NEW DELHI: Implemented under the Indio-German Biodiversity Programme as a technical coopration with GIZ, TII focused on three ecosystems, namely forests, wetlands and coastal and marine ecosystems.
On July 21-22,2015 a review workshop was organized under the aegis of TII to review the outcomes of the 12 pilot projects which demonstrate application of economic aproaches to address policy issues related to conservation and sustainable management of these ecosystems.
Mr Ashok Lavasa, Secretary MoEFCC chaired the workshop jointly with Dr Kirit Parikh, Chairman of the TII Scientific and Technical Advisory Group. Mr. H Wanken, Counsellor, German Embassy and Mr. Heiko Wolfgang (Country Head GIZ) were special invitees to the workshop. Mr. Hem Pande, Additional Secretary, MoEFCC conducted the proceedings. The event was attended by over forty participants, including senior officers from MoEFCC, eminent ecologists and economists from institutes like IISc Bangalore, BSI, ZSI, IEG, Bay of Bay Bengal Programme – Inter-Governmental Organization; conservation organisations like Wetlands International South Asia, IUCN, WTI, WWF; and international agencies like UNDP and GIZ.
In the inaugural address, Mr Lavasa highlighted the important role of sound ecological economics based approaches in guiding environmental policies and programmes. He urged the initiative to provide actionable recommendations to improve effectiveness of various natural resources conservation and sustainable management efforts being made by the Ministry.
Mr Parikh outlined the process used in selecting the pilot study sites and partners, and major outcomes that have resulted from the studies.
Mr Pande urged the study to use innovative approaches to highlight the value of natural capital such that more resources could be allocated for their conservation. He also reiterated the novelty in TII in terms of using the outcomes of pilot studies to develop strategies for recognizing, valuing and mainstreaming ecosystem services in decision making.
