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IFS officer Jagdish Bakan, the Director of Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, grew to become the primary Indian to win UNESCO’s Michel Batisse Award for efficient biosphere reserve administration.
On the intersection of the southward extension of the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean lies a ‘Biologists’ Paradise’. Boasting over 4,223 species of natural world from the critically endangered Dugong dugon (sea cow) to the hawksbill sea turtles, the land lives as much as its title and is among the world’s richest marine various areas.
However The Gulf of Mannar prides itself on extra than simply this id.
Within the current previous, it has turn into in style as a benchmark for the native communities’ efforts in the direction of defending the indigenous species right here — corals, seahorses, crustaceans, whale sharks, inexperienced sea turtles, and humpback dolphins amongst others. It is very important observe that this transformation of coronary heart of the locals comes after years of dependency on fishing as the principle livelihood.
What provoked this transformation? How did a land notorious for over-harvesting turn into one main conservation from the entrance? It’s unattainable to reply this with out mentioning the title of Indian Forest Service officer Jagdish Bakan.
“It was by no means an peculiar function,” he emphasises referring to his posting right here two years in the past.
The strategic location of the bay coupled with its function of being host to endangered species necessitated greater than patrolling the forest. Quickly after being posted right here, Bakan assumed the submit of director of the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Belief (GOMBRT) — a Authorities physique that streamlines initiatives associated to biodiversity conservation within the space. And since then change has adopted.
“My jurisdiction lies in Ramanathapuram and Thoothukudi. I oversee the the Nationwide Park that includes 21 islands which runs from Rameswaram to Tuticorin Port. There are over 252 villages unfold throughout these areas,” notes Bakan. It’s right here that he has inspired the locals to go for various livelihoods, in flip lowering their dependency on native natural world. Along with this, he has been instrumental in creating inexperienced jobs, endeavor coral transplantation and mangrove planting in these areas.
Earlier this 12 months Bakan’s efforts have been globally recognised when he gained UNESCO’s Michel Batisse Award 2023. Although his case examine on ‘improvement of sustainable livelihood and community-based biodiversity conservation and atmosphere safety’ was applauded by the world’s specialists, he emphasises that creating change isn’t an in a single day job.
Sowing the seeds of a biodiverse dream
The journey has been an unconventional one for Bakan. Throughout his time as a chemical engineer at Hindustan Petroleum, he was launched to the concept of civil providers. Bakan determined to check for the examination whereas pursuing his full-time job and the remaining is historical past.
However because the 2017 batch officer says, in hindsight, his data of chemistry has performed an incredible function in shaping his conservation efforts within the bay. “Some areas want scientific particulars analysed. For instance, in coral monitoring, we often take temperature-salinity profiles and verify the air pollution ranges within the space. My chemical background helped me oversee this higher.”
When Bakan first began work within the space, he was laser-focused on averting the injury to indigenous natural world. But when the native communities needed to be discouraged from over-harvesting, they wanted to have one other livelihood to show to.
This concept compelled Bakan to provide you with a system of micro-credit. “Every village has an eco-development neighborhood (EDC) below which there are 10 self-help teams (SHG) every,” he explains. “So in complete, we’ve 2,700 of those SHGs which comprise round 36,000 villagers. That being stated, over 93 % of participation is of girls. Via the micro-credit system, they interact in actions corresponding to shell craft, palm craft, pickle making, tailoring, nursing, and so on.”
One other exercise Bakan began within the space is getting ready packing containers from the leaves of the palm tree, that are then offered as packaging to native retailers. It is a thriving mannequin, he provides. “Till final 12 months, we’ve generated over 7,788 new jobs for the villagers this manner.”
He provides that they scaled the mannequin final 12 months and micro-credits distributed have been elevated by 50 %. Nevertheless, altering the mindsets of the neighborhood was a problem.
“Overharvesting was recognised a very long time again. Convincing the neighborhood that that is dangerous has been a journey. As a result of what we try to vary isn’t just their mindsets but additionally their sources of livelihood. However we’ve been seeing a shift of their perceptions. The locals now take pledges to guard the endangered sea cow, dolphins and extra at each assembly.”
A self-sustaining mannequin
What drives the individuals of the realm are the eco-tourism initiatives.
“We certify the native youth in lifeguard coaching, boat driving, and so on. Via this, we deployed over 58 individuals for the six eco-tourism websites we’ve created. 60 % of the income via eco-tourism are used for ecological restoration and wildlife safety. The remaining 40 % is given to the native villages. The individuals of the village come collectively and resolve in the direction of which repairs and upkeep they want to channel these funds.”
Whereas the locals are inspired to decide on various livelihoods, Bakan additionally oversees the general well being of the ecosystem within the bay. Elaborating on the mangrove plantation, he says they managed to plant over 70,000 timber. This 12 months we’re endeavor greater than 100 hectares of plantation.”
The affect of this undertaking has been evident, he provides. “We see them as catalysts in stopping pure disasters corresponding to cyclones, tsunamis and coastal erosion. We’ve seen the erosion fee being much less within the space.”
Nevertheless, out of all of the difficult initiatives Bakan has undertaken within the space, the one which’s had essentially the most magnetic maintain for him is coral transplantation.
“It is a very scientific and really delicate course of. It’s an underwater course of and we’ve to pick out a selected space and depth. Then we’ve to check the sedimentation cycle to see that the solar isn’t overlapping the transplantation space. Through the years, we’ve standardised the strategies.”
He provides that they get an annual progress of seven to 10 centimetres. Over 600 sq. metres of coral have been transplanted till 2022.
However what actually gave impetus to Bakan’s work is the Michel Batisse Award. He sees this not simply as a recognition of his service however as a stage for future initiatives. The potential is now alive within the bay as Bakan says the scientific neighborhood is exhibiting a eager curiosity of their work. However what he hopes for, is for individuals to watch and replicate their mannequin.
“An attention-grabbing undertaking that we’ve undertaken is the plastic verify submit for which we’ve been awarded the UNEP Setting Enforcement award,” he shares.
Elaborating on that he provides, “It is a one-year-old verify submit mannequin. The 22 km coastal highway resulting in the final level of India in Rameswaram Island was stuffed with plastic thrash. For a 12 months we’ve been checking all vacationer autos going alongside the highway, seizing the plastic and giving them eco-friendly choices. That is being carried out by the eco-development communities. Each 2 km, there’s somebody deployed. All of the plastic collected is given to the rural improvement division the place it’s shredded and used for highway building. Each month we accumulate 4 tonnes of plastic.”
Because the bay enjoys a revival of its biodiversity, Bakan takes pleasure in main the neighborhood in the direction of change. Because the mudflats and coral reefs are bathed within the glow of the setting solar, the efforts of the locals are seen in each sapling planted and in each turning tide.
Edited by Pranita Bhat
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