BACKGROUND
Maharashtra is one of the few states in India where Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) have a relatively large expanse (~ 38000 sq. km) and semi-arid grasslands form a significant extent of the ONEs here. These regions naturally have sparse tree cover, are dominated by grass and have relatively stable underground carbon stocks given that these ecosystems can lose above-ground biomass to fires. Additionally, these grasslands support pastoralism which rears indigenous breeds of livestock and enables livestock economy to thrive despite low industrial inputs. Grasslands also provide habitats for threatened wildlife species adapted to open arid habitats. The high socio-ecological significance of these regions makes it imperative that these systems are managed sustainably.

PROBLEM
Like in other states, semi-arid grasslands in Maharashtra are distributed under private, revenue and forest department lands, lending complexity to their governance. Owing to their tree-less nature, revenue and forest department grasslands are embroiled in carbon trade as they are thought of as spare lands that are available for increasing tree cover. For similar reasons, the diversion of privately owned grasslands to industrial infrastructure and irrigated agriculture is also quick because it is viewed as a 'value addition' to these arid lands. As a result, grasslands are heavily fragmented and only 4% of Maharashtra's land area has patches of ONEs that are >100 sq. km in size.

SOLUTIONS
We need to find mechanisms by which joint goals of pastoralist livelihood security, native biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration can be reasonably achieved through the management of grasslands. With this aim in mind, an intervention was jointly planned at Kendur village in Pune district by The Centre for Policy Design team and The Grasslands Trust, Pune. The presence of a large common land or gaayran, the village leadership’s interest in restoring the grassland, the presence of livestock-based livelihoods and the familiarity of the working organisation with the landscape are what made it possible to begin work in Kendur. Our objective, supported by the Gram Panchayat, is to conduct in-situ native grass plantation on the village common land (~ 300 hectares) and assist the growth of grasses up to the first two years in order to gradually restore the grassland. We are also monitoring above- and below-ground ecological changes in our intervention plots. 

OUTCOMES
In the first year, we supported the creation of a native grass species nursery in the Fergusson College Campus in Pune city. Our on-ground partners were able to experiment with three different grass-making techniques with the help of local expertise. We initiated an in-situ plantation of ~20,000 saplings of five native grass species - Cenchrus Ciliaris (Anjan), Cenchrus Setigerus (Dhaman), Dicanthum Annulatum (Marvel), Chrysopogon fulvus (Dongri), Sehima Nervosum (Sheda). We also completed two cycles of ecological monitoring of our intervention sites in the wet and dry seasons of 2022 and 2023, respectively. We aim to continue bringing the entire 200 hectares of the common land under grassland restoration in the coming two years.     

BACKGROUND

In the picturesque region of Kuttanad, the poetic words of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, 'Water, water everywhere, not a drop to drink', encapsulate the pressing issue of drinking water scarcity. Despite being crisscrossed by lagoons, rivers and canals and situated amid the floodplains of five major rivers in the state of Kerala, Kuttanad grapples with a dire lack of access to clean drinking water. This paradox arises from widespread contamination of surface water sources, primarily stemming from agricultural residues, untreated human sewage and the waste carried downstream from upstream areas. The Thanneermukkom barrage compounds the issue by disrupting natural water flow and fostering eutrophication.  

The groundwater, despite its abundance, proves to be unsuitable for drinking due to its acidic soil conditions and iron leaching. The region's unique terrain and soil types render open-dug wells impractical. Public tap water supply is sporadic at best, and the cost of procuring water from private vendors is exorbitant. This conundrum presents a significant challenge to the residents of Kuttanad, who are left with few reliable options for securing safe and sustainable sources of drinking water.

SOLUTIONS

There is no single solution to tackle Kuttanad's drinking water crisis. The most viable approach, however, is to catch the rain when it falls. Luckily, Kerala enjoys consistent rainfalls, with around 60–65% occurring during the four-month-long southwest monsoon in June and 25–30% from the northeast monsoon in October-November, while the remainder falls during the summer. In the absence of high-rises or major industries, rainwater in this area consistently exhibits low contamination levels and meets the World Health Organization standards for drinking water quality.

The second phase of SUJALAM, a project supported by LIC HFL’s CSR and implemented by ATREE-CERC, is dedicated to establishing 280 rainwater harvesting structures in Kuttanad. We recognise that a mere installation of physical infrastructure is insufficient to guarantee the sustainability of a community-based project. Therefore, it is essential to empower the community by equipping them with the technical and managerial skills necessary to effectively manage the system.

Therefore our process begins by identifying beneficiaries within each Gram Panchayat through collaborative efforts. These identified beneficiaries are then organised into "Jala Samrakshana Samithis" (JSS) or Water Conservation Forums. These JSS groups take on the responsibility of constructing, maintaining, and managing the rainwater harvesting structures. ATREE-CERC provides necessary training and capacity-building support to these samithis, enabling them to build rainwater harvesting (RWH) structures and implement water security measures in the area effectively. This initiative not only ensures a dependable drinking water supply but also emphasises the significance of community engagement and local empowerment in addressing the water crisis in Kuttanad.

Through the SUJALAM project, we aim to

1. Form and provide training for 15 JSS.
2. Set up 280 RWH tanks, each with a capacity of 10,000 litres, designed to serve three families each.
3. Ensure access to safe drinking water for more than 3,360 families.
4. Promote water literacy among the general public.
5. Contribute to enhancing the health and sanitation status of the community.

OUTCOMES 

The first phase of the project has yielded transformative outcomes in Kuttanad. By extensively implementing RWH structures and actively engaging JSS, the region has witnessed a remarkable improvement in its drinking water security. The beneficiaries now enjoy consistent and dependable access to clean and safe drinking water. This has not only directly improved public health but also relieved the financial strain of buying drinking water and the physical effort required to fetch water from distant sources. Furthermore, the project has fostered a profound sense of community engagement and empowerment, as local residents actively participate in the management and upkeep of the RWH systems. 

BACKGROUND

The Venkateshpura Lake, situated within the Venkateshpura and Sampigehalli villages in the North Taluk of Bangalore, has experienced a continuous decline in water quality. This decline is attributed to the influx of untreated or partially treated wastewater and stormwater, leading to significant environmental degradation and challenges within the lake ecosystem.

PROBLEM

The lake is facing hyper eutrophication as a result of elevated nutrient levels. This condition has spurred an excessive growth of aquatic plants, disrupting the ecological balance and endangering the overall health of the lake ecosystem. Dissolved oxygen levels in the lake exhibit fluctuations throughout the day, dropping critically during the night (Figure 1). These fluctuations have resulted in frequent fish-kill events, indicating severe stress on the aquatic life due to inadequate oxygen levels.

SOLUTIONS

An in-depth water quality and hydrology baseline study was conducted to comprehend the sources and fate of contaminants in the lake. The external inflows significantly contribute to high nutrient loads, further degrading water quality. Additionally, sediment analysis revealed a substantial contribution to the total phosphorus load from internal processes.

To address the deterioration of lake water quality, the implementation of nature-based solutions has been proposed. Based on the baseline data, interventions, such as Floating Islands (FI) and constructed wetlands, were suggested to effectively mitigate nutrient loading and restore the ecological balance of the lake. Due to the lack of guidelines on the optimisation, operation and maintenance of floating islands, four systems were deployed at the lake (Figure 2). These islands act as biofilters, absorbing excess nutrients and promoting the growth of beneficial microbial communities.
 
OUTPUT

• Guidance manual for the operation and maintenance of FIs
• Full-scale design and deployment of nature-based solutions
• Co-creation of living labs
• Co-management of sewage treatment plants in the catchment with the communities (Resident Welfare Association)
• Educational programme for communities and school children

OUTCOMES 

• Improved dissolved oxygen (DO) levels and reduced fish-kill events at the lake
• Enhanced awareness of communities toward lake management by building stewardship through continued engagement
• Increased engagement of youth (school children) with the lake ecosystem
• Sustained efficiency and efficacy of interventions at the lake

BACKGROUND

Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) in India are largely dry forests and savannah biomes spread across the semi-arid climatic zone. They support rich and unique biodiversity, sequester high amounts of below-ground carbon and provide grazing and fodder for 50% of India's about 500 million livestock. Despite these critical roles, ONEs are highly threatened and rapidly diminishing due to misplaced policies, developmental activities and illegal mining. Currently, over 70% of ONEs are classified as ‘waste lands’ by the Indian government and prioritised for industrialisation instead of conservation. Urgent attention is required to reverse this trend.

PROBLEM

To address this issue, we have designed an ecological restoration project within the degraded ONEs of Bagepalli in Chikkaballapura district, Karnataka, falling within the proposed ‘Greater Bengaluru’. The species compositions are typical of the Southern Thorn Forests but exist in a highly degraded state, with large parts being invaded by Prosopis julifora and Lantana camara. Recent spikes in LPG prices across India have intensified the degradation processes and worsened climate change impacts by increasing the dependence on firewood. To reverse the degradation of ONEs, we propose a combined framework that includes controlling wild fire and implementing ecosystem restoration principles, including active invasive species management. 

OUTCOMES 

By implementing this framework, we aim to increase the abundance of native species and plant bioresources by 30%, while reducing the abundance of invasive species by 50%. The project will also combat climate change by increasing vegetation biomass, leading to carbon sequestration and decreasing wildfire driven greenhouse gas emissions. 

Our efforts will directly support the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which aims to halt and reverse nature loss, including putting 30% of the planet and 30% of degraded ecosystems under protection by 2030. 

On successful completion of the project, we expect to combat climate change threats by reversing ecosystem degradation, improving native biodiversity and providing income opportunities and improved bioresource-linked livelihood opportunities to the local vulnerable communities near Bengaluru.

BACKGROUND
Trees Outside Forests in India (TOFI) is a USAID-funded five-year project consortium comprising nine partner organisations. Launched in November 2021, it seeks to catalyse a substantial increase in tree cover outside of forests (TOF) by creating inclusive economic opportunities and enhancing ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration. The project is also committed to supporting several goals and international commitments of the Government of India, including the UNCCD’s 14th COP pledge to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land. ATREE serves as the knowledge partner in the TOFI consortium and is responsible for co-designing and undertaking site-specific, robust, problem-driven research in the seven TOFI states - Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Haryana, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh and disseminating the findings.  We had the opportunity to participate in a series of stakeholder consultations for the TOFI states, addressing financial and technical bottlenecks to enhance TOF expansion through agroforestry. We have currently identified three significant barriers to agroforestry: transition finance, a lack of diversity and quality planting materials (QPM) in all the TOFI states, and water availability in Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

SOLUTIONS
We developed case studies to investigate each of these barriers and we are currently working on a framework to enhance the participation of smallholder farmers in agroforestry.  We reviewed Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) models in India to understand their potential as a transition finance mechanism to encourage smallholder farmers to adopt agroforestry. PES is a largely untapped resource for agroecologically sensitive agroforestry as existing PES schemes focus on watershed or forest conservation. We also adapted Jaltol (a free, open-source water accounting tool) in collaboration with Well Labs to assess the hydrological implications of tree planting on farms through a scenario-based analysis. 

In addition, we are working on a decision support tool for restoration in collaboration with Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). D4R is a Decision Support System (DSS) that helps landowners and land managers decide what species to plant where, based on site conditions and the landowner’s restoration objectives. The tool uses an extensive tree species database incorporating agroecological, hydrological and other plant functional traits to recommend tree species for a given landscape. 

OUTCOMES 
We are evaluating species water requirements and agrobiodiversity factors as potential metrics for developing a PES scheme for agroforestry. We have conducted initial field assessments from agroforestry systems in Rajasthan to assess agrobiodiversity, soil carbon variations and tree transpiration rates. In addition, our initial insights from the Jaltol tool reveal that the water requirements for mango plantations are non-competing with the Kharif crops in the Central Karnataka Plateau, but coconut trees in the Tamil Nadu uplands exhibited a higher water demand than nearby crops throughout the year. This information can help inform the choice of agroforestry species by landowners in water-stressed areas. Consequently, we expect such tools to improve the implementation and success of agroforestry in small farms.

We expect to develop these case studies for TOFI and similar initiatives that target responsible TOF expansion, especially among smallholder farmers. By addressing water availability, transition finance, diversity and quality planting material, we intend to pave the way for a social-economical and ecologically sustainable change in land use practices.

ATREE, Royal Enclave, Sriramapura, Jakkur Post, Bangalore 560 064
Phone: +91-80-23635555 | www.atree.org | info@atree.org

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