Conservation planning for the Ganga River: a policy conundrum

ABSTRACT

River conservation planning is complicated by its inherent connectivity, variations in habitat features and difficulties in conserving entire rivers. Economic and social constraints in human-dominated river systems, such as the Ganga, further complicate planning. A multistage systemic analysis was performed to identify policy gaps and recommend the most suitable conservation strategy for the Ganga. A critical review of Indian legislation impacting the Ganga was carried out to examine conservation issues from a policy perspective. Thereafter, existing conservation planning approaches were reviewed to identify the most strategic option. The analysis suggests that the disregard for river connectivity, lack of protection, and incoherent sectoral policies hinder river conservation in India. Strategic prioritisation and zonation of the Ganga along the principles of prohibition, restriction and regulated resource use and creation of ‘optimal sites’ for biodiversity conservation under multiple management zones was recommended. Improving institutional design and capacity would enhance sectoral coordination and policy integration.

KEYWORDS:

• River conservation
• systematic conservation planning
• protected areas
• sectoral coherence
• policy integration

Acknowledgments

This analysis was carried out under the project “Biodiversity conservation and Ganga Rejuvenation” sponsored by the National Mission for Clean Ganga, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India. We acknowledge the support provided to us by the Director and the Dean, Wildlife Institute of India, in executing the project.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Notes

1. Previously Ministry of Water Resources

Additional information

Funding

The funds for carrying out this study were provided by the National Mission for Clean Ganga, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India (Grant No. B-02/2015-16/1259/NMCG-WIIPROPOSAL).

Notes on contributors

Syed Ainul Hussain

Dr. Syed Ainul Hussain is working with the Wildlife Institute of India as a Professor. His research on species, ecosystems and their link to biodiversity conservation has helped bridge the gap between ecology and conservation biology. He is the Lead Investigator of the projects ‘Biodiversity Conservation and Ganga Rejuvenation’ and ‘Planning and management for aquatic species conservation and maintenance of ecosystem Services in the Ganga river basin’ sponsored by the National Mission on Clean Ganga, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India.

Michelle Irengbam

Ms. Michelle Irengbam has a Masters’ degree in Forestry. She is working with the project ‘Planning and management for aquatic species conservation and maintenance of ecosystem Services in the Ganga river basin’ as a Fellow. Her research mainly focuses on the science-policy interlinkages and human interface with water including modifications of the socio-ecological system. She is a recipient of the Netherlands Fellowship Programme of the Dutch Ministry Foreign Affairs. She took part in the IPBES Global Assessment on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.

Shivani Barthwal

Dr. Shivani Barthwal studied the human-wildlife interaction in the trans-Himalaya for her doctoral thesis. Her research interest is focused on human-wildlife interaction, analysis of natural resources policies and aquatic conservation planning. She is a recipient of World Bank, Swedish International Development Agency, and Chinese Academy of Science fellowships. Presently she is working as a Project Scientist in the project ‘Planning and management for aquatic species conservation and maintenance of ecosystem Services in the Ganga river basin’ at the Wildlife Institute of India.

Niladri Dasgupta

Dr. Niladri Dasgupta is working on river ecology and aquatic wildlife conservation. He is a Project Coordinator in the project ‘Planning and management for aquatic species conservation and maintenance of ecosystem Services in the Ganga river basin’ at the Wildlife Institute of India. He is coordinating biological, ecological and hydrological status assessment of the Ganga and its tributaries. He is instrumental in preparing national level species conservation action plans for Gangetic dolphins, crocodiles and freshwater turtles. He received ‘Outstanding Scientist Award’ from Ramsar Regional Centre – East Asia.

Ruchi Badola

Dr. Ruchi Badola is working with the Wildlife Institute of India as a Professor. An economist by education, she merges the social sciences with the tenets of natural resource conservation, and contributes towards the development of science-based strategies and mechanisms for sustainable development. The research undertaken by her in the last three decades have been pivotal in shaping community-based conservation in India. As the Principal investigator, she leads the community engagement and policy planning of the project ‘Planning and management for aquatic species conservation and maintenance of ecosystem services in the Ganga river basin’.