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Workshop Minutes
National Consultative Workshop on “Ecological Engineering for DRR”
5th Feb. 2016 at CSIR-NEERI, Nagpur
Year 2015 was a landmark year in international negotiations on both climate
change adaptations and disaster risk reduction. Scientific community has
increasingly identified clear linkages between sound environmental
management and disaster risk reduction. In this context, CSIR-National
Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) along with the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Geneva organised a Consultative
workshop on “Ecological Engineering for DRR and CCA” in NEERI, Nagpur on
Feb 5th, 2016. The workshop brought together technical experts and policy
makers from across India to review how the new opportunities offered by
science and international policies could be leveraged to promote ecosystem
based approaches in India. The consultative workshop had three technical
sessions. First session was dedicated to ecosystem based approaches and in
this session world scenario as well as case studies representing different
ecosystems of India were presented. In second session capacity building for
EbDRR was discussed along with presentations. In final and third concluding
session Discussions on increasing co-operation on EbDRR and EBA in India
was discussed.
Speaking on the occasion Dr. Muralee Thummarukudy (Chief UNEP, DRR
Geneva) while welcoming the dignitaries and participants highlighted that the
last few decades have clearly indicated an exponential increase in the
vulnerability of the society and land to disasters. He highlighted the need of
more capacity building for EbDRR and EbA and the role UNEP can play in the
direction.
Dr. P.S. Dutt (Senior Most Scientist, CSIR-NEERI) in his opening remarks
emphasized about the need of and well-being of ecosystems as they are shock
absorbers. There is need to reduce the vulnerability of communities and for that
he emphasized on the requirement of capacity building and identification of right
mechanisms.
Prof. Sanjay Deshmukh (Vice Chancellor, Mumbai University) in his inaugural
remarks highlighted the important role ecosystems’ play at large. He shared
experiences about vulnerability of Indian coastline and how mangroves as
natural buffers and practices based on indigenous and traditional knowledge
can reduce the disaster risks associated. He emphasized on resource mapping
and change detection using ecological resources that can help us in resource
preparedness for future.
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Dr. Nivedita Haran (Retd. IAS) and chairperson for first session emphasized
about the concern of scientists and also that reports prepared based on their
R&D is not going to be wasted. She highlighted the unsafe building construction
approach in the country by violation of building laws that is a disaster invitation
in its own self. She emphasized about the role of scientists and policy makers
that need to be pitched in while planning risk reduction approaches.
Dr. Murali being the first speaker for the session established the scene for the
session by providing an overview about global scenario of EbDRR. EbDRR was
not part of Hyogo Framework (2005-2015) for DRR. There is a need to use the
already existing knowledge by connecting institutes/organisations and
strengthen already existing set ups working on ecosystem based approaches
for DRR. So, networking, scaling up and capacity building are the approaches
that should be considered. Due to anthropogenic activities disasters are now
magnified. So there is need of more focused training packages that can help
capacity building and also framing appropriate policies. He discussed stringent
forest management practices to take care of forests. Nature based solutions
accepted as default plan for reducing disaster risks. He emphasized the need
of political momentum that can scale up these approaches. EbDRR has also
now been included in Uruguay COP 12 of RAMSAR and Korea COP 12 of CBD
that itself shows the requirement of these approaches.
Ms. Ipsita Sircar from Wetlands International, Delhi presented the case study
of Mahanadi delta. Her presentation highlighted developmental choices made
by communities (individuals) that have caused disasters. She emphasized the
EbDRR approaches that were addressed by identifying the risks, location of
communities and how these can be addressed.
Dr. Sudipto Chaterjee (Associate Professor, TERI University) highlighted the
role of biodiversity and ecosystems in DRR. He discussed the key challenges
to scale up the different approaches for DRR that includes two important
aspects to be considered i.e. what we have and what we have lost? He provided
a detailed overview about the role of biodiversity that supports life. He
discussed Mahanadi Coal limited restoration project where he highlighted the
use of analytical high scale process like Landuse vs Landuse; Criteria vs
Criteria and Landuse vs Criteria for long term plans.
Dr. V. Balaji (OMKAR Foundation, Tamilnadu) emphasized on EbDRR and EbA
approaches in Palk Bay through his case study by protecting existing
mangroves, restoring degraded mangroves and extending new mangroves
along the coast. Protection of existing mangroves needs community awareness
and participation by implementing livelihood support to encourage mangrove
conservation.
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Mr. Sachin Samar (Hindustan Zinc Limited Rampura, Agucha) shared the case
study of overburden restoration by Hindustan Zinc Limited at Rampura, Agucha
mines. His presentation highlighted the role of geotextiles, biodiversity, Vetiver
grass, irrigation of saplings by STP effluents and use of STP sludge as manure.
He also shared efforts of HZL in developing Hitech Nursery for Threatened plant
species of Rajasthan.
Dr. Sonali Ghosh (IFS and Scientist Wildlife Institute India) in her presentation
highlighted the role of Protected Areas towards providing essential ecosystem
services and for reducing risks from hazards such as floods and erosion in lower
catchments. Manas Biosphere Reserve in Assam is a part of the largest transboundary tiger conservation landscape in the world. In one location the
indigenous tribes have successfully demonstrated the use of century old
traditional knowledge for channeling seasonal Himalayan Rivers which ensures
the availability of irrigation and drinking water in an otherwise water deficient
(Bhabhar) geological region. Popularly known as the Dong Bundh system of
Subankhata forests these community-constructed micro-dams help in reducing
soil erosion and floods. She in her presentation emphasized that long-term
conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services protected areas
may act as an indicator for disaster.
Dr. Shalini Dhyani (Scientist CSIR-NEERI) presented the case study from
Uttarakhand state considered as hot spot of disasters in India. She provided a
detailed overview about disaster risks in the state and traditional practices of
locals to withstanding extreme climate events and disasters. She highlighted
the role of famine crops; Barahnaja (multi cropping) practices; traditional water
harvesting practices and role of Mahila Mangal Dals in EbA. She discussed a
case study on fodder bank approach also an EbDRR approach in Garhwal,
Uttarakhand by using fast growing, high biomass yielding, nutritious species
that have reduced pressure on forests and also women drudgery of hill women.
Session two of the workshop focused on international efforts at capacity
Building by Muralee Thummarukudy where he appreciated the structured
approach of DRR in India through National level and state level disaster
management authority. He also highlighted the UNEP MOOC (Massive Open
Online Course) course Disasters and Ecosystems: Resilience in a Changing
Climate that in its first season in 2015 registered about 12,000 online
participants. He also emphasized that even after training 200 professors till date
on disasters and ecosystems only 39 universities are using the course in their
university. He provided details on 2016 MOOC that will be starting in March and
will be online always. He also spoke about World Business Council and it’s
registered 180 industrial partners who are using nature-based solutions for
business. Other business organizations can also adopt the model as a revenue
generation case.
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Dr. Anil Kumar Gupta (Associate Professor, NIDM) in his presentation
highlighted the importance of working on Ecosystem management and use of
Environmental centric approach. He provided a detailed overview on UNDP
DRM programme where state DM plans have been formulated. Many states
are revising the plan and they should now have a mitigation plan involving
EbDRR and CBA. He emphasized on regular on trainings and workshops and
use of EIA in DRR and provided an array of literature available from NIDM on
variety of DRR and related issues. His presentation also involved need of
translating Sendai framework to National, Sub national and Local DRR.
Dr. Arup Kumar Mishra (Associate Professor ASTECH) in his presentation
highlighted about his association to promote R&D in the Assam state on a large
scale in Science communication. He emphasized on large-scale Science
communication, popularization task for EbDRR and EbA endorsement and
capacity building. He emphasized about the role of his organization ASTEC that
was first to talk about climate change in the state and how he is helping for
creating knowledge and capacity building. He also supported strong
Institutional mechanism in place for assessment of district wise climate change
vulnerability.
Chairing the third and concluding session Dr. S.R. Wate (Ex-Director CSIRNEERI) highlighted the role of strong engineering intervention that in ecological
aspect are mitigation methods. There should be interface of engineering that is
interwoven with knowledge and modeling. Planning should be proactive instead
of reactive. He also highlighted the importance of quantification of risks for key
policy stimulus and identification of main players. Preventive technologies
should focus on economic benefit and socioeconomic benefit because there
should not be any compromises for sustainability. Remote sensing should
define land use and land cover and prepare a database for further reference so
that it can be used later. He also stressed on the need of volunteer mission and
it is more important for DRR (waiting for Govt. funds sometimes is time
consuming). Resources should be managed properly because ecology is now
part of risk reduction approaches. Let the indicator to come within Ecosystem
only and let guidelines be converted to standards in coming future.
In the end of the workshop Dr. Shalini Dhyani Scientist and Convener, CSIRNEERI delivered vote of thanks for the event.
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