Highland Aquatic Resources Conservation and Sustainable Development Uttarakhand

Sponsor

European Commission

Aim : conserve the highland aquatic resources + simultaneously improve livelihood strategies of the local people

Encompasses : Guangdong in China five sites Uttarakhand and West Bengal in India in Northern and Central Vietnam in Vietnam Asia This event is co‐financed by the European Commission A joint event organizated by: Hosted by National Geophysical through the involvement of several projects. Research Institute (NGIR ‐ CSIR). Highland Aquatic Resources Conservation and Sustainable Development Uttarakhand Study area: Nainital lake Bhimtal lake Naukuchiatal lake

Site selection criteria: 1) ecological importance 2) tourist attraction 3) income and livelihood generation of the local people 4) socio-economic and cultural importance This event is co‐financed by the European Commission A joint event organizated by: Hosted by National Geophysical through the involvement of several projects. Research Institute (NGIR ‐ CSIR). Highland Aquatic Resources Conservation and Sustainable Development Uttarakhand Community selected: 1) Pandeygaon village 2) Chanoti village 3) Nainital city Community selection criteria: 1) Pandeygaon village the closest village to Bhimtal Lake most of the people living in this village depend on the irrigated water of the lake for carrying out their agricultural activities. 2) Chanoti village nearest village to Naukuchiatal Lake most of the people living in this village are engaged in boat driving and tourism 3) Nainital city the heart of the district famous tourist place the lake is the centre of attraction of the tourists This event is co‐financed by the European Commission A joint event organizated by: Hosted by National Geophysical through the involvement of several projects. Research Institute (NGIR ‐ CSIR). Highland Aquatic Resources Conservation and Sustainable Development Uttarakhand Approach adopted: interactive participation of selected communities and stakeholders using PRA tools such as – •Data collection(Household level) •Sampling, e.g. transect walks, social mapping •Interviewing, e.g. Focused Group Discussion(FGD), structured interviews, semi-structured interviews, triangulation •Group dynamics, e.g. feedback sessions, stakeholders’ meeting, group stakeholders’ meeting •Analysis: Delphi method, SMART,STEPS,SWOT •Workshop •Case studies swapping of facts and ideas within our research team

This event is co‐financed by the European Commission A joint event organizated by: Hosted by National Geophysical through the involvement of several projects. Research Institute (NGIR ‐ CSIR). Highland Aquatic Resources Conservation and Sustainable Development Uttarakhand Biodiversity and ecosystem service values of Nainital, Uttarakhand Aim: Identify the biodiversity and ecosystem services Findings: •Lakes → wide variety of diverse fauna and flora ►fishes, molluscs, and plants are the taxonomic groups selected for research in the HighARCS sites ►42 (37 native and the remaining non-native introduced) freshwater fish species, at least 9 (6 gastropods and 3 bivalves) molluscs species and 14 aquatic plants species are present there •Lakes → lucrative source of varied ecosystem services (provisioning, regulating, supporting and cultural services),such as ►tourism, water purification, recreation, water for drinking - agricultural use - fish harvesting, nutrient cycling, climate regulation, water regulation and educational services This event is co‐financed by the European Commission A joint event organizated by: Hosted by National Geophysical through the involvement of several projects. Research Institute (NGIR ‐ CSIR). Highland Aquatic Resources Conservation and Sustainable Development Uttarakhand Aim: Livelihood Report, Uttarakhand Site, India Study on the livelihoods and sustainable development of communities Findings: Lakes → important source of livelihood earning options such as: •boating and fishing activities etc → directly dependent on lakes •hotels, resorts, restaurant owners, travel agents etc → indirectly dependent on lakes Our study show: 1. boating and fishing activities → men dominated activities 2. running shops, restaurants and performing household activities →women dominated activities In the project sites, the households are classified into three different categories: accumulating, subsistence and coping households This event is co‐financed by the European Commission A joint event organizated by: Hosted by National Geophysical through the involvement of several projects. Research Institute (NGIR ‐ CSIR). Highland Aquatic Resources Conservation and Sustainable Development Uttarakhand Aim: Institutions, Policy and Conflict, Uttarakhand Site, India Compact perception of the legal and policy structure of the field sites Findings: Both government and non government organizations are involved to → directly preservation of the lakes → indirectly to maintain the livelihood of the people dependent on lakes Organizations: Tarai Irrigation Division, National Lake Region Special Area Development Authority (NLRSADA), Nainital Nagar Palika Parishad (NNPP),Nagar Panchayat Bhimtal, Chanoti Pariyavaran Vikas Samity, local NGOs, Unions etc. Govt. policy: National Rural Employment Guarantee Bill, Indira Awas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana etc. This event is co‐financed by the European Commission A joint event organizated by: Hosted by National Geophysical sthrough the involvement of several projects. Research Institute (NGIR ‐ CSIR). Highland Aquatic Resources Conservation and Sustainable Development Uttarakhand Aim: Integrated Action Plan (IAP) to conserve and manage biodiversity + simultaneously fulfilling and improving local community interests and livelihoods Findings: Management Proposals - 1) Desiltation of Bhimtal lake 2) Prevention of garbage disposal in and around the lakes 3) Fish release programmes 4) Proper marketing of Handicrafts 5) Proper marketing of Agricultural products 6) Crop Protection from wild animals This event is co‐financed by the European Commission A joint event organizated by: Hosted by National Geophysical through the involvement of several projects. Research Institute (NGIR ‐ CSIR). IAP consistency checking

Driving Forces Pressures State Impacts Responses

assessment

IAP

DPSIR

assessment

IAP

DPSIR

Please contact us at Dr. Nitai Kundu [email protected] Official website: www.higharcs.org This event is co‐financed by the European Commission A joint event organizated by: Hosted by National Geophysical through the involvement of several projects. Research Institute (NGIR ‐ CSIR).