With great pleasure, I bring to you this issue of Saagarika, the newsletter of ICZMP Gujarat. The project is in its fifth year of implementation and is on the way of achieving its goals with complete support and participation of all the stakeholders. Many interventions are initiated in this quarter for coastal communities of Gulf of Kachchh and the project partners.

The ICZM yatra was one of the significant communication activities that culminated in February. The yatra has been able to reach more than 60,000 coastal communities in a span of around 60 days. The yatra in the form of a tableau has helped in raising awareness about the scope of integrated concept of coastal zone management and share achievements of the ICZM project. We have also made it sure to let the community know that their involvement and support is of great importance for the project.

ICZM project has been in the forefront to use latest technologies to reach the stakeholders of the project. Satellite communication and social media platforms are used to strengthen the initiatives of the project. Satcom trainings are organized to enhance the knowledge of CBOs on environmental aspects, leadership development, accounting and much more to ensure sustainability.

Initiatives are many to ensure an integrated coastal zone management in Gujarat. We will surely keep you updated.

We welcome you to read this issue of Saagarika and share your experiences with us.

Hello friends,

Foreword

A.K. Saxena, IFSMember Secretary, Gujarat Ecology CommissionProject Director, ICZMP Gujarat

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ICZM yatra in 160 coastal village s of Gulf of Kachchh

Meeting for restructuring the project cost

Twelfth Steering Committee meeting of ICZMP Gujarat

Capacity building of CBOs through SATCOM

Coastal communities of Gulf of Kachchh get a firsthand experience of the Tamil Nadu coast

Glimpses of the exposure visit

Workshop on socio-environmental issues in coastal areas

SPMU West Bengal team visits Gujarat

Efforts are on for eco-tourism development in and around Marine National Park & Sanctuary

Hoardings on ICZMP to spread awareness

Research paper published on mangrove restoration & regeneration monitoring in Gulf of Kachchh

GANDHI project update

Procurements, Bids and Advertisements (January 2015 – March 2015)

Bio-discovery – Oriental Darter

JANUARY TO MARCH - 2015

VOLUME 6 ISSUE 1

ICZM yatra in 160 coastal villages of Gulf of KachchhThe ICZM yatra was a unique awareness activity implemented by Gujarat Ecology Commission to communicate among the coastal community about the integrated efforts undertaken in ICZMP Gujarat and its achievements. Hon'ble Minister of Forests and Environment, Government of Gujarat Shri Mangubhai Patel inaugurated the ICZM yatraThe ICZM yatra, which was flagged off by the Hon'ble Minister of Forests and Environment, Government of Gujarat Shri Mangubhai Patel on December 18, 2014 has been concluded at Guneri village of Lakhpat block in Kachchh district on February 7, 2015. During the journey of 52 days the yatra travelled around 3500 km covering the 160 ICZMP villages along the Gulf of Kachchh. The ICZM yatra has reached more than 63,000 people of the coastal villages with various messages on ICZM.

The yatra in the form of a tableau has helped in raising awareness about the scope of integrated concept of coastal zone management and share achievements of the ICZM project. The major objectives of the yatra were as follows:

To raise awareness about the scope of Integrated Coastal Zone Management, by involving multiple stakeholders of the project.To spread awareness and build capacity of community in coastal zone management approach.For branding the ICZM project within project areas and showcase involvement of community and other partners.To encourage community and people of all ages towards concerns of coastal zone management and to encourage community to be a part of the ICZM process.

While the ICZM yatra was on its journey, its everyday story was told through the social media platforms of GEC. Regular postings of photographs, news clippings and accounts of coastal communities garnered lot of appreciation from the netizens. In between December 18, 2014 to February 7, 2015, the posts reached over 2858 people and gathered more than 250 likes on each post.The tableau along with the mobilisation team, members of CBOs, EDCs, SHGs and local leaders visited all 160 project villages and engaged community members and children with discussion, audio-video shows, bhavai etc. Marine National Park & Sanctuary, Jamnagar and Kachchh Forest Circle actively took part in the yatra.

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Social media interventions during ICZM yatra

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Hon'ble Minister of Forests and Environment, Government of Gujarat Shri Mangubhai Patel

inaugurated the ICZM yatra

Children are following the ICZM tableau around the village

Active participation of the coastal villagers in the ICZM yatra made it a success

Media coverage of the ICZM yatra in local newspapers

Meeting for restructuring the project cost

Twelfth Steering Committee meeting of ICZMP Gujarat

Capacity building of CBOs through SATCOM

Coastal communities of Gulf of Kachchh gets a firsthand experience of the Tamil Nadu coast

A meeting was convened by the Project Director, ICZMP Gujarat on March 10, 2015 for restructuring of cost and project activities considering the changes happened after the MTR mission of World Bank along with activities to be included or deleted from the project in the Revised Cost Estimate.

The twelfth meeting of the Steering Committee of ICZMP was held on February 18, 2015 at Forests & Environment Department, Government of Gujarat. The meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Shri P. K. Taneja, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Forests & Environment Department and was attended by the members of the Committee as well as the representatives of the project PEAs. Several issues pertaining to the project implementation, capacity building, Sewage Treatment Plant etc. were discussed in the course of the meeting. Visit www.geciczmp.com for details of the meeting.

Capacity building of the stakeholders of ICZMP is of great importance to the project especially that of the 160 CBOs formed under the project. Therefore, for the development and strengthening of CBOs and its members a special training was organized for the community mobilizers, who in turn would facilitate the trainings in the coming months. The training was done on February 26 and 27, 2015 through SATCOM (Satellite Communication) and used the training modules prepared by UNNATI, Ahmedabad; our partner in this venture. The training manual focuses on enhancing the knowledge of CBOs on environmental aspects, leadership development, accounting and much more to ensure sustainability. The ICZM project in Gujarat is constantly planning and i mpleme nti ng ca paci ty buildi ng and communication activities for our beneficiaries- the communities living on Gujarat's coast. The workshop was attended by 30 participants.

Over 30 people from the coastal villages of Gulf of Kachchh visited Tamil Nadu on a five-day exposure programme during February 7 to 11, 2015. The exposure visit was designed and planned with the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF). Following were the objectives of the exposure visit:

Help SHG/CBO members in exploring alternate and sustainable livelihood options adopted by the coastal community of Tamil Nadu.Enhancing understanding about role of the CBOs in improving livelihood for the coastal community through demonstrated best practices.Emphasizing the role of SHG/CBO members in conservation of coastal resources.

During the exposure visit, the team visited Fish For All- Research & Training Centre set up by the MSSRF in Poombur, Tamil Nadu. The centre promotes capacity building in aquaculture practices. The team also visited Pichavaram – the world's second largest mangrove forest and interacted with local community who have been involved in mangrove restoration.

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Seen here are Shri A.K. Saxena, IFS, Member Secretary, Gujarat Ecology Commission, Shri Shyamal Tikadar, IFS, CCF, Marine National Park & Sanctuary, Jamnagar and Shri A.C. Sampat, Director, Gujarat Ecology Commission and Ms. Geeta Sharma

from UNNATI at the training programme

The exposure visit has provided an intercultural platform for the coastal community of Gulf of Kachchh. It also included a visit to the Integrated Mangrove Fishery Farming System (IMFFS). The exposure visit included following activities:

Orientation meeting at Chidambaram by MSSRF activities of MSSRF, restoration techniques, JMM, livelihood approaches, IMFS and VRC activities.Visit of Pichavaram and interaction with people involved in restoration.Visit to IMFFS farm and Interaction with working group.Presentation and discussion on ICZM project at Vedaranyam.Visit to floriculture programme and interaction with community.Interaction with salt workers.Visit to micro credit and water management programme at Kovilthavu village.Visit to halophyte genetic garden and TDEF Plantation.Visit to Kadinelvayal to understand concept of revolving fund, organic farming and water conservation activity.

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Glimpses of the exposure visit

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News coverage of the exposure visit

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Workshop on socio-environmental issues in coastal areas

SPMU West Bengal team visits Gujarat

Efforts are on for eco-tourism development in and around Marine National Park & Sanctuary

Under the banner of ICZMP, a national workshop was held on Socio-Environmental issues in Coastal Areas during January 30 – 31, 2015 in association with the Department of Sociology, Saurashtra University, Rajkot. The workshop was attended over 185 people, which included many scholars of the environment sector, including professors, students, NGOs and industry representatives. The workshop was inaugurated by Shri A. C. Sampat, Director, Gujarat Ecology Commission and Dr. Pratapsinh Chauhan, Vice Chancellor of Saurashtra University. The workshop was organized by the SPMU Gujarat as a part of the capacity building interventions of ICZMP.

A team from the SPMU West Bengal led by the Project Director visited the ICZM project sites of Gujarat from January 23 to 26, 2015. The objective of the exposure visit was primarily to observe and learn from the initiatives launched in Gujarat for coastal zone management. Efforts of Gujarat Ecology Commission in stabilizing environmental degradation, measures adopted to protect coastal areas and to strengthen institutional capabilities for coastal zone planning were the key activities understood by the team of SPMU West Bengal. The team also visited coral restoration site and Sewage Treatment Plant site in Jamnagar city under ICZMP and lauded the work in progress.

One of the objectives of the ICZMP is to develop alternative livelihood sources such as resource augmentation, promotion of cultural and eco-tourism and resource conservation programs. Considering the same, under ICZMP Marine National Park & Sanctuary, Jamnagar and SMPU Gujarat have initiated a “Prefeasibility study on Ecotourism development in and around MNP&S”. The study is being done by M/s JLL Pvt. Ltd. A meeting in this regard was held on February 7, 2015, wherein the consultant presented the agreed conceptual plan and the draft prefeasibility report. Suggestions have been given to incorporate in the report.

Shri A.C. Sampat, Director, GEC along with Dr. Pratapsinh Chauhan, Vice Chancellor,

Saurashtra University and Dr. Vidyut Joshi, a well known Sociologist

Team members of SPMU West Bengal at the project sites of ICZMP Gujarat

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Hoardings on ICZMP to spread awareness

Researc h pap er pu blished o n man grove restoration & regeneration monitoring in Gulf of Kachchh

GANDHI project update

In order to spread awareness on ICZMP and its unique initiative hoardings in Gujarati language has been displayed on 23 locations in and around Gulf of Kachchh. The hoardings give crisp message and details about the activities and its many achievements under various components. As the hoardings are placed along the busy highways and popular spots in the taluka/district places, it helps in reaching messages about ICZMP to audience at large.

Continuing our efforts in creating knowledge benchm arks under IC ZMP, Gujarat Ecology Commission has developed a research paper on Mangrove Restoration and Regeneration Monitoring in Gulf of Kachchh, Gujarat State, India, Using Remote Sensing and Geo-Informatics. The paper has been published in the International Journal of Geosciences, April 2015 issue. The paper was developed as a joint study by Gujarat Ecology Commission (GEC) and

under the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (ICZMP) was taken up by Gujarat Ecology Commission (GEC) and Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geo-Informatics (BISAG). The major objective of this study was to monitor the increase in mangrove cover in coastal areas of Gulf of Kachchh using the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite data of 2005, 2011 and 2014.

Under the Solid Waste Management activity in Dandi, women members of SHG group collect household waste from village twice in a week and prepare decomposing bed. Later on fertilizer is extracted from the decomposed bed. This activity is an additional source of income for the women members and every day three women members are involved in the activity.

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Hoarding on ICZMP displayed in the project area

Research paper on mangrove restoration & regeneration monitoring in Gulf of Kachchh

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Fertilizer is made from the collected house waste

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Regular beach cleaning activity and awareness campaign in the Dandi beach along with visitors and tourists are held thrice a week, where three women members take active part. A meeting was held with the Collector of Navsari district Ms. Remya Mohan, IAS on March 31, 2015 to present the status of GANDHI Project as well as the master plan preparation. She has suggested to involve district officers or the Collector office, Navasari at the time of plan approval as it would be an important factor for the future development activities in Dandi and other five villages. The Collector also expressed her views on the ongoing matter of aquaculture and about restrictions of ESA. She has also suggested to consider the matter in the master plan preparation as it is one of the crucial issues for the project villages. Under the GANDHI Project, M/s IPE Global Pvt. Ltd and UMC has submitted the draft master plan. GEC has given suggestions to incorporate in the draft plan.

Procurements, Bids and Advertisements (January 2015 – March 2015)Works

Beach cleaning is a regular activity in GANDHI project

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Description Status

Under Evaluation

Award of Contract

Procurement of Scientific Instruments for GEER Foundation under National Shopping Procedure (Package 1 HPLC and Package2 Fluorescent Microscope)

Description Status

Awarded

Awarded

Award of Contract

Sterling Infrastructure Co., Rajkot

Dinesh Chandra R. Agrawal Infracon Pvt. Ltd. , Ahmedabad

Supplying, la ying, jointing, testing and commissioning of sewage rising main from Vohra na Hazira pumping station and connecting to MPS line, Main pumping station to STP, Gandhinagar pumping station to STP and Gravity Trunk main from MH no. 529 to Vohra na Hazira sub pumping station in the City of Jamnagar under ICZM Project, Gujarat

Supplying, laying, jointing, testing and commissioning of River Front Sewer pipe line parallel to River Rangmati in the City of Jamnagar under ICZM Project, Gujarat

Goods

Bio-discovery – Oriental Darter

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Order :

Family :

Size :

Weight :

Key Features :

Suliformes

Anhingidae

Up to 81 - 91 cm

Up to 1160 to 1500 g

A large, dark water bird with a very long, slender neck, a long tail and a thin, straight bill. Highly adapted to swimming and diving, swims low in the water with only its long, snake-like neck and head exposed, giving this species its alternative name of 'snakebird'. Adults have a dark blackish-brown head and hind neck, while the sides and front of the neck are chestnut with a white stripe.

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The throat is mottled black and white. The rest of the body and tail are largely black with a green-brown tinge, while the wing feathers are for the most part black with a central white stripe. There is some variation in the colouration of Oriental darters from different areas and in different seasons. The male and female Oriental darter are similar in appearance, but breeding males may have a reddish-brown instead of black-brown to chestnut head and neck, while the white stripes on the wing feathers are more pronounced than in the female. The juvenile Oriental darter has a grey head and neck with no white streak, and the rest of the body is browner than in the adult.

They are very silent except at the nest where they produce grunts

and croaks and a disyllabic chigi-chigi-chigi. Chicks are noisy when begging for food. Adults roost communally in trees close to or over water.

The breeding season is June to August (during the rainy season) in

northern India, April–May in south-western India and in winter in south-eastern India (during the northeast monsoon). The usual clutch consists of three to six spindle shaped bluish-green eggs with a white chalky covering that gets soiled over time. Both parents incubate the eggs, beginning after the first egg is laid which leads to asynchronous hatching of the young.

Feeds mainly on fish.

It inhabits shallow inland wetlands including lakes, rivers, swamps and reservoirs.

They usually forage singly, with the entire body submerged; swimming slowly forwards using their webbed feet while the head and neck is moved jerkily above the water. It darts its neck to impale fish and then brings them out of water, tossing them into the air before swallowing the fish head first. They may sometimes be found along with cormorants which share the habit of spreading out their wings to dry when perched on a waterside rock or tree. They sometimes soar on thermals during the warm part of the day but will alternate flapping and gliding in normal flight.

Voice :

Breeding :

Diet :

Habitat :

Habits :

Conservation Status :

References :

Photo Courtesy :

Courtesy :

Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Kennedy, R.S., Gonzales, P.C., Dickinson, E.C., Miranda Jr, H.C. and Fisher, T.H. (2000) A Guide to the Birds of the Philippines. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Shrestha, T.K. (2001) Birds of Nepal: Field Ecology, Natural History and Conservation. Bimala Shrestha, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Nelson, J.B. (2005) Pelicans, Cormorants, and their Relatives. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Grewal, B., Harvey, B. and Pfister, O. (2002) A Photographic Guide to the Birds of India and the Indian Subcontinent, including Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and The Maldives. Princeton University Press, New Jersey.

del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. and Sargatal, J. (1992) Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Ostrich to Ducks. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

Bird Life International (2014) Species factsheet: Anhinga melanogaster. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on July 02nd, 2014.

Kaippally, Licensed under CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons

www.gujenvis.nic.in

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