06 Aug, 2024
Wetland conservation and restoration not only contribute to biodiversity, water, food security and livelihood opportunities, but also offer significant climate co-benefits such as carbon storage and buffering extreme climate events. Climate co-benefits of wetlands refer to the positive impacts on climate change mitigation and adaptation that resulting from wetland protection, management, and restoration efforts, even when these measures are not specifically aimed at climate action. Assessing the climate co-benefits of wetland management can strengthen the implementation of India’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDCs) and the implementation of national programmes like National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA), Amrit Dharohar, Green Credit Programme, Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI) and others. while promoting the integration of wetlands into sectoral climate action and disaster management plans.
The potential positive effects of wetland management practices, such as climate co-benefits, are still inadequately understood. To address this gap a methodology is being developed for assessing the climate adaptation and DRR co-benefits of wetland management under the ‘Indo-German Support Project for Climate Action in India’, implemented by GIZ in partnership with Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change under the International Climate Initiative (IKI). This methodology is being developed in collaboration with Wetlands International South Asia (WISA), Perspectives Climate Group and Institute of Economic Growth. The methodology is being piloted at different wetland types – High Altitude, Coastal, Floodplain and Urban.
A stakeholder workshop to present and discuss the methodology was organised on 6 August in New Delhi under the chairmanship of Dr Sujit Kumar Bajpayee, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). Various knowledge partners including Chilika Development Authority (CDA), National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), Environment Planning and Coordination Organisation (EPCO), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM), Kerala State Wetland Authority, and other experts from International Water Management Institute, International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), TERI- the Energy and Resource Institute, Anna University and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Niti Aayog participated in the workshop. Feedback from the workshop emphasised that, although the assessment tool was comprehensive and user-friendly, the ability to quantify adaptation benefits would rely on the availability of data. Additionally, the workshop discussed the need for capacity development at multiple levels to effectively apply the tool and integrate it across different scales, from the Panchayat level to State Disaster and Climate Change Plans. The discussion also covered how the assessment outcomes could be utilised to build a case for accessing national and international climate finance.
Following the workshop, the team had the opportunity to visit the Pallikaranai Marsh, a key flood buffer in Chennai, which is being considered as a pilot site for the new methodology. During the site visit, discussions were held with the Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority and site managers to present and discuss the preliminary assessment results and the data requirement for the Tier 2 assessment.
As India continues to implement its NDCs, this methodology could play a crucial role in promoting sustainable wetland management as a key component of climate action and disaster resilience planning.
Stakeholder workshop on assessment of climate adaptation and disaster resilience co-benefits of wetland management | © GIZ
Group discussion on Tier 1 tool for assessment of adaptation co-benefits of wetland management | © Wetlands International South Asia
Field visit to Pallikaranai Marsh, one of the proposed sites for piloting the assessment methodology | ©Wetlands International South Asia
The Wetlands Management for Biodiversity and Climate Protection project aims to strengthen the institutional framework and capacities for an ecosystem-based integrated management of wetlands of international importance (Ramsar sites) in India. Four Ramsar sites have been selected as pilot sites under the project: Pong Dam and Renuka Lake in Himachal Pradesh, Bhitarkanika Mangroves in Odisha, and the Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu. The project is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in close cooperation with the National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA). This project is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI). The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) supports this initiative on the basis of a decision adopted by the German Bundestag. Read More
For more information contact: biodiv.india@giz.de
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