- Mangroves for
the Future (MFF) is a unique multi- country, multi sectoral, partner-
led initiative which builds on the long history of coastal management
interventions and lessons learned during the course of post- tsunami
reconstruction and rehabilitation. The initiative is founded on a vision
for a more healthy, prosperous and secures future for all Indian Ocean
Coastal communities, where all the ecosystems are conserved and managed
sustainably and seeks to promote investment and action in ecosystem
conservation for sustainable coastal development (MFF
Brochure). MFF is being coordinated by International Union for Conservation
of Nature, IUCN covering, initially, six Tsunami affected countries
namely India, Indonesia, Maldives, Seychelles, Srilanka and Thailand.
India has agreed to participate in the IUCN- MFF Initiative.
- Mangroves
for the Future have two objectives:
-
The initiative seeks to effect demonstrable changes and results across
four key areas of influence: regional cooperation, national programme
support, private sector engagement and community action using a strategy
of generating knowledge, empowering institutions and people to use that
knowledge and, thereby promoting good governance in coastal areas.
- Under this
project, the National Coordination Body (NCB) of India was constituted
on 22 October 2007 under the chairmanship of Mr. B.S. Parsheera, special
Secretary, MOEF, and Government of India. The NCB comprises 13 members
(NCB composition) representing
government, research organisations and private sector. Subsequently
a smaller working group of NCB was also constituted for efficiently
carrying out the daily project activities. There have been 2 NCB member
meetings and 3 core group meetings (Minutes
of the meetings) till date to plan and review the progress of the
country initiative.
- NCB has
finalized the four focal States for MFF India project namely Gujarat,
West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. The National Strategy and Action
Plan (NSAP) for conservation and management
of the coastal zone ecosystems spread across the country has been drafted
under MFF India project. This draft was prepared by two national consultants,
Prof. Kathiresan, an expert on coastal zone management and Mr. Sukhdev
Thakur, a renowned forester. India NSAP envisages promoting conservation
and management of coastal and marine biodiversity on three important
aspects: (1) coastal restoration; (2) coastal livelihoods; and (3) Integrated
coastal zone management. The draft was reviewed and approved in the
second NCB Metting and is now being considered for publication for wider
circulation.
-
Small
Grants Facility India has made a significant progress on project execution.
We have already sourced USD 100,000 allocated under the Small Grants
Facility by means of 6 small projects spread across country, linking
governmental, nongovernmental and private sector players in a common
thread seeking a common goal. Following are the 6 small grants project
currently under implementation:
S.
No. |
Title |
Name
of PI and Institute |
Sanctioned
Budget (USD) |
1. |
Sustainable
coastal livelihood: Integrated Mangrove- Fishery Farming System |
Dr. V.
Selvam, MSSRF, Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
25,000 |
2. |
Study of
the floral diversity and natural recruitments of mangrove species
in selected mangrove habitat of South Gujarat |
Mr. C.N.
Pandey, GEER, Gujarat |
15,000 |
3. |
Current
status, threats and conservation measures of coral reefs in
India- National brainstorming workshop and dissemination of
inputs through publication in conjunction with international
year of the Reef 2008 |
Dr. J.
K. Patterson Edward, SDMRI, Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu |
12,000 |
4. |
Status
of shelter belts in Southern India coastal line |
Gayathri
Ramachandran, EPTRI, Andhra Pradesh |
24,500 |
5. |
Mangrove
conservation and regeneration at Mithapur |
Tata Chemicals
Society for Rural Development, Jamnagar, Gujarat |
8,000 |
6. |
Critical
evaluation of alternate livelihood programmes implemented for
reducing dependence of Sundarbans Mangroves and its ecosystem |
The Chief
Conservator of Forests, West Bengal |
15,000 |
The small
project facility aims at undertaking small studies which would serve
to fill in the knowledge gaps and bridge the gap between works going
on in different parts of the country. Under MFF programme specific
guidelines have been prepared for the development and selection of
the small grants projects (Guidelines for
Small Projects) and these guidelines have been adopted by India
for selection of each of all the projects under small grants facility.
India has taken a lead among all MFF countries by successfully completing
the first Small grant project. The National Brainstorming workshop
on current status, threats and conservation measures of coral reefs
in India (in conjunction with International Year of Reef 2008) undertaken
by Sugandi Devdason Marine Research Institute was the first project
among all MFF projects to be successfully completed. The workshop
was organized by SDMRI on 29- 30 Dec 2008, at Tuticorin and it incidentally
marked the close of the International Year of Coral reefs laying a
strong foundation for future action.
In fourth Regional
Steering Committee meeting held in Jan 2009, India was granted additional
funds of USD 50,000 and India has already shortlisted four project
proposals for availing the additional funds. Shortlisted projects
are listed below:
S.
No. |
Project
Title |
Project
Proponent |
Budget
Requested
(USD)
|
1.
|
Prospects
of coastal ecotourism in India- strategies for conservation
of habitats and generation of livelihoods |
Dr. M.
Wafar, NIO, Goa |
13,000 |
2. |
Sustainable
freshwater Aquaculture in mangrove dominated Indian Sundarbans |
Dr. Abhijit
Mitra, Calcutta |
12,000 |
3. |
Demarcation
of area for edibility and non edibility of edible bivalves in
region influenced by Mangrove habitats along central west coast
of India (CWCI) by determination of trace metal concentration
in it and action thereof. |
Dr. T.G.
Jagtap, NIO, Goa |
12,000 |
4. |
Mangrove
restoration and afforestation: Participatory assessment of current
practices |
Dr. V.
Selvam, MSSRF, Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
16,000 |
-
Large
Grants:
Besides this MFF also has Large project funding facility in which a
grant amount of USD 300,000/- is given to individual projects of project
duration of 2 years. As in case of small grants projects, Specific guidelines
have also been developed for the preparation of the large project proposals
(Large Project Guidelines). India is
in the process of availing these funds and has already shortlisted 4
projects from the received 15 proposals in response to call for large
projects. These 4 projects have been endorsed by NCB and sent to the
MFF secretariat for the further appraisal process.
S.
No. |
Title
of the Project |
Submitted
by |
Requested
Budget (USD) |
1. |
Alternative
Livelihood options for vulnerable mangrove resource users in
the Sundarban Tiger Reserve, West Bengal |
N.C.
Bahuguna, Director, Sundarban Biosphere Reserve, Govt. of West
Bengal |
300,000 |
2. |
Coral
Restoration for coastal resource management and enhancement
of livelihood, awareness and capacity in Gulf of Mannar, Southeastern
India |
Suganthi
Devadason Marine Research Institute (SDMRI) |
1,
49,875 |
3. |
Sea
Turtle Conservation in India |
Dr.
C.N. Pandey, Director, GEER Foundation |
307,975 |
4. |
Mangrove
restoration on the coast of Gulf of Khambhat (Gujarat) with
community empowerment |
PCCF
& Chief Wildlife Warden, Gujarat Forest Department (GoG) |
306,282 |
- Indian
Coral Reefs Monitoring Network (ICRMN).
- Mangrove
for the Future (MFF) - IUCN India Programme - Guidelines for concept
notes/proposals (Small Grants Projects) .
- Mangrove for the Future (MFF) - IUCN India Programme
Call for concept notes for Small Grants Projects
.
- Deadline
for concept note extended till 27th, June 2011.
|