International Conference On
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
International Conference on Lakes & Wetlands 14-16 February, Bhopal, MP, India 14-16 February 2014 Proceedings Knowledge Partners 14-16 February 2014 14-16 February 2014 Organized by Government of Madhya Pradesh Housing and Environment Department, Environmental Planning and Coordination Organization (EPCO) State Knowledge Management Center on Climate Change ………………Proceedings of the International Conference on Lakes and Wetlands at Bhopal, India 14-15 Feb 2014…………… Executive Summary International Conference on Lakes & Wetlands under the Bhopal Lake Festival was organized by State Knowledge Management Centre on Climate Change (SKMCCC), Environmental Planning and Coordination Organization (EPCO), Department of Housing & Environment, Government of Madhya Pradesh at Hotel Lake View Ashoka, Shyamla Hills, Bhopal between 14th-16th February, 2014. Experts from across the country and outside were invited to present and discuss on the various thematic aspects of Lakes & Wetlands. The structure of the conference was distributed into six thematic sessions. Chief Guest Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Hon‟ble Chief Minister, Government of Madhya Pradesh inaugurated the two day conference; Shri Kailash Vijayvargiya, Hon‟ble Minister, Department of Housing & Environment and Urban Administration & Development, Government of Madhya Pradesh presided over the function. Special Guest Shri Anthony de Sa, Chief Secretary, Government of Madhya Pradesh and other dignitaries was present on the dais. Welcome address was delivered by Mr M M Upadhyay, Agriculture Production Commissioner, Government of Madhya Pradesh. He introduced the Bhopal Lake Festival and its importance to the audience. In his welcome speech, Special Guest Mr Anthony de Sa highlighted the importance of lakes & wetlands in our life, their biodiversity, ecosystem services they provide and the need for restoration and management in view of the water crisis. He looked forward for recommendations from the conference that would help in framing appropriate projects and policies for restoring the wetlands and lakes of the state. Hon‟ble Minister Shri Kailash Vijayvargiya appreciated the agenda of the conference. He referred to the state government‟s initiatives for conservation of water by emphasizing on the recent Narmada-Kshipra Link Project, which aims to provide water to millions and also for irrigation purposes, besides contributing significantly in raising the ground water table and constant maintenance of flow in the river Kshipra. Hon‟ble Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan graced the occasion. He reiterated the importance of water bodies for sustenance of life. Emphasizing on capturing the essence of traditional knowledge in policy planning, he stressed on the need of community involvement and integrated efforts to conserve this precious natural resource and involvement of public in conservation efforts. Vote of thanks was delivered by Shri S N Mishra, Principal Secretary, Government of Madhya Pradesh, Housing & Environment Department. International Conference on Lakes & Wetlands was organized in collaboration with nine knowledge partners namely Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF), GoI, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP - India), United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), International Lake Environment Committee (ILEC), Wetlands International – South Asia (WI- SA), Institute for Housing & Urban Development Studies (IHS), Erasmus University, Rotterdam, Ramsar Secretariat and Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM). 1 | P a g e ………………Proceedings of the International Conference on Lakes and Wetlands at Bhopal, India 14-15 Feb 2014…………… The conference held 6 thematic sessions for special invited speakers and two parallel sessions for presenters/young researchers/scholars. 1. Ecology and Science of Lakes & Wetlands 2. Lakes & Wetlands – Conservation & Management 3. Climate Change and Lakes & Wetlands 4. Lakes & Wetlands of Madhya Pradesh 5. Wetlands and Agriculture: Opportunities & Limitations 6. Lakes & Wetlands – Human Connections Participation in the conference was by invitation only. 25 expert speakers from India as well as other countries attended the conference and presented their papers in the thematic sessions. 212 delegates registered online with their abstracts/papers out of which 85 were invited for attending the conference. 13 candidates were shortlisted by Academic Committee to present their papers in the parallel sessions and therefore invited in the conference. On both the days, three sessions were conducted for special invited speakers with different themes on each day. Two parallel sessions were also organized. A field visit to Bhoj Wetland (Ramsar site) was organized in the morning of 15th February, 2014. An excursion trip for speakers to Sanchi (A UNESCO Heritage Site) was also arranged on 16th February, 2014. The major suggestions which emerged from the two day intense deliberations during the conference are connecting people with conservation efforts, taking up pilot projects to showcase best practices and new technologies, and promoting Lake Basin Management Practices and above all, building capacities of stakeholders. It was also suggested to organize similar conferences and events every year. Session-wise list of expert speakers, ICLW committees, list of expert speakers, presenters, delegates and news paper cuttings is enclosed from Annexures I to VI. 2 | P a g e ………………Proceedings of the International Conference on Lakes and Wetlands at Bhopal, India 14-15 Feb 2014…………… Conference Proceedings Introduction Reverence for water and their conservation is an age-old practice in India. Former rulers have contributed significantly by constructing large number of impoundments for providing drinking water to the people in their capitals and elsewhere. This was particularly necessary in arid, semi arid and other regions with highly erratic rainfall. Upper lake of Bhopal, arguably the oldest among the large man-made lakes in central part of India, falls under this category. Constructing an earthen dam across the Kolans, a rain-fed tributary of Betwa River, this Lake was created in the early 11th century AD by the King Bhoj, the ruler of Dhar. Given the historical, archaeological and ecological significance of Bhoj wetland, the Government of Madhya Pradesh is organizing an international conference to show case the efforts made by various agencies to conserve Bhoj wetland alongwith other lakes/wetlands. We intend to and make efforts to invite not only scientists, but also policy makers, people‟s representatives, resource managers and catchment stakeholders to the conference. The interactions among this diverse audience will result in a wider discussion, with the goal of connect upstream perspective with downstream approach to attempt to solve the dynamic and vexed issues of lake and wetland catchment. Conference Objectives The objectives of this international conference is to bring together experts in the field of wetland and lake environments and habitats, with the underlying goal of establishing a basis for developing multidisciplinary solutions to multidisciplinary issues. The conference is conceived as an opportunity for expression of cross-sectoral concerns wherein experts from academia, government, international donor agencies, civil society, and public/ private enterprises will exchange their experiences on how to maximise wise use and sustainable management of wetland, lakes and their basins. Also learn from the varied and rich experiences of international community to evolve an effective strategy to maintain ecological integrity and ensure sustainable wise use of Bhoj wetland. The conference was organized with an objective to bring together experts associated with lake & wetland conservation and ILBM and understand the basis for developing multidisciplinary solutions to multidisciplinary issues related to lakes & wetlands. Conference gave an opportunity to learn from the varied and rich experiences of international community as to how to evolve an effective strategy to maintain ecological integrity and ensure wise use of lakes and wetlands. The conference focussed on the following six themes: 1. Ecology and Science of Lakes & Wetlands 2. Lakes & Wetlands – Conservation & Management 3. Climate Change and Lakes & Wetlands 4. Lakes & Wetlands of Madhya Pradesh 5. Wetlands and Agriculture: Opportunities & Limitations 6. Lakes & Wetlands – Human Connections 3 | P a g e ………………Proceedings of the International Conference on Lakes and Wetlands at Bhopal, India 14-15 Feb 2014…………… Scientists, policy makers, people‟s representatives, resource managers, Community based organizations, government officials, researchers/ scholars and catchment stakeholders participated in the conference. The expert speakers discussed on the relevant themes presenting their experience and views and studies. To encourage young researchers/ scholars to present their studies/research work before experts and to obtain comments/ suggestions from them, two parallel sessions were also organized one each on 14 & 15 February, 2014. To review the progress of the conference, an Organizing Committee was constituted under the Chairmanship of Principal Secretary, H&E Department. The committee provided directions, guidance and made necessary approvals to carry out the event. An Academic Committee was constituted under Dr. Ram Prasad, Retd. PCCF and ex-Director, IIFM. The committee designed academic and