Disseminating the Tremendous Value of Coastal and Marine Ecosystems under the TEEB- India Initiative

27 Jun, 2016

A total of five case studies, highlighting the ecosystems values of the Coastal and Marine Ecosystems, and their relation to human well-being, under the TEEB-India Initiative (TII) were shared, and discussed during the two day national workshop organised in Chennai, from 27- 28 June 2016.

Participants at the national workshop on dissemination of results on Coastal and Marine ecosystems, jointly organised by GIZ, (BOBP-IGO), (DAHD&F), (MoA&FW) AND (MoEFCC)

The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity- India Initiative (TII); aims to make the values of biodiversity and the linked ecosystem services explicit for consideration and mainstreaming into developmental planning. The 14 case studies under TII, highlight the approach, salient findings, as well as provide overall recommendations to illustrate how economic concepts and tools can help equip society with the means to incorporate the values of nature into decision making at all levels.

Case studies shared during the workhop:

• Assessment of eco-labelling as tool for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in Ashtamudi Lake, Kerala.
• Economic valuation of seasonal fishing ban on marine fisheries services in selected maritime states of India.
• Economic Value of Biodiversity Loss: A Study of By-Catch from Andhra Pradesh Marine Fisheries.
• Economics of ecosystem services and biodiversity for conservation and sustainable management of coastal wetlands.
• Accounting for regenerated forests: Evaluating the flow of ecosystem services from regenerated mangroves compared to original mangrove forest.

The workshop was organised by Deutsche Gesellschaft Für International Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in cooperation with The Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO), the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries (DAHD&F), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW) and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

In pictures (from left) Mr. Edgar Endrukaitis, Director, Indo-German Biodiversity Programme lighting the lamp to mark the inauguration of the workshop, Dr. Amita Prasad, Additional Secretary, MoEFCC, addressing the participants during the workshop

Key messages, which emerged from the discussions:

• Certification systems should be considered to improve returns to fishers. Cost effectiveness is likely to increase with development of local certification capacity.
• Poor management of bycatch has high economic implications in terms of lost future catch; need to incentivise the adoption of exclusion and reduction devices.
• ‘Seasonal ban’ has generated positive economics, need to strengthen integration with ecosystem management interventions.
• Restoration of coastal ecosystems brings in positive economic returns, however, there is a need to take a long-term view.
• Investing into ecological restoration needs to consider ‘financial viability’ to enable diversification of funding base.

In pictures (from left) Dr. B Meenakumari, Chairperson, National Biodiversity Authority, and the participants in discussion during the workshop

Significant recommendations:

• Disseminate outcomes of TII on coastal and marine ecosystems.
• Scope opportunities for application of valuation as a tool to address policy and programming issues related to fisheries sector.
• Identify priority areas for multidisciplinary research to support sustainable fisheries and integrated management of coastal and marine ecosystems.
• Host study outcomes on e-portal.
• Institutionalise ownership: MoEFCC, BOBP-IGO and Madras School of Economics.
• Develop concept notes for high priority themes (interested organizations) under guidance of MoEFCC.
• Policy brief on values of coastal and marine ecosystems for fisheries sector.
• MoEFCC to consider communicating workshop outcomes and recommendations to Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, concerned State/UT Governments and agencies.
• MoEFCC - MoA&FW to consider periodic meeting of coastal and marine learning group.