Nagpur: State government will set up a Maharashtra Gene Bank (MGB) to document, preserve, and add value to native resources Community Which is conserving this rich diversity in the state, starting biodiversity conservation as a mass movement and involving folk ecologists in a scientific venture.
Started in 2014, the MGB project demonstrates the power of community-led conservation activities. To maintain and continue these in mission mode, the state will now involve these projects for funding. This will benefit local communities through traditional and scientific methods knowledge for sustainable development.
PCCF and Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board (MSBB) member secretary Praveen Srivastava said a report has been submitted to the state government. “At least 30 NGOs worked in the project and 130 workshops were conducted since 2014 after the project was launched,” he said. presentation on gene bank The report was done at a three-day conference in Pune from 21-23 September.
Funded by the Rajiv Gandhi Science and Technology Commission, it is a collaborative work of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune; National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa; National Center for Cytology (NCSS), Pune; Shivaji University, Kolhapur, and College of Fisheries, Ratnagiri. It also saw the participation of 13 NGOs, of which two (BAIF and CEE) are pan-India organisations.
Srivastava said that the project was conceptualized by eminent ecologist Dr Madhav Gadgil and it brings together grassroots community workers along with scientists from academic and research organisations.
“We have identified crop genetic diversity, sponges, livestock, grassland, freshwater aquatic fish, indigenous cow breeds such as Dangi, Lal Kandhari, Gaulau and Sangamneri, besides Burari goat and Satpudi fowl, to identify better animals for breeding. Prepared data on traditional knowledge. Objective. Modern genetic tools were also used to identify genetic relationships between different breeds. A Dangi Breeders Association has been formed for the conservation of the breed of cattle,” said Srivastava.
“We made special efforts to reach out to people and community-based organizations (CBOs) at the grassroots level, blending science and technology tools and scientific validation. Providing livelihood and nutritional benefits to marginalized communities and field evidenced and multi-disciplinary across the state. -Building institutional partnerships,” IISER’s Dr VS Rao, project coordinator told TOI.
“Over these six years, the project has helped in biodiversity documentation and conservation, livelihood generation, and sustainable use of resources in agricultural crops, native livestock breeds, grasslands, forest eco-restoration, management of forest produce, wild food plants, fresh has achieved significant contribution to the water, and marine ecosystem,” Rao said.
“We developed seed banks at the community level to exchange and conserve these resources, and market links were provided. Native livestock breeds are similarly climate-resilient and adapt themselves to the local harsh environment,” Rao said.
PCCF Srivastava said that the project has achieved conservation of grassland in about 2,000 hectares in Dhule, Hingoli and Washim districts across Maharashtra. This includes the conservation of abiotic resources such as soil and water as a result of increased grass cover in the area. At these sites 48 species of grass were documented and conserved.
Livelihood strengthening efforts were made during this project through activities related to fodder management. The region produces about 4,000 metric tons of palatable hay and this fodder availability is supporting about 3,000 cattle heads, belonging to about 1,000 livestock-keeping households.
Rao said biodiversity enhancement through environmental restoration activities was implemented in four districts of Maharashtra, covering about 1,200 hectares of Community Forest Rights (CFR) land. Knowledge of the ecology, propagation, usefulness and properties of 150 plant and animal species selected by local communities was also documented and verified.
The project has also documented androgenic and recreational activities along the coastline, which threaten coral and sponge species in the intertidal region. As part of this project, more than 2,000 bacteria associated with sponges were isolated.
Aquatic habitat restoration activity for conservation of indigenous fish diversity in Bhandara under MGB project. It continues in 23 tanks in three districts covering an area of 317 hectares. The net profit of fishermen from indigenous fish production increased by 2 to 12 times after housing development.
Started in 2014, the MGB project demonstrates the power of community-led conservation activities. To maintain and continue these in mission mode, the state will now involve these projects for funding. This will benefit local communities through traditional and scientific methods knowledge for sustainable development.
PCCF and Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board (MSBB) member secretary Praveen Srivastava said a report has been submitted to the state government. “At least 30 NGOs worked in the project and 130 workshops were conducted since 2014 after the project was launched,” he said. presentation on gene bank The report was done at a three-day conference in Pune from 21-23 September.
Funded by the Rajiv Gandhi Science and Technology Commission, it is a collaborative work of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune; National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa; National Center for Cytology (NCSS), Pune; Shivaji University, Kolhapur, and College of Fisheries, Ratnagiri. It also saw the participation of 13 NGOs, of which two (BAIF and CEE) are pan-India organisations.
Srivastava said that the project was conceptualized by eminent ecologist Dr Madhav Gadgil and it brings together grassroots community workers along with scientists from academic and research organisations.
“We have identified crop genetic diversity, sponges, livestock, grassland, freshwater aquatic fish, indigenous cow breeds such as Dangi, Lal Kandhari, Gaulau and Sangamneri, besides Burari goat and Satpudi fowl, to identify better animals for breeding. Prepared data on traditional knowledge. Objective. Modern genetic tools were also used to identify genetic relationships between different breeds. A Dangi Breeders Association has been formed for the conservation of the breed of cattle,” said Srivastava.
“We made special efforts to reach out to people and community-based organizations (CBOs) at the grassroots level, blending science and technology tools and scientific validation. Providing livelihood and nutritional benefits to marginalized communities and field evidenced and multi-disciplinary across the state. -Building institutional partnerships,” IISER’s Dr VS Rao, project coordinator told TOI.
“Over these six years, the project has helped in biodiversity documentation and conservation, livelihood generation, and sustainable use of resources in agricultural crops, native livestock breeds, grasslands, forest eco-restoration, management of forest produce, wild food plants, fresh has achieved significant contribution to the water, and marine ecosystem,” Rao said.
“We developed seed banks at the community level to exchange and conserve these resources, and market links were provided. Native livestock breeds are similarly climate-resilient and adapt themselves to the local harsh environment,” Rao said.
PCCF Srivastava said that the project has achieved conservation of grassland in about 2,000 hectares in Dhule, Hingoli and Washim districts across Maharashtra. This includes the conservation of abiotic resources such as soil and water as a result of increased grass cover in the area. At these sites 48 species of grass were documented and conserved.
Livelihood strengthening efforts were made during this project through activities related to fodder management. The region produces about 4,000 metric tons of palatable hay and this fodder availability is supporting about 3,000 cattle heads, belonging to about 1,000 livestock-keeping households.
Rao said biodiversity enhancement through environmental restoration activities was implemented in four districts of Maharashtra, covering about 1,200 hectares of Community Forest Rights (CFR) land. Knowledge of the ecology, propagation, usefulness and properties of 150 plant and animal species selected by local communities was also documented and verified.
The project has also documented androgenic and recreational activities along the coastline, which threaten coral and sponge species in the intertidal region. As part of this project, more than 2,000 bacteria associated with sponges were isolated.
Aquatic habitat restoration activity for conservation of indigenous fish diversity in Bhandara under MGB project. It continues in 23 tanks in three districts covering an area of 317 hectares. The net profit of fishermen from indigenous fish production increased by 2 to 12 times after housing development.
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