(Participants in the training workshop for Wetlands Managers held at Patna, Bihar)
Wetlands International South Asia, in collaboration with the Environment, Climate Change & Wetland Wing of the Department of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Bihar, conducted a two-day training workshop on 27 and 28 December 2023 at Patna, Bihar. The training focussed on the use of a rapid wetlands assessment tool, which forms an integral element of the project ‘Conserving and Sustainably Managing Gangetic Floodplain Wetlands of Bihar.’
(The lamp of knowledge being lit by the dignitaries)
Over fifty Wetlands Managers, including the Divisional Forest Officers and the Frontline Forest Staff from nine districts, attended the workshop, which was presided over by Mr N. Jawahar Babu, IFS (Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Environment, Climate Change & Wetland Wing, Government of Bihar).
Keynote address being delivered by Mr N. Jawahar Babu, IFS (Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Environment, Climate Change & Wetland Wing, Government of Bihar).
In the classroom session, presentations and discussions were held on Wetlands Mapping and Wetlands Condition Assessment, which included rapid assessment of wetlands features such as boundary delineation, hydrology, ecology, evaluation of ecosystem services, threats mapping and identifying and addressing priority management needs.
Presentation on Wetlands Mapping by Ms Kalpana Ambastha (Technical Officer-Sustainable Livelihoods, Wetlands International South Asia).
A field visit was conducted to Kabartal wetland, and a demonstration on the use of the Rapid Wetlands Assessment Tool was made. The process of water testing for select parameters was also conducted to replicate at the target wetland sites. The field data thus collected by these trained wetlands managers will essentially feed into the preparation of the wetlands database for the Bihar state.
Demonstration of Use of Rapid Wetlands Assessment Tool to Wetlands Managers at Kabartal Wetland, Begusarai, Bihar.
Demonstration of Water Quality Testing to Wetlands Managers at Kabartal Wetland, Begusarai, Bihar.
The project Conserving and Sustainably Managing Gangetic Floodplain Wetlands of Bihar has been awarded by the National Mission on Clean Ganga, Jal Shakti Mantralya of the Government of India, and is being implemented by the Environment, Climate Change & Wetland Wing of the Department of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Bihar. Wetlands International South Asia is the knowledge partner providing technical and hand-holding support in project implementation. The overall objective of the project is Effective management of floodplain wetlands in River Ganga Districts to ensure sustained provision of wide-ranging ecosystem services naturally provided by these ecosystems and secure diverse habitats. The project is structured around four components: (i) an inventory and assessment of wetlands, (ii) management planning, (iii) wetlands monitoring (iv) capacity development and outreach.