B3B Robert Oates

7/28/2019 B3B Robert Oates

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The Thames and GangesTwinning Programme

Robert Oates (TRT), Manoj Misra (PEACE),

Dr Asghar Nawab (WWF India)October, 2012


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Programme sites

1. River Yamuna

2. Upper Ganges


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The PEACE Institute - Project sites on river Yamuna

1400 km long

Key tr ibutary of Ganga

States of UKD

HP, Haryana, Delhi,

Rajasthan, MP, UP

Yamunotri shrine-

origin of river Yamuna


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Friends of the River groups - institutional strengthening

Catchment restoration (Plantations; social protection)

River health (PRHI) and Village health monitoring

Natural Farming - Waste management; Green PilgrimageSanitation; GW recharge; Renewable Energy (Solar)

Capacity enhancement

Eco-clubs (YES) promotion (Soil, water, river, air)

Synergy with WWF India activities

Key project components


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Monitoring River and Village Health

Village Merapur, Hamirpur, UP

Vil lage Siyach, Batesar, UP

Monthly monitoring is on at various

GRIDS and records are maintained


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River friendly activities

Restored vil lage well, GadayaSolar light, Siyach

Plantation on r iver bank, Ekdala

Eco-san toilet, Ova

GW recharge well, Ramra

Activities include

Plantation; GW

Recharge well;Pond and Well

restoration;

Solar lamps; eco-

san toilets etc


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Capacity Building

Renewable Energy sources WS,

Katapathar, UKD

Soil and water testing WS, Hamirpur, UP

5 WS have been held on subjectslike Eco-Sanitation (Ramra); Natural

Farming (Kanalsi); Soil and Water testing

(Hamirpur); Soil Conservation and

Renewable Sources of Energy (Katapathar);

Bee-keeping and livelihoods (Gadaya)


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Yamuna Eco-scholar (YES)

Ekdala GRIDKharadi GRID

Ramra GRIDKanalsi GRID

At least 4 events

Involving the young

members of YES have

been held in year 1 atall the 10 GRIDS

The NMM Newsletter

Yamuna NadiNaad

Qrtly newsletter

in English and

In Hindiwww.peaceinst.org


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Conserving the Critically Endangered Gharial crocodile

Gavialis gangeticus in Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary, Upper

Ganges: Promoting better coexistence for conservation

Endangered to Critically Endangered!

Onlysurvivors 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)

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

2009 2010 2011 2012

Year

Gharialreleased/SightingFrequenc

yGharial released Total Yearly Sighting Frequency Mean Monthly Sighting Frequency

180km


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Resource dependency

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

10% of 238 villages [n=24] comprising of

4181 households surveyed in the studystretch (combining both Eastern andWestern banks)

Schedule Caste and Other BackwardClass are dominating Communities

Sugarcane is the main cash crop althoughriver bed agriculture [Palaze] is alsoextensively done

Fishing is done forpersonal consumption

Infrastructural capital includes 11Panchayat community meeting rooms, 22Aganwadi center for women, 11 Primaryhealth care units, 7 Veterinary hospitals,18 Government Primary and 9Government J unior Schools and 8

Government Inter Colleges

Encourage environmental sensitivity an importantdriver of conservation!

Villages on Eastern bank

Villages on Western bank


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Bridging the Gap facilitate the mechanism and process to strengthen

the implementation of various Government Development Schemes for theriparian communities

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


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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]


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Project activity

Intensive field surveys conducted to monitor species

diversity and evaluate threats to species and habitat.

Species diversitySpecies diversity

Project activity

Intensive field surveys conducted to monitor

species diversity and evaluate threats to

species and habitat.

S.R Taigor


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Conservation threats and mitigation

Illegal and destructive fishing

Project Activity

Assess dependency of riparian communities on natural riverine

resources and evaluate peoples perception towards

biodiversityconservation.

Help local people to deter illegal and destructive fishing by

promoting alternative livelihood options.

Water pollution

Project activity

Build check dam/oxidation ponds to facilitate

the water conservation activities at differentsites coming fromthedomestic to Yamuna.

WWF India shall replicate the water

conservation work initiated by the Forest

Department in other parts of the River

Yamuna.

Texi

Drain

Sewage Treatment Plant

Jharna

Drain

Sources of domestic pollution recorded alongRiver Yamuna in the study stretch.


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Fisheries protection and restoration workshop to promote alternative livelihood

at Gopiakhar Village, Etawah, Lower Yamuna

Fisherman sharing his experience and thoughts aboutthe project with other participants.

Products made out ofMunj.

Indigenously made machines for spinning rope and jute material.


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

Project activ ity

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


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Twinning visit to the UK May 2012


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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


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Thanks for your attention

B3B Robert Oates

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