Engaging Citizens for Conservation - The Road to Community Stewardship

06 Aug, 2024

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

This sentiment was recently bought to life in Bhitarkanika Mangroves, a Ramsar site located on the eastern coast of the country. This mangrove area, a complex of protected areas with more than 400 villages in its vicinity, supports countless livelihoods in the form of agriculture, fishing, and brackish water aquaculture; and protect the area from devastating cyclones and tidal surges, a common phenomenon that the state of Odisha witnesses.

The IKI-BMUV and MoEFCC Wetlands Management for Biodiversity and Climate Protection project is being implemented by GIZ in different project sites, including Bhitarkanika. The collaboration has put the local communities at the forefront through green recovery measures, nature tourism trainings and participatory management planning. Afterall, the wise use and conservation of wetlands can be sustainable only through inclusive and community-driven initiatives.

As co-inhabitants and dependents of the wetlands, local communities often have an overlapping presence with the magnificent saltwater crocodiles. This can take form of conflict, injuries and fatalities to people and cattle. The most vulnerable to such conflicts and to the impacts of ongoing climate impacts, are the dependent communities and more specifically, the women and children. Thus, working with these focus groups is imperative to mitigate the concerns.

A teacher orientation programme was conducted in Kendrapara district followed by awareness programs in 15 schools with a focus on Mitigating Human-Crocodile conflict in October – December 2023. To scale the success of the intervention, and with the endorsement of the District Forest and Education bodies, a Communication, Education, Participation and Awareness (CEPA) programme was conducted with students and teachers of 10 schools from 3 – 5 August 2024. The programme was organised under the project, with support of APOWA and Mangrove Forest Division, Rajnagar (Odisha Forest Division). The students and teachers developed their CEPA strategy on their role in conserving mangroves, reducing pollution, and mitigating human-wildlife conflict Through impactful plays, they brought their perspective on various issues - how conflict with the Bhitarkanika wildlife be reduced, why the rising disconnect between nature and people in the area needs to be reversed and how plastic pollution needs to be curbed before it becomes a menace to the mangroves. The role plays were shared by the teachers on various platforms, thus spreading the message to other schools as well. The forest officers and department staff, engaged with the students on the importance of the Bhitarkanika Protected Areas, demonstrated the work happening at crocodile hatchery and mangrove nursery and enamoured the students with the up displays at the Bhitarkanika museum. Another interesting session was with the children book author, Ms Katie Bagli, who has authored the ‘Mysterious Mangroves of Bhitarkanika’ publication under the project. She conducted sessions on creative storytelling with the students so that they can be effective communicators and share their stories of Bhitarkanika with other students and their families. The book was also released by the DFO during the CEPA Programme. Another focus group of this intervention were the Women Self Help Groups from around Bhitarkanika.

Self Help Groups (SHG) were also integral to this initiative. On 4 August 2024, SHG members participated in discussion about their connection to the wetland. They shared the challenges climate change has brought to their lives and the traditional knowledge that has helped them maintain a connect to Bhitarkanika and its inhabitant species. Most of the participants, despite living in the vicinity, had not visited the protected area ever before. Their boat ride through the mangroves, and learning about the rich biodiversity of the area, encouraged the participants to share with us their ideas of engagement going forward. Many participants expressed interest in upskilling on nature tourism activities (including homestay operations, cuisine, and handicrafts) so that they can engage effectively with the Forest Department during this phase of the rapid tourism growth around the wetland. They also presented to the Forest Department a set of immediate actions they would like to undertake.

These engagements, with the young people and women of Bhitarkanika, underscore our responsibility to ensure that community stewardship is not only necessary but needs diverse voices and views, across ages, and across genders. These CEPA events are a nod to the ongoing Save Wetlands Campaign and the CEPA Resolution Convention of Wetlands (Ramsar Convention).

Author Ms Katie Bagli shares tips with students on telling compelling stories on nature and wildlife © GIZ/APOWA

Session on significance of mangroves conducted by forest staff Mr Niraakar in the mangrove nursery which is maintaining a sapling bank of the various species found in Bhitarkanika ©GIZ/APOWA

Snippet from some of the nukkad naataks presented by a participating school © GIZ/APOWA

DFO Shri Sudarshan Kumar Jadhav in discussion with the students ©GIZ/APOWA

Range Officer Shri Manas Kumar engages with Mahila Self Help Group members ©GIZ/APOWA

Some of the participants from Mahila Self Help Groups embark on the field visit (c) GIZ/APOWA

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About the project

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