Biodiversity Conservation, Sustainability, and Equity: Outcomes of India's NBSAP Process 2000-2003

UNDPMoEF

National Biodiversity National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan Strategy and Action Plan

(NBSAP) - India(NBSAP) - India

Produce an implementable action plan to:

 Conserve India's biodiversity; Use biological resources sustainably; Achieve equity in access to and benefits from biodiversity

MAIN OBJECTIVE

SCOPE and PROCESS Full range of biodiversity: natural and agricultural ecosystems, wild plants, animals, micro-organisms, crops, livestock

Full range of values and issues: biological/ecological, economic, ethical, cultural, political

MAIN OUTPUTS33 STATE / U.T. ACTION PLANS18 LOCAL (SUBSTATE) ACTION PLANS10 ECOREGIONAL (INTER-STATE) ACTION PLANS13 THEMATIC ACTION PLANS33 SUB-THEMATIC REVIEW PAPERS

NATIONAL ACTION PLAN built on above, and on lessons from several hundred public hearings, workshops, yatras, festivals, and other events

Outputs: Outputs: 61 action plans 61 action plans at at State, State, Substate, and Substate, and Inter-state Inter-state (Ecoregional) (Ecoregional) levelslevels

OUTPUTS: 13 THEMATIC ACTION PLANS

Natural ecosystems and wild species Domesticated ecosystems and species Livelihoods, lifestyles, and biodiversity Culture, Health, Education Economics and valuation of biodiversity Policies, laws, and institutions Access, benefit-sharing, and IPRs

SUB-THEMATIC REVIEW PAPERS

Mining and Biodiversity Community Conserved Areas in Gujarat Tree Plantations and Biodiversity Biodiversity in the Media Biodiversity in EIAs Natural Dyes and Biodiversity Nomadic Pastoralism and Biodiversity Urban biodiversity Home Gardens and Biodiversity Thermal Power and Biodiversity Tourism and Biodiversity Dams and Biodiversity

SUB-THEMATIC REVIEW PAPERS (contd…) Pesticides/ Toxics and Biodiversity Remote Sensing Non-pastoral Nomads Community Based Monitoring Important Bird Areas Customary Laws and Biodiversity Conventional Technologies Agricultural Biotechnology and Globalisation Eco-friendly and Alternative Technologies Integrated Biodiversity Information Systems Conventional Technologies Wildlife Human Conflicts

SUB-THEMATIC REVIEW PAPERS (contd…)

Non-Timber Forest Products Indigenous Knowledge Public Distribution System Exotics and Indigenous Biodiversity Research on Agricultural Biodiversity Paper Industry and Biodiversity Humanized Natural Landscapes Climate Change Ecological Impacts of NTFP Collection in West Bengal Environmental Education and Persons With Disabilities Marine Bioresources

Ecological Security: integrity of ecosystems and species,

protection of critical ecosystem values and services

Livelihood Security: sustaining the survival and livelihoods of those directly dependent on biodiversity and bioresources

TWIN FOCUS

Elaborate planning phaseElaborate planning phase, with about , with about 30 guiding papers and methodological 30 guiding papers and methodological notesnotes Building on Building on past/existing planspast/existing plans and and information information Use of Use of local languageslocal languages Participation of Participation of all relevant sectorsall relevant sectors Transparent processTransparent process, all documents , all documents publicpublic Open platformOpen platform for people to use for people to use

THE PROCESS

Public hearings

Mass participation events- boat and cycle rallies, foot marches, street theatre

Festivals- mobile seed display on bullock cart

Technical workshops

OUTREACH IN PRINT

Special outreach- for children, youth, women

KEY STRATEGIES of NATIONAL ACTION PLAN

Overall framework: 1. Local to national land & water use planning, earmarking areas critical for ecological and livelihood security, keeping these off-limits to large-scale ‘developmental’ and commercial processes

2. Ecosystem approach, integrating conservation and livelihoods across large landscapes and seascapes

3. Governance model, starting at smallest decision-making unit and moving upwards at larger levels keeping ecological boundaries in mind

STRATEGY CLUSTERS of NATIONAL ACTION PLAN

1. Understanding biodiversity: research, databases 2. Biodiversity conservation: in situ and ex situ3. Sustainable use and livelihoods4. Equity in access, use, and benefits, esp. of most

disprivileged groups5. Building capacity: education, training, awareness6. Inter-sectoral integration7. Legal and policy measures8. Financial and economic measures9. Technological measures10. International initiatives

Key strategies on poverty, livelihoods, and biodiversity

• Diagnosis– Poverty = resource deprivation (not

necessarily financial…redefine “poor” people)– Key factors: alienation from resource base,

lack of access to decision-making – Key forces: Ecologically insensitive

‘development’ model, and livelihood insensitive conservation policies

Key strategies on poverty, livelihoods, and biodiversity

• Fully evaluate and recognise contribution of biodiversity to local communities

–ecosystem values/services, esp. water–survival, livelihood, health resource for

nature-dependent communities

Key strategies on poverty, livelihoods, and biodiversity (contd)

• Review and modify macro-economic and development policies and programmes:

– trade and import-export– taxation and tax breaks– poverty– employment

– liberalisation– investment/disinvestment– ‘single-window’ clearances

Key strategies on poverty, livelihoods, and biodiversity (contd)

• Integrate biodiversity into poverty eradication and employment schemes and programmes

• Integrate livelihoods into biodiversity conservation schemes and programmes, e.g. protected areas – continuing livelihoods that are

within conservation values– providing alternatives for

unsustainable livelihoods

Key strategies on poverty, livelihoods, and biodiversity (contd)

• Introduce biodiversity into food security schemes and strategies, e.g. local grains in – Public Distribution System – Food for Work– Mid-day Meals

Why only wheat and rice? Why not millets? Why only one variety of rice?

Key strategies on poverty, livelihoods, and biodiversity (contd)

• Link health, food/nutrition, and biodiversity– Strengthen traditional health systems and access to

medicinal plants– Encourage nutrition from traditional foods as preventive

health measure, esp. for children and women (link agriculture, health, and food programmes)

– Promote home and roof-top gardens for health and food security

Key strategies on poverty, livelihoods, and biodiversity (contd)

• Provide incentives to communities, for conservation across the land/waterscape: – Community conserved areas and species– Biodiversity-friendly cropping, pastoral, and fisheries systems – Home gardens (rural and urban) – Urban parks and roof-top gardens

Incentives: social, financial, tenurial (CPRs)…is state ready to give over control?

Key strategies on poverty, livelihoods, and biodiversity (contd)

• Support sustainable livelihoods based on biodiversity and bioresources – Non-timber forest produce– Herbal produce– Aquatic produce– Organic, biodiverse agricultural produce– Undervalued foods– Community managed, ecologically sensitive tourism– Special focus on nomadic peoples, shifting cultivators

Key strategies on poverty, livelihoods, and biodiversity (contd)

• Move towards greater equity in natural resource management – Tenurial security, common property rights– Empowerment of disprivileged (within and outside

communities) in NRM decision-making– Women’s empowerment at all levels– Challenge consumerism of the rich

Key strategies on poverty, livelihoods, and biodiversity (contd)

• Empower local governance bodies to raise and control funds:

– fees for bioresource and knowledge use by outsiders

– grants from central/state budgets– savings by user groups,

self-help groups

TOWARDS IMPLEMENTATION

• Government commitment•Committee under National Biodiversity Act•State Biodiversity Boards and Acts

• Citizens’ commitment and empowerment•Empowering village institutions

• Policy changes• Capacity building• Resources

PROPOSED UNDP CCF2 PROJECTCommunity Based Initiatives for

Livelihood Security and Biodiversity Conservation Objective

Linking biodiversity conservation with livelihood security of the poor, particularly women, through strengthened institutions of local self governance, and initiating or strengthening advocacy processes for appropriate state and national policy changes

Local level activities� 10-15 field sites, demonstrating sustainable livelihoods based on biological resources, and enhancing conservation status of ecosystems and species•Sustainable use of wild resources (NTFP, med. plants, fish, ecotourism)

•Sustainable agriculture (agrobiodiversity)

•Sustainable pastoralism (indigenous livestock diversity)

� Local documentation, monitoring, policy analysis

� Multi-sectoral dialogues, working groups, activities

PROPOSED UNDP CCF2 PROJECT:

Key Elements

National level activities

•Policy analysis and advocacy

•Inter-sectoral coordination

•Community and other stakeholder exchanges

•Participatory monitoring and evaluation

•Process documentation

National level activities (contd.)

•Public outreach including information dissemination, media

•Participatory mapping (folk and GIS/RS)

•Biodiversity festivals

•Capacity building

•International representation

•National biodiversity network

Note: This presentation was prepared in 2003

Contact

Ashish Kothari, Coordinator, TPCG, NBSAP process

ashishkothari@vsnl.com