Chilika Fisheries: a Place for Participatory Gis?
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CHILIKA FISHERIES: A PLACE FOR PARTICIPATORY GIS? Shibani Rosyshree Mishra BSc (Geog), MSc (Applied Geog), MSc (NRM) A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Physical, Environmental and Mathematical Sciences The University of New South Wales Australian Defence Force Academy Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia 31 March 2010 Certificate of Originality I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and to the best of my knowledge it contains no materials previously published or written by another person, or substantial proportions of material which have been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma at UNSW or any other institution, except where due acknowledgement is made in this thesis. Any contribution made to the research by others, with whom I have worked at UNSW or elsewhere, is explicitly acknowledged in the thesis. I also declare that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of my own work, except to the extent assistance from other is in the project’s design and conception or in style, presentation and linguistic expression is acknowledged. Signed ……………………………………………… Shibani Rosyshree Mishra 31 March 2010 i ii ABSTRACT Thesis Title: Chilika Fisheries: A Place for Participatory GIS? Coastal areas are considered rich biodiversity zones and proper exploitation of their resource bases influence the economic growth of the regions they support. But in recent times, these fragile ecosystems are under serious threat from anthropogenic influences like over-exploitation and environmental pollution. In this process a large number of coastal areas including lakes and lagoons are under serious threat and some are already highly degraded. So to maintain an ecological balance, it is important to sustain populations that live in coastal zones without endangering the resource base. In the modern era, advanced technologies provide supports to various sectors by providing information for management and development. These technologies can be used in conjunction with geographic information systems, which have been developed as a powerful tool for natural resource management, playing an important role in decision-making through the use of both spatial and attribute data. If both information technology and human responses to development – i.e., the public – can be integrated in the management process, then it is more likely that sustainable resource management and development can be achieved. This research explores the potential for participatory geospatial tools, such as a Public Participation Geographic Information System, to be used in community-based natural resource management. This thesis implements and analyses the effectiveness of a PPGIS approach through a case study of Chilika Lake, a coastal community at Orissa, India. The aim of a participatory GIS (PPGIS) is to ensure that local communities are iii included in the decision making and planning processes for sustainable natural resource management. This thesis provides evidence that a PPGIS approach would be useful in the Chilika context - by demonstrating that CBNRM is not really being effectively carried out in the region and showing that given the conflict that occurs over resource use, a mediating technology such as a PPGIS might be helpful in making sure everyone has both transparent information and a voice to communicate what they see happening on the ground. Expected outcomes of this research include improving resource mapping and management techniques and enhancing decision-making capabilities through local participation. Crucial for effective CBNRM, the attitudes, perceptions, needs and concerns of resource users must be factored into the resource management process. Ultimately, the data collected in this research was used to create a Chilika Resource Information Database (CRID) that can provide a platform for CBNRM and public participation. Further, this trial of making a database with unlimited public access (PPGIS) might be a solution towards achieving sustainable resource management goals. Hopefully this database, Chilika Resource Information Database (CRID) will make it easier to visualise the spatial distribution of resources, to analyse and integrate data sets and also to assess impacts of interventions, thereby enhancing the transparency of decisions regarding the resource use. iv Publications related to this thesis This is a list of papers derived from this thesis that have been published during the course of my doctoral candidature. Journal Paper Mishra, S., and Griffin A., 2010. Encroachment: A threat to resource sustainability in Chilika Lake, India. Applied Geography, 30 (3), 448-459. v vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my deep sense of gratitude and profound thanks to my thesis advisor, Dr Amy L. Griffin for her support, valuable guidance, excellent advice and encouragement to complete the present work. I would never have been able to complete this dissertation without her help and support. I also wish to express profound respect to my co-advisors Dr Glenn Banks and Dr Alec Thornton for their valuable comments, constructive suggestions and guidance to improve this research work. My special thanks are given to Dr Bijoy Kumar Misra, HOD, Dept. of Applied Geography, Ravenshaw College, who helped me and guided me throughout my fieldwork and arranged my official meetings with several government bodies. This work would, of course, not have been possible without the generosity of the 120 villagers who made time to work me into their busy schedules and assist me in getting an in-depth knowledge of my study area and also gave valuable feedback. My work was financially supported by a UCPRS and PEMS Research School Grant and I am heartily obliged and thankful to the authorities for this support. I highly appreciate the help and support I obtained from our Head of School Prof Brian Lees throughout. My appreciation is also due to the PEMS secretarial staff for all their help in administrative procedures throughout my study at UNSW@ADFA. I would like to express my gratitude to the staff of the CDA, Department of Fisheries, Cuttack, NIC, and Utkal University for the contribution of their valuable time in providing useful information and guidance during the study. vii The completion of this thesis work was only possible due to the help extended by many individuals, whose contributions were with skills, interest, dedication, encouragement and friendship. I am indebted to Ms Julie Kesby, Dr Mahendra Kumar Samal, Dr Vinod Rajyogan and Mr Sekhar Mohapatra for assistance and support in completing this research. I would also like to thank my husband Pankaj and my daughter Sreeya for their support throughout. I will never forget my daughter’s sacrifice. She dedicated one year (when she was only two and a half years old) to my study and stayed away from me in the time when a kid needs her mother most. Finally, I would like to thank the almighty, we all believe in, for everything I have. viii ABBREVIATIONS CBNRM Community based Natural Resource Management CDA Chilika Development Authority CECAF Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic CFCMS Central Fishermen Co-operative Marketing Society CIDA Canadian International Development Agency CLAMS Coastal Landscape Analysis and Modeling Study CPR Common Property Resources CPRM Common property Resource Management CRID Chilika Resource Information Database DSS Decision Support Systems EIA Environmental Impact Assessments FAO Food and Agriculture Organization FG Focus Group GIS Geographic Information System GPS Global Positioning System HH Household IT Information Technology MIGIS Mobile Interactive Geographic Information System MPAs Marine Protected Areas NGO Non Governmental Organizations NIC National Informatics Centre NIUA National Institute for Urban Affairs NRM Natural Resource Management ix ORSAC Orissa Remote Sensing Application Centre PAH Persistent Aromatic Hydrocarbons PEMS School of Physical, Environmental and Mathematical Sciences PFCS Primary Fishermen Co-operative Societies PFR Planning For Real PPGIS Public Participatory Geographic Information System PPT Parts Per Thousand RQ Research Question SLA Sustainable Livelihood Approach UCPRS University College Postgraduate Research Scholarship VGIs Volunteered Geographical Informers WCA Water Conservation Area WHO World Health Organization x List of Figures TABLE OF CONTENTS Certificate of Originality ................................................................................................. i ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................... iii Publications related to this thesis .................................................................................. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................... vii ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................................ ix TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................... xi LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................... xvii LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................... xix CHAPTER 1 - Introduction ........................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ............................................................................................................