Enhancing Community Involvement is Crucial for River Restoration and Aquatic Biodiversity: C.R. Patil
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Synopsis
Union Minister of Jal Shakti C.R. Patil emphasizes the importance of community engagement in restoring aquatic biodiversity and river health. During the review of key projects, he launched a digital platform for biodiversity conservation and outlined a comprehensive strategy for a science-based conservation approach.
Key Takeaways
- Community Engagement is vital for biodiversity restoration.
- The digital platform rivres.in enhances conservation efforts.
- Over 5,000 Ganga Praharis are mobilized as conservation volunteers.
- A comprehensive river survey was conducted over 12,000 kilometers.
- Project Dolphin aims to conserve dolphins and support local eco-tourism.
New Delhi, April 17 (NationPress) Union Minister of Jal Shakti C.R. Patil has emphasized the necessity of enhancing community involvement in initiatives aimed at restoring aquatic biodiversity and improving river health, as stated by an official on Thursday.
While reviewing significant projects of the Wildlife Institute of India under the National Mission for Clean Ganga, the Minister also introduced a digital platform to promote freshwater biodiversity conservation.
The information dashboard www.rivres.in, developed by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and WII as part of the Ganga Aqualife Conservation Monitoring Centre/National Centre for River Research, acts as a comprehensive digital hub.
It provides ecological insights, conservation case studies, and details on physiography, biodiversity, and community engagement activities across key Indian rivers, including the Ganga, Barak, Mahanadi, Narmada, Godavari, Cauvery, and Pamba, he noted.
He acknowledged the effectiveness of extensive outreach and capacity-building programs carried out throughout the basin and underscored the importance of WII's role in mass awareness initiatives, particularly those involving Ganga Praharis.
Patil proposed organizing a Ganga Prahari Conclave to fortify ongoing engagement with volunteers and recommended exploring new conservation initiatives focused on the Mugger crocodile in the rivers.
He also unveiled a series of knowledge products developed under these initiatives, including Hydrophytes: Green Lungs of Ganga Volumes I & II and Protocols for Collection, Storage and Transportation of Biological Samples of Freshwater Macrofauna.
These publications symbolize the robust scientific foundation and practical relevance of the Ministry’s biodiversity conservation efforts, stated the Minister.
The primary objective of the project was to implement a science-based aquatic species conservation strategy for the Ganga River through a six-pronged approach: establishing a dedicated conservation monitoring center, planning aquatic species restoration, building institutional capacity, creating rescue and rehabilitation centers, initiating community-based conservation programs, and promoting education on biodiversity conservation.
The Minister accentuated the significance of community engagement, describing it as a cornerstone of the conservation plan initiated by WII under the NMCG.
Thousands of stakeholders, including forest officers, veterinarians, schoolteachers, NSS volunteers, and local communities, have been trained through over 130 capacity-building programs, he mentioned.
More than 5,000 Ganga Praharis, many of whom are women, have been mobilized to serve as frontline conservation volunteers. Their participation has bolstered biodiversity monitoring, aided rescue operations, and enhanced local stewardship, he noted.
He pointed out that a comprehensive river survey, covering over 12,000 kilometers across 22 rivers, was executed using advanced technologies such as GPS-enabled data collection, SONAR-based depth profiling, and ecological monitoring apps.
Project Dolphin was launched with the goal of conserving dolphins and their habitat while fostering local livelihoods through eco-tourism and other initiatives, Patil concluded.
