Webinars
Title: Bio indicators for Biodiversity Monitoring and Ecosystem Health
Speaker: Dr V.P. Uniyal
Wildlife Institute of India,
Chandrabani, Dehradun
Date: 24/05/2022
Link: link
Number of participants: 95
Abstract:
Bio-indicators include biological processes, species, or communities and are used to assess the quality of the
environment and how it changes over time. There is increasing demand to identify the bio-indicators corresponds
to the need to state an efficient and cost-effective means for the formulation, implementation and evaluation of
conservation policies. Changes in the environment are often attributed to anthropogenic disturbances (e.g.,
pollution, land use changes) or natural stressors (e.g. drought, late spring freeze). Understanding the response
of species to forest fragmentation and landscape modification is essential for ecological monitoring and also
for the formulation of effective conservation program and areas. Bio-indicator based ecological monitoring can
provide advanced warning of undesirable ecological change such as habitat degradation and alteration,
anthropogenic pressure and natural stressors, thus permit managers to adopt an adaptive management approach to
conserving biodiversity. Distributions of insects are strongly influenced by the vegetative cover,
fragmentation, physical structure, environmental elevation and also anthropogenic disturbances in forest
fragments severely affected composition and distribution of increase increasing the isolation of populations and
negatively affect the various ecological processes hence they can perform as a very excellent indicator of
ecosystem health and can be used for ecological monitoring.
Invitation:
Title: Water conservation through Sustainable approaches
Speaker: Dr. Harikumar PS, Sr. Principal Scientist, CWRDM
Date: 30/03/2022
Link: link
Number of participants: 80
Abstract:
The amount of water used in a country not only depends on minimum requirement and/or how much water is
available, but it also depends on the levels of economic development and urbanisation. People use water
for a wide variety of activities. It is difficult to estimate the amount of water essential to maintain
a minimum living standard. A person needs 1 or 2 litres of water per day to survive, and it is also
required for other domestic, industrial, and agricultural needs. Different agencies and organizations
have been proposed different amounts of water as the minimum standards. According to World Health
Organization (WHO), minimum “survival” allocation (sustainable for few days) of water is 7 litre
percapita per day (lpcd) and medium-term allocation (sustainable for few months) is 15-20 lpcd.
According to International norms set out by the agencies such as World Health Organization (WHO) and
UNICEF, minimum requirement of water is 20 litres per person per day from a source within 1 kilometres
of the household. This is sufficient for drinking and basic personal hygiene. But the average water use
of the countries varies from 10 to 575 lpcd, in which the highest water usage (575liters) reported for
United States and lowest (10 litres) for Mozambiquueis. In India, the average water usage for the
domestic needs is 135 lpcd. The water use and wastewater generation are interrelated. The volume of
wastewater generated by domestic, industrial, and commercial sources has also increased with population,
urbanization, improved living conditions, and economic development. It is the main cause of pollution of
rivers, lakes, and other natural water resources. Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering
Organization (CPHEEO) estimates, about 70-80% of total water supplied for domestic use gets generated as
wastewater. According to WHO (2006) from the total water use, 80% is discharged as wastewater. Much of
the daily-generated wastewater is recognized as greywater. The total volume of greywater from the
average household represents about 60% of the generated wastewater. Discharges of untreated greywater
often create pressure on the natural water bodies and deteriorate its quality. Assessment of the
existing or potential magnitude of wastewater and greywater management will provide a key to the policy
formulation or adjustment that may be needed. An understanding of the quantity and quality of the
wastewater is essential in the design and operation of collection, treatment, and reuse facilities and
in the management of environmental quality. Efficient wastewater management system together with the
conservation of water resources should be an important component for the implementation of any water
management policy.
Invitation:
Title: The lion-tailed macaque [LTM] conservation initiatives from the Central Western Ghats
Speaker: Dr. Honnavalli N. Kumara, Principal Scientist, SACON
Date: 04/03/2022
Link: link
Abstract:
The forests of Aghanashini Lion-tailed Macaque Conservation Reserve which inhabits the largest
population of LTM in the contiguous forest also have the highest rate of deforestation with a loss of 11.50%
of evergreen forests at the rate of 1.90% loss yearly. They coexist with about 15000 people. The reason for
this is the high dependence of people for firewood to process the rind of Garcinia gummi-gutta
conventionally, and the gradual conversion of the rainforest into agriculture. The consequence of this may
lead to fragmentation of habitat that may result in the largest population to smaller sub-populations. The
initiatives taken to address these issues are discussed.
Invitation:
Title: Nature-based Solutions (NbS), for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), & Climate Change
Adaptation (CCA)
Speaker: Dr. Shalini Dhyani, Senior Scientist, CSIR-NEERI
Date: 22/02/2022
link
Abstract:
Increasing climate variability and multi-dimensional vulnerabilities have severely affected the social,
ecological, and economic capacities of the people in the region. Climatic and anthropogenic risks, coupled
with weak and wavering capacities, severely impact the ecosystems and Nature's Contributions to People (NCP)
and, thereby, to human well-being. Nature-based Solutions (NBS) as a cost-effective approach utilizes
ecosystem and biodiversity services for addressing diverse societal challenges, while also providing a range
of co-benefits like sustainable livelihoods and food, water, and energy security etc. NBS can be used to
address and realize diverse global targets with active community participation.
Invitation:
Title: Mangroves never die: yet, understanding their resilience, succession and restoration is
critical
Speaker: Dr Nehru Prabakaran, DST-INSPIRE Faculty, Wildlife Institute of India
Date: 04/02/2022
link
Abstract:
Mangroves, a unique ecosystem that inhabits the ocean and land interface, play a critical part in
maintaining the coastal and marine biodiversity. Having inhabiting the inter-tidal zones in the densely
populated tropical coastal lines, mangroves are frequently subjected to a number of disturbance factors
related to human and natural sources. Especially, forest clearing for development and agriculture purposes
was reasoned for the continuous decline of mangroves globally. Additionally, management and conservation of
mangroves might see an uncertain future due to the sea-level rise. In this context, this talk will address a
few critical challenges for mangrove conservation globally and provide optimism for mangrove conservation in
India.
Invitation:
Title: Ecosystem Restoration to Meet Agenda 2030 -Conservation initiatives at TATA steel
Speaker: Dr Hishmi Jamil Husain, Head Biodiversity, Corporate Sustainability
Date: 24/01/2022
link
Abstract:
Nature's Dangerous Decline ‘Unprecedented' Species Extinction Rates ‘Accelerating' Current global
response insufficient. We need ‘Transformative changes' to restore and protect nature. More than 1,000,000
species threatened with extinction. Nature underpins our societies, our economics and our physical
wellbeing. Loss of nature has direct implications for us all who are depended heavily on nature. Nature
loss increases their vulnerability to natural disasters and climate change. Nature's decline directly
impacts on the security of future generations. Ecosystem restoration means preventing, halting and reversing
this damage to go from exploiting nature to healing it. Only with healthy ecosystems can we enhance people's
livelihoods, counteract climate change and stop the collapse of biodiversity. Recognizing the impact on
nature across all sectors, and the need to work together to restore it, is the first step for developing a
coalition for the nature and people agenda. Protecting and caring for nature is not simply a moral
responsibility; it is essential to our well-being, and indeed our survival. Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) are targets to tackle the world's most pressing social, economic and environmental challenges. SDGs
are developed by engaging with stakeholders including businesses. It make accountability of implementation
to all sectors with time bound targets taken by 2030. Which is also famous as Agenda 2030.
Invitation:
Title: The Jumbo science: Understanding the basics of elephant ecology
Speaker: Dr Sanjeeta Sharma Pokharel, Smithsonian Postdoctoral Fellow, Visiting Scientist @CES, IISc
Date: 04/1/2022
link
Abstract:
Wildlife ecology is one of the emerging branches of biology. The rapidly deteriorating natural habitats
necessitate understanding the wildlife present in such habitats and their conservation. One of the
megaherbivores that are highly susceptible to massive scales of ecological changes is elephants. In this
lecture, I will introduce basic concepts behind elephant biology, stress physiology and conservation-related
issues; highlighting the significance of the field ecology and wildlife biology.
Invitation:
Title: Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) and Wetland Restoration Using ICM Methodology
Speaker: Dr. Arun B. Inamdar, Professor (Retd.), CSRE, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Date: 10/12/2021
link
Abstract:
Conflicts between ‘need for immediate consumption of natural resources' and ‘need to ensure their long
term supply' has always been a sensitive issue across the globe, where burgeoning human population keeps
feeding on fast depleting natural resources. Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) is a powerful tool to
address conflicts arising out of our need to conserve coastal environment while balancing it with our
developmental needs. It's a process of governance comprising legal and institutional framework to ensure
that developmental plans for coastal zones are integrated with environmental goals and made with
participation of those affected. Most importantly, its logical, transparent, science based and highly
effective, if strictly followed. Although its highly recommended by UN and IPCC for implementation in
management of our coastal resources, the ICM methodology can be very easily applied in any conflict
resolution that involves two or more entities with incompatible views regarding any issue, but ready to
agree on certain principles for conflict resolution and looking for an amicable settlement in a democratic
and scientific way. As an example, we consider the case of a dying wetland in Mumbai that is in dire need of
attention for several decades and is currently being considered for a recreational project by the civic
authorities. We discuss how best ICM methodology can be applied to restore and manage the wetland in a most
effective way to cater to the needs of the public while addressing the environmental needs.
Invitation:
Title: Geospatial technology for Biodiversity: Applications, prospects and new directions
Date: 08/10/21
Speaker: Dr. Sudhakar Reddy C, Head, Forest Biodiversity and Ecology Division, National Remote
Sensing Centre, Indian Space Research Organisation, Hyderabad, Telangana.
link
Abstract:
This presentation covers information on current status of geospatial technology and its applications for
biodiversity conservation. The twenty-first century has already shown ever accelerating advances in
technology that are transforming our daily lives. Assessing, monitoring and reporting on biodiversity are
important activities intended for sustainable management. There is a need for high-quality, reliable,
continual and real-time data to track and understand the status of biodiversity and its drivers is at its
greatest. Rapid developments in the fields of geospatial technology can provide the datasets necessary for
research and conservation. Earth Observations through remote sensing is the only technology able to provide
a global coverage and continuous measures across space. Remote sensing is at the interface between
engineering, geography, ecology and various other disciplines. Remote sensing has gained significance due to
its capability to monitor compositional, structural and functional aspects of biodiversity at global to
local levels. It provides relevance of remote sensing in measuring of biodiversity metrics and understanding
of land cover distribution, forest cover monitoring, forest type, forest intactness, forest fragmentation,
biomass, leaf phenology, disturbances, species distribution and various biodiversity monitoring components.
Future of geospatial technology largely involves the integration of artificial intelligence and advanced
image processing techniques.
Invitation:
Title: Climate Change and Covid-19: The Zoonotic Linkage
Speaker: Dr. Krishna Raj, Professor, Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bengaluru,
Karnataka, India
Date: 03/09/21
link
Abstract:
The interrelationship between climate change, public health and Covid-19 is well established in the
literature. The growing scientific evidences show that the corona virus is zoonotic or spillover in nature
and which can be transmitted to humans from animals. The public health is increasingly affected by the
growth of vector-borne diseases influenced by climate change, loss of biodiversity, habitat fragmentation,
land-use change, domestication of the wild animals, bringing the unwanted pathogens into the human body. The
Economic Cost of Climate change is pervasive and increasingly observed on Public health in the recent
Covid-19 pandemic. The world is facing an inconvenient truth where the economic development is promoted at
the cost of public health and environmental destruction. This begs a very genuine question, Economic
Development for whom? and at Whose cost? and How does Climate Change impose Health and Economic Costs on the
general Public ?
Invitation:
Title: Diatoms: Ecological perspective
Speaker: Dr. Praksh Nautiyal, Professor, HNBGU, Uttarakhand
Date: 09/07/21
link
Abstract:
The knowledge on mountain ecosystem is still inadequate. High mountain regions are strategic areas for
biodiversity conservation and for water and energy supply and the creation of the worldwide databases on
mountains is considered a principal goal contributing to the sustainable development of these areas. Studies
help to understand how the various species of diatoms are distributed along the environmental gradients,
which change rapidly in the mountains and therefore help in understanding the ecological processes, which
govern the biodiversity in the mountain regions.
Invitation:
Title: Great Lakes Eco-Systems
Speaker: Dr. Rajasekara Murthy, Scientist Emeritus, National Water Research Institute, Govt. of
Canada
Date: 28/06/21
link
Abstract:
The concept of sustainable living, suggests that the society move from an exclusive, sectoral approach
to valuing and using natural assets to an integrated approach: “Eco-System Approach” The concept of
ecosystem approach for sustainable living recognizes humans are integral parts of the ecosystems in which
they live and work. The concept of sustainable development recognizes humans are integral parts of the
ecosystems they live and work. The Great Lakes is the source of drinking water for over forty million
inhabitants around the perimeter of Canada and USA. The waters of the Great Lakes are interconnected and
part of a single hydrologic system. The multiple uses of these resources for municipal, industrial and
agriculture, mining, navigation, hydroelectric power generation, recreation, and the sustenance of fisheries
and wildlife habitat , a balanced ecosystem approach is very much needed to protect and preserve these vital
water resources.
Invitation: