Emerging model of ecosystem services and effective governance through scalable technological solutions around protected areas: Sharing experiences from India

Abstract

Present paper aims to discuss innovative features and “systems approach” adopted in implementing technology-driven developmental programme on “People and Protected Areas (PPA): Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods in Partnership with Local Communities” in India. This programme was jointly implemented at pilot scale by Science for Equity, Empowerment & Development (SEED) Division, Department of Science and Technology (DST), GOI and WWF-India during 2009 to 2012–13 in a network mode promoting innovative process mechanisms to enhance local livelihoods for communities living around 13 Protected Areas (PAs) in diverse ecological areas. In such initiatives, on an average 40–45 % reduction in fuel wood consumption was reported at various sites by introduction of renewable energy technologies like bio-globules, and improved cooking devices etc. Such need-based interventions have helped to build confidence among the members of the community as they were able to adopt simple technologies providing livelihood benefits, reduced carbon footprints as well as better quality of life. Findings of field-based action research programme suggests that participatory technological appropriation and transfer (PTAT) involving community is a necessary process for effective adaptation and governance to develop diverse and sustainable livelihood models for replication at the local level. Such process mechanism will have an impact not only on improving quality of life with livelihoods diversification, but also enable adoption of better conservation practices for sustainable use of forest resources in and around PAs. Paper suggests that the “people centred approach” for need-based technological interventions by adopting “system design” starting with the people and with lateral contribution from Science & Technology (S&T) Knowledge Hubs and close interface with field-based voluntary organizations/conservation groups can led to better impact outreach of developmental projects to evolve and deliver innovative models for conservation and sustainable livelihoods gains at local as well as global level. Adoption of such process mechanism of governance at local level not only help to integrate conservation and livelihood around PAs, but also shows that local/tribal communities and PAs can exist in a progressive society, while, ensuring mutual benefits toward ecosystem services and contributing toward mitigating climate change.