prepared in 2002 . updated released in 2021 because of Nagoya 10th cop summit and India commitment to CBD during 2010-2020 . hence national institute of public finance and policy drafted it .
hp strategy and acting plan on climate change 2012 complemts it .
1. Wild Flora and Fauna
i. Protected Areas (PAs)
- Need for re-strategizing of PAs through spatial analysis to determine changes in forest cover using remote sensing applications.
- Adoption of participatory resource management strategy across all PAs in the state.
- Undertake training and awareness campaigns for local governance bodies and community members.
- Identify opportunities for networking in the context of biodiversity conservation.
ii. Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC)
- Develop a comprehensive database for HWC along with nature and extent of conflicts.
- Conduct district-wise scientific investigation on:
- Richness of wild animals
- Habitat characteristics
- Land-use patterns
- Availability of prey species
- Key interventions:
- Plant more fruiting trees in forests to reduce crop raiding
- Identify grazing zones and mark them
- Revive degraded uphill pasturelands for animals like Ibex and blue sheep
- Periodically clear shrubs to allow free movement of animals
iii. Forest Fires
- Strengthen data on forest fire, especially documenting causes of increased incidents.
- Conduct gap analysis of current forest fire management (fire stations, equipment, manpower).
- Explore Fire Danger Rating System to assess daily fire potential based on fuel, weather, topography, etc.
- Provide training to local communities for prescribed burning.
iv. Restoration Potential
- Explore suitability of ROAM methodology developed by WRI.
- Identify native tree species and associated value chain for:
- Livelihood diversification
- Income generation for local communities
v. Preparation of People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs)
- Expedite preparation of PBRs as per Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
- Supplement PBRs with regular scientific surveys to update key threatened, critical, endangered, vulnerable, and rare species.
vi. Wildlife Crime
- Identify gaps in staff training and funding based on security audits.
- Design training modules for enforcement agencies.
vii. Invasive Alien Species
- Involve cottage industries and incentivize them to utilize invasive species.
- Examples:
- Lantana Camara → bioethanol fuel
- Fresh root of Ageratina Adenophora → antibacterial qualities
viii. Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS)
- Identify BHS with active involvement of local institutions and communities.
- Use GIS mapping to delineate boundaries.
ix. Database
- Strengthen ENVIS HP portal to serve as a repository of credible biodiversity data.
- Include endangered, extinct, rare, threatened, vulnerable species and trends in species composition.
x. In-situ Conservation
- Identify sites for restoration for conservation of native species.
- Plan for long-term environmental monitoring.
- Preserve traditional knowledge regarding crop breeding, especially for economically important crops.
xi. Ex-situ Conservation
- Conserve genetic diversity of threatened flora and fauna.
- Strengthen seed banks for seed and germplasm collection.
xii. Cultivation of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs)
- Introduce a focused program to create a value chain through partnership between industry and local communities.
- Target commercially viable MAPs at risk due to unscientific extraction.
2. Agriculture and Biodiversity
i. Organic Farming
- Introduce support programs for niche organic products:
- Peas, Kala Jeera, Wild Garlic, Kuth, Kutki
- Focus on branding, labelling, and marketing.
ii. Community Seed Banks
- Establish community seed banks to:
- Make local varieties available to farmers
- Monitor quality seed production
- Respond to threats to plant genetic resources due to climate change
iii. Fodder Management
- Revive degraded pasturelands regularly using native species.
- Establish fodder banks in alpine areas:
- Help local communities in winter
- Reduce pressure on grazing lands
iv. Irrigation
- Promote khuls (traditional irrigation), rainwater harvesting, solar energy, and pumps.
- Revise small hydro power policy to address diversion of water from micro irrigation systems like Kuhls.
v. Agro-forestry
- Use agro-forestry to rehabilitate degraded land in line with existing crops and livestock needs.
- Set up high-tech nurseries in higher altitudes to provide viable planting material.
vi. Bio-control Agents
- Promote bio-control agents.
- Provide on-farm training for proper Pesticide Application Technology to ensure:
- Minimum residue
- Reduced pesticide risk
vii. Adaptation towards Climate Change
- Map fragile ecosystems and demarcate as “No-go zones”.
- Ensure availability of:
- Drought resilient seeds
- Public health measures for heatwaves, cold-waves, vector-borne diseases
- Disaster risk reduction strategies
- Water management
- Climate-smart agriculture
3. Animal Husbandry and Biodiversity
i. Promoting Genetic Diversity
- Strengthen conservation and promotion of indigenous animal species.
ii. Stray Cattle Management
- Involve local institutions and communities for effective stray cattle management.
- Design mechanisms to identify and punish defaulters who abandon unproductive cattle.
iii. Diseases among Livestock
- Conduct studies to identify diseases, causes, and etiological agents.
- Assess impact of these diseases on bovines across districts.
iv. Diseases among Migratory Livestock
- Ensure compulsory vaccination of cattle before grazing uphill by nomadic/semi-nomadic communities.
- Prevent spread of diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease.
v. Yak Population
- Facilitate artificial insemination using yak semen in remote regions to increase yak population.
vi. Fodder Management
- Train farmers to improve nutritive value and taste of crop residues as feedstock.
- Example: 21-day treatment process by ICRISAT, Karnataka.
vii. Grazing Policy
- Formulate a Grazing Policy to outline management and development guidelines for pasturelands in the state.
4. Aquatic Biodiversity
i. Wetlands
- Identify degraded wetlands and develop site-specific restoration plans.
ii. Revival of Fish Species
- Strengthen fish brood banks, especially for native species like mahseer.
- Explore designating deep river pools as fish sanctuaries in consultation with Fisheries Department.
iii. Construction of Dams
- Conduct E-flows assessment to determine river health.
- Ensure compliance of hydropower projects with lean season water flow mandates.
- Make small flow regime adjustments during hydro peaking to conserve shoreline and riverbed habitats.
iv. Fish Movement
- Mandate channels and structures to prevent obstruction of fish movement through dams.
v. Pollution
- CPCB identified 7 polluted river stretches in HP.
- Actions needed:
- Study gap between sewage generation and STP capacity
- Plan additional pipelines to treat effluents before river disposal
- Public involvement in reporting industrial discharges
5. Microbial Diversity
i. Microbial Diversity Database
- Document microbial diversity across aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
- Prepare web-based curated database.
ii. Application of Microbes in Farming
- Utilize Plant Growth Promoting Microbes (PGPM) as substitute for agri-xenobiotics.
iii. Conservation of Aquatic Microbial Diversity
- Include microbial biodiversity in project impact assessments.
- Develop indicators to monitor microbial diversity.
iv. Direct-fed Microbes
- Explore Direct-fed Microbes to augment indigenous cattle performance.
6. Tourism
i. Ecotourism
- Capacity building for local communities in “high-value, low-impact” tourism.
- Converge Forest Department Ecotourism Policy and Tourism Department Policy.
ii. Carrying Capacity
- Conduct carrying capacity studies to limit tourists in ecologically fragile areas.
iii. Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES)
- Explore PES model to incentivize community participation in biodiversity conservation.
iv. Impact Assessment
7. Economic Valuation and Natural Capital Accounting
i. Economic Valuation of Biodiversity
- Focus on economic valuation of bio-resources for Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) mechanism.
- Support studies for measurement of economic value of state bio-resources for appropriate benefit-sharing.
ii. Natural Capital Accounting
- Explore application of Natural Capital Accounting across all sectors in HP.
8. Education, Awareness, and Training
i. Environmental Education
- Mainstream environmental studies in education to increase biodiversity awareness.
ii. Awareness through Communication Media
- Promote awareness via short films, documentaries, and print media.
iii. Community-Based Natural Resource Management
- Promote collaboration among:
- Self-governing bodies (Praja Mandals, Panchayats)
- VDFCs, JFMCs
- Local administration
- Research institutes and NGOs
iv. Development of Portal
- Develop a portal to document and share national & international best practices for functionaries and stakeholders.
9. Policies, Laws, and Institutions
i. Procurement of Green Products
- Develop sustainable public procurement manuals for line departments.
- Encourage procurement of green products using life-cycle costing.
ii. Community Participation
- Explore Adaptation Coalition Framework (ACF) to create community institutions for long-term climate resilience.
- Facilitate coalitions/alliances of local communities and mobilize human, social, and financial assets.
iii. Investment in Agricultural Research
- Increase investment in:
- Agricultural research, infrastructure, technology development
- Plant gene banks
iv. Regional Cooperation
- Promote regional cooperation between Himalayan states.
- Strengthen existing mechanisms and explore new agreements.
SBSAP Resource Mobilisation Strategy Notes
Overview
- Total Additional Funding Required: ₹51.795 crore per annum for SBSAP implementation
- Finance needs assessment: Detailed in Table 7.1 of the report
- Seven strategic approaches identified for mobilising additional funds
Strategy 1: Leveraging Existing Sources
Key Programs to Utilize
- CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority)
- MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act)
- PKVY (Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana)
- RKVY (Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana)
- KUSUM (Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan)
- NMSA (National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture)
Implementation Approach
- Build synergies between SBSAP and existing state programs
- Convince line departments to incorporate SBSAP action points in annual programs
- Establish inter-departmental group for coordination
- Develop annual/multi-year plans before budget finalization
Strategy 2: Rationalisation of User Charges & CSR
Protected Areas (PA) Revenue Enhancement
- Revise entry fees based on:
- Demand for the PA
- Pristine nature and services offered
- Establish Local Trust Fund for each PA
- Levy conservation cess on tourism activities in 4-5 sq km area around PAs
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Improvement
Current Challenges:
- Long gestational period
- Poor awareness
- Intangible results
Solutions:
- Strengthen awareness strategies through SBB
- Develop project pipeline in priority areas
- Collaborate with IBBI and other associations/federations
Strategy 3: Levy Charges on Identified Sectors
Land Acquisition & Development Fund (LADF) and District Mineral Fund (DMF)
- Earmark up to 50% of annual accruals for biodiversity conservation
- Route through existing Environment Fund
Tourism Biodiversity Cess
- Levy 5-8% on revenue from tourism activities
- Apply irrespective of department involved
Strategy 4: Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS)
Current Status
- Highly underutilised revenue source in India and HP
- Potential remains untapped
Recommended Actions
- Conduct detailed study on ABS potential and implementation challenges in HP
- Encourage bio-prospecting proactively
- Ensure equitable distribution of conservation benefits
- Link sustainable resource use with conservation funding
Strategy 5: Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES)
Mechanism Overview
- Market-based approach linking geographically disparate providers and beneficiaries
- Puts price on un-priced services like climate regulation, water quality, wildlife habitat
- Integrates ecosystem services into wider economy
HP Policy Framework (2013)
Eligible Ecosystem Services:
- Soil erosion control
- Sediment load reduction
- Fire control
- Water discharge in streams and springs (especially potable water)
- Carbon sequestration
- Rehabilitation of weed-infested areas
- Organic and conservation agriculture
- Conservation horticulture
- Pollination and biodiversity conservation
Potential Funding Sources
- International donors
- Impact investment funds
- Private donors
Strategy 6: Carbon Credits
Market Opportunity
- Creates market for reducing greenhouse emissions
- Assigns monetary value to pollution costs
- NITI Aayog estimates: India can access USD 50-60 billion through natural farming and agroecology
HP Implementation Opportunities
- Pangi in Chamba: Already practices natural farming
- SECURE Landscape: Part of area follows natural farming
- Restoration programmes: Potential source for earning carbon credits
- Register environment-friendly practices and initiatives
Strategy 7: Financial Technology (Fintech)
Benefits
- Increases breadth and depth of conservation finance
- Reduces transaction costs
- Improves economic efficiency
- Overcomes scale issues
- Works effectively at retail level
Technology Advantages
- Reduces cost of:
- Transactions
- Credit investigation
- Resource matching
- Proven success stories available
Recommended Application
- SBB should explore fintech solutions for addressing man-animal conflicts
Key Implementation Considerations
Coordination Requirements
- Inter-departmental collaboration essential
- Budget planning alignment across line departments
- Stakeholder awareness and engagement
Success Factors
- Strategic partnerships with existing programs
- Innovative financing mechanisms
- Technology integration for efficiency
- Market-based approaches for sustainability
Monitoring and Evaluation
- Track fund mobilisation progress
- Assess impact of each strategy
- Adjust approaches based on performance data