (SCME) has enormous economic significance as a major fish landing center, and a rapidly emerging tourism destination. The primary drivers of ecosystem degradation in the SCME include unsustainable fishing by trawlers, and expanding tourism sector, and pollution from fishing vessels and other maritime traffic. The existing institutional arrangement in the SCME is inadequate in addressing these issues from a landscape perspective.

The UNDP supported GEF funded project in Sindhudurg, in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Government of Maharashtra, aims to address these challenges through partnerships with different sectors to improve livelihoods of coastal communities through sustainable fishing, agriculture, horticulture, small-scale aquaculture, value addition to fishery operations, eco-tourism, adventure sports, dolphin watch, underwater observations of marine life, etc.

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About the project

• Cross-sectoral planning framework that mainstreams biodiversity conservation consideration

• Enhanced capacity of sector institutions for implementing biodiversity-friendly fisheries management plan, ecotourism management plan and MMS management plan

• Sustainable community livelihoods and natural resource use in SCME

Developments so far

• A Mangrove and Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation has been established in the state of Maharashtra in order to bring in continuation of the key activities initiated under the Project, as well as considering the need for the conservation of coastal and marine biodiversity along the coast of Maharashtra.

• Biodiversity inclusive Fisheries Plan for Sindhudurg Coast prepared and is under implementation; Joint Patrolling, being one of the activituy in the Plan initiated by the Fisheries and Forest Departments.

• Square mesh net at the cod end of trawl nets adopted by all (317) trawlers in Sindhudurg District.

• To encourage the people of coastal Sindhudurg to mangrove conservation, mangrove crab farming initiated with 28.5 acres of land in 15 villages brought under crab farming and 149 beneficiaries trained in mangrove crab farming.

• An expedition to Angria Bank to study the living marine resources successfully completed and a documentary prepared. The study reflects presence of 160 identified species including 53 coral species, 18 fish species, 9 seaweed species, 9 echinoderms. 18 species were recorded which are yet to be identified, which includes 6 coral species.

• Four encounters of Bryde’s whale and one encounter of a mother-calf pair of Blue Whale recorded, and 561 individuals of Indo-pacific humpback dolphins identified in Sindhudurg waters, under the Cetacean Population Assessment project. Systematic collection of baseline data for beaching and stranding of cetaceans initiated, under which 19 incidents of beaching have been recorded.

• 100,000 mangrove saplings planted to rehabilitate 20 ha. of degraded mangrove area; 98000 mangrove saplings of RET species were raised. Digitized maps of mangroves in Sindhudurg region prepared.

• 40 Biodiversity Management Committees formed under the project and creation of 8 People’s Biodiversity Register initiated.

• 25 mussel and oyster farming units set up with women SHG groups. System of Rice Intensification (improved crop production technique) implemented in 1000 acres of paddy land leading to increased income of local farmers, in all resulting in 739 individuals being shifted to additional livelihood options, to reduce pressure on biodiversity.

• Rehabilitation of degraded coral sites through transplantation of coral using artificial substrates and native coral species undertaken. Enhancing biodiversity of coral reef through deployment of 250 artificial reefs building blocks undertaken.

• The “Sindhudurg Clean Beach Campaign” launched across 29 beaches along the Sindhudurg coast; Comprehensive solid waste management plan prepared for 185 villages and Sindhudurg Fort and Vijaydurg Fort declared as ‘No plastic Zone’.

• Awareness workshops conducted regularly to sensitize fisheries department staff on biodiversity conservation; Small-scale fishermen sensitized about biodiversity inclusive sustainable marine fishing practices.

• Capacity building of representatives of production sector, conservation sector as well as the livelihood sector carried out, including 929 fishermen trained in sustainable fisheries management practices and 3293 farmers trained in SRI.

Looking to the future

• Bringing in enabling environment for sustaining the activities initiated under the project.

• Improving planning and management in the coastal zone and land use decisions in the surrounding area

• Minimizing the environmental impacts of growing coastal tourism through low-impact, community based tourism

• Strengthening the capacities of conservation and production sector staff and managers in environment-friendly production practices

• Replicating successful interventions and strategies in other marine and coastal areas in the country

• Providing a platform for a landscape based approach in coastal and marine biodiversity conservation governance

• Sustainable livelihood strategies through diversified income options

Last Updated: March 2016

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