You are on page 1of 21

The Thames and Ganges Twinning Programme

Robert Oates (TRT), Manoj Misra (PEACE), Dr Asghar Nawab (WWF India)
October, 2012

Programme sites
1. River Yamuna 2. Upper Ganges

The PEACE Institute - Project sites on river Yamuna

Yamunotri shrineorigin of river Yamuna

1400 km long Key tributary of Ganga States of UKD HP, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, MP, UP

Key project components Friends of the River groups - institutional strengthening


Catchment restoration (Plantations; social protection) River health (PRHI) and Village health monitoring Natural Farming - Waste management; Green Pilgrimage Sanitation; GW recharge; Renewable Energy (Solar) Capacity enhancement Eco-clubs (YES) promotion (Soil, water, river, air) Synergy with WWF India activities

Monitoring River and Village Health

Village Merapur, Hamirpur, UP Village Siyach, Batesar, UP Monthly monitoring is on at various GRIDS and records are maintained

River friendly activities

Eco-san toilet, Ova Restored village well, Gadaya Solar light, Siyach Activities include Plantation; GW Recharge well; Pond and Well restoration; Solar lamps; ecosan toilets etc Plantation on river bank, Ekdala GW recharge well, Ramra

Capacity Building

Renewable Energy sources WS, Katapathar, UKD

Soil and water testing WS, Hamirpur, UP

5 WS have been held on subjects like Eco-Sanitation (Ramra); Natural Farming (Kanalsi); Soil and Water testing (Hamirpur); Soil Conservation and Renewable Sources of Energy (Katapathar); Bee-keeping and livelihoods (Gadaya)

Yamuna Eco-scholar (YES)


At least 4 events Involving the young members of YES have been held in year 1 at all the 10 GRIDS Kharadi GRID

The NMM Newsletter

Ekdala GRID

Yamuna Nadi Naad


Qrtly newsletter in English and In Hindi www.peaceinst.org Ramra GRID Kanalsi GRID

Conserving the Critically Endangered Gharial crocodile Gavialis gangeticus in Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary, Upper Ganges: Promoting better coexistence for conservation
Endangered to Critically Endangered!
Only survivors of the Gavialidae family Living fossils (320 mya) Endemic to Indian subcontinent, once abundant and common total breeding population in the world is now estimated to be less than 200 individuals making Gharial a critically endangered species (IUCN 2007)

180km

Gharial released / Sighting Frequency

Gharial released 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 2009

Total Yearly Sighting Frequency

Mean Monthly Sighting Frequency

2010

2011

2012

Year

Resource dependency

10% of 238 villages [n=24] comprising of 4181 households surveyed in the study stretch (combining both Eastern and Western banks) Schedule Caste and Other Backward Class are dominating Communities Sugarcane is the main cash crop although river bed agriculture [Palaze] is also extensively done Fishing is done for personal consumption Infrastructural capital includes 11 Panchayat community meeting rooms, 22 Aganwadi center for women, 11 Primary health care units, 7 Veterinary hospitals, 18 Government Primary and 9 Government Junior Schools and 8 Government Inter Colleges Encourage environmental sensitivity an important driver of conservation!

Villages on Eastern bank

Villages on Western bank

Socio-economic surveys conducted to understand the dependency of the riparian communities on freshwater resources

Bridging the Gap facilitate the mechanism and process to strengthen the implementation of various Government Development Schemes for the riparian communities

Location of turtle nests in Palaze areas in the study stretch along River Ganga.

Mainstreaming biodiversity conservation in River Yamuna: Current findings and future potential
Survey site
c. 194km [Bateshwar Ghat, Agra to Panchnada, Etawah]

Sampling duration
Winter [January 2012] Summer [June 2012] Monsoon [September 2012]

Species diversity Species diversity Project activity Project activity


Intensive field surveys conducted to monitor Intensive field surveys conducted to monitor species species diversity and evaluate threats to diversity and evaluate threats to species and habitat. species and habitat.

S.R Taigor

Conservation threats and mitigation


Illegal and destructive fishing
Project Activity
Assess dependency of riparian communities on natural riverine resources and evaluate peoples perception towards biodiversity conservation. Help local people to deter illegal and destructive fishing by promoting alternative livelihood options.

Water pollution
Sewage Treatment Plant

Project activity
Build check dam/oxidation ponds to facilitate the water conservation activities at different sites coming from the domestic to Yamuna.

Jharna Drain Texi Drain

Sources of domestic pollution recorded along River Yamuna in the study stretch.

WWF India shall replicate the water conservation work initiated by the Forest Department in other parts of the River Yamuna.

Fisheries protection and restoration workshop to promote alternative livelihood at Gopiakhar Village, Etawah, Lower Yamuna

Indigenously made machines for spinning rope and jute material.

Fisherman sharing his experience and thoughts about the project with other participants.

Products made out of Munj.

Palaze riverbed cultivation


Project activity
Promotion of Better Management Practices [BMPs] to help locals to develop more efficient agricultural practices by promoting use of vermi-compost and bio-pesticides for Palaze [riverbed cultivation].

Palaze [riverbed cultivation] in the study stretch along the Yamuna riverbanks.

Twinning visit to the UK May 2012

Lessons learned what makes it work for us


Twinning rivers with similar problems Twinning between similar organisations Having an agreed Business Plan and contracts between partners Good contacts at official level and community level Regular visits and interchange of information

Thanks for your attention

You might also like