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| programmes . research . advocacy . conservation . people . publications and resources | contact us . about us . home | |
As it is one of the most densely populated biodiversity hotspots on earth, there is limited scope for expansion of the formal protected area network in the Western Ghats. Such a situation necessitates the development of innovative mechanisms for maximising and maintaining biological diversity in human-dominated landscapes in the region. Deriving from the concepts and principles of reconciliation ecology, socio-ecological inquiry and policy analyses, we aim to develop a reconciliation framework for developing informal conservation networks with landowners in the Periyar-Agasthyamalai Corridor of the southern Western Ghats. Read more…
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All socio-ecological interactions are collectively influenced by environmental, legal, political, cultural, psychological and societal forces. In this context, it is crucial that we understand community perceptions and perspectives of resources, state policies, law and development. The project aims to understand and engage with the social, economic and cultural relations of the fishing communities and their community institutions with the natural coastal resource base, livelihoods and coastal development. This would provide insights into how they can be strengthened to participate in resource management, local governance and local development planning. Read more…
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With increasing mechanisation and technological development, unregulated and unsustainable fishing operations are increasing, exerting tremendous pressure on natural resources. Management decisions and policy frameworks need to be based on information derived from strong scientific research. Unfortunately such information is very poor in India. Our research on marine fisheries involves undertaking long-term monitoring of trends in fishing, levels of exploitation and their impacts on existing resources, population dynamics and recruitment processes, which are all vital information for conservation/management prioritisation. Read more….
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Coastal ecosystems, especially intertidal ecosystems, face the brunt of natural and human disturbances. Due to their differential tolerance and restricted movement, intertidal benthic fauna are among the most common organisms used to assess anthropogenic impacts and are excellent indicators of environmental stress. With comparatively longer life spans and as key elements in the food web of aquatic systems, they can integrate the effects of the environment. In a two-year study, as part of the ecology component of the Post-Tsunami Environment Initiative, a rapid survey of coastal inter-tidal communities was undertaken. Read more….
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The effectiveness of legal measures for conservation in having positive ecological and social impacts is dependent on the appropriateness of its design. Marine conservation and fisheries management approaches in the country have followed largely terrestrial systems of management, which are often not appropriate from an ecological point of view and may ignore socio-economic complexities. Dakshin members have been researching the effectiveness and appropriateness of several marine conservation designs and programmes in the country from ecological as well as socio-legal perspectives. Read more…
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The December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the rehabilitation efforts thereafter led to several questions related to the influence of laws on coastal communities and coastal environments. There was and continues to be repeated reference to and confusion about coastal laws related to post-tsunami reconstruction, the location or relocation of coastal communities and coastal resource use (sand mining and fisheries development). Read more…
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Olive ridley turtles are well known for the phenomenon of mass nesting where thousands of sea turtles come ashore simultaneously to nest. Orissa is one of three rookeries worldwide where these spectacular arribadas occur. These turtles are also incidentally killed in trawl and coastal gill nets, resulting in the death of more than 100,000 turtles in the last 10 years. A variety of laws and policy have been adopted towards the protection and conservation of sea turtles. This has led to conflicts over the rights to and use of marine areas between the State, traditional and mechanised fishing communities and sea turtle conservationists. Dakshin members are involved in a project that seeks to understand the ecological, historical and social contexts of this conflict. Read more…