Side Event
Managing coastal marine biodiversity in India: Can participatory approaches make a difference?
Organizer
Indo-German Biodiversity Programme
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Date and Time
15 October 2014 18:15 - 19:45
Meeting
Twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity
Protection of biodiversity in India has a long tradition with some remarkable success when it comes to terrestrial ecosystems. Similar efforts for marine areas along the coast proved to be much more difficult, mainly because of the enormous pressure on natural resources exerted by an ever increasing population in coastal areas. In response to this situation, the Indian Government is looking into options for involving in a more efficient way concerned stakeholders in the management of ecologically important areas at the coast. During the side event, a panel discussion will focus on the various factors that might prove conducive – or deterring – to the implementation of participatory approaches to the management of marine biodiversity in coastal areas in cases such as those represented by India. The panellists will comprise senior administrators from India as well as lead experts having working on similar approaches in the Philippines, Vietnam and Bangladesh. It is expected that the results of the panel discussion will lead to a better understanding of the conditions and governance structures which need to be in place to successfully implement participatory approaches in the management of coastal marine biodiversity.