Research scheme launched on climate change impact on Chilika

The Chilika Development Authority (CDA) and the Wetlands International-South Asia (WISA) have launched a three-year research initiative on climate change at Chilika. This was declared at a three-day inception workshop being held from Thursday at the Wetland Research and Training Centre, Barkul (Chilika) around 65 km from silk city Berhampur. The three-year initiative titled 'Strengthening livelihood resilience to changing climate in Chilika lagoon, India' aims to enhance climate preparedness of wetland management through developing response options and strategies for reducing climate-related risks as well as increasing community preparedness for changes in the wetland ecosystem services.

The project is supported under the Climate Change and Water Programme of the International Development and Research Centre (IDRC). Its implementation will be led by the WISA and the CDA with expert support from the Institute of Land, Water and Society, Charles Stuart University, Australia. The implementation will build on climate scenarios modelling, participatory risk assessments with the Chilika communities, stakeholder consultations, capacity-building and communication and outreach. The initiative is first of its kind to be implemented for a wetland system and expected to be of immense use to wetland managers in the country.

The research would focus on the following elements: Developing scenarios of change in ecosystem components, processes and services of the Chilika lake due to climate change; assessing current coping and adaptation mechanisms within wetland communities in the context of climate change; demonstrating options for enhancing livelihood resilience in changing climate through pilot interventions; formulating a "climate smart" plan for wetland management identifying adaptation options, intervention strategies, priority actions and investment required; and building capacity of wetland managers to develop a response strategy to climate change, particularly addressing livelihood resilience.

The outcomes of the research would be used to guide investment planning for climate change mitigation and adaptation for Odisha in general and Chilika in particular. The project would provide a platform for knowledge-sharing amongst wetland managers placed in similar development and ecological contexts as well as advancing research on building livelihood resilience in socio-environmental systems within the context of changing climate. The research outcomes would be available as technical reports, peer-reviewed publications, datasets and policy briefs.

Stephen McGurk of the Regional Director (South Asia and China) of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) joined as the chief guest at the workshop. He is a noted development economist with experience in leading a wide range of projects in the region ranging from helping Afghanistan rebuild its health and agriculture sectors to supporting India's rollout of mobile communication technology to 600,000 villages. WISA president Ashok Kundra WISA delivered the inaugural address.

CDA Chief Executive Ajit Patnaik outlined the importance of the initiative to management of Chilika. WISA Conservation Programme Manager Ritesh Kumar presented the project outline. Source: The Hindu