Creation of a fund to sustain conservation programmes
  • Partnerships with UNDP-GEF and GIZ resulted in the Mangrove Cell taking up conservation initiatives beyond the usual mandate of forest protection. These initiatives brought out success stories in conservation that were possible solely due to the support from these projects. To ensure sustainability of these interventions, efforts under these projects needed to be incorporated into the regular conservation on mangrove, coastal and marine biodiversity in the state of Maharashtra. Thus it was proposed to the provincial government that an autonomous organisation, the Mangrove Foundation, be formed that can take on the broader responsibility of mangrove and marine ecosystem conservation while the government body focuses on protection of mangrove forests.
  • The Foundation was provisioned with a fund generated as a mitigation measure for development activities. This fund was in addition to the compensatory afforestation and mitigation funds calculated as per the Net Present Value of the mangrove forests affected due to the development projects.
  • This interest generated from this fund has been utilised to recruit skilled personnel, and setting up effective governance for successful operations.
  • The additional mitigation measure for development projects is a provision only with the State of Maharashtra in the country.
  • Partnerships with organisations and expert institutions developed under the externally-aided projects have helped in continuing conservation efforts being taken up by the Foundation.
  • Developing a commitment to address the larger goals of conservation has been possible by implementing and proving successful models initiated under the externally-aided projects. Involving key members and allied departments of the government, and obtaining their inputs in different aspects have been keys to ensure participation of all relevant stakeholders in the government. The board of governors of the Foundation has accordingly been constituted with representation from relevant wings of the government and the civil society.
  • Separate project management units were created for implementation of project interventions under the externally-aided projects. To sustain the momentum in the newly created Foundation, dedicated teams have been created to take on the tasks of research and capacity building, and livelihood development initiatives that support the overall goal of conservation of mangroves, coastal and marine biodiversity.