Project: Technical Support for People's Biodiversity Register (PBR) Creation

Providing technical expertise to document local biodiversity and create comprehensive PBRs across various jurisdictions in West Bengal, in collaboration with the West Bengal Biodiversity Board.

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Jurisdictions Supported

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The Need: Documenting Local Biodiversity

Effective conservation and sustainable development rely on a thorough understanding of local biodiversity. People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) serve as vital tools for systematically documenting the diversity of species, habitats, and traditional knowledge within specific regions.

Creating accurate and comprehensive PBRs requires technical expertise in field surveys, research, data compilation, and database management. This project aimed to provide that crucial technical support to local bodies mandated to create these registers under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

Our Role: Objectives & Technical Methods

As a Technical Supporting Group, our goal was to facilitate the creation of robust and usable PBRs by providing specialized skills and methodologies.

Project Objectives

  • Conduct field surveys and research to identify and document species, habitats, and ecosystems within designated areas.
  • Compile existing data through literature reviews and other sources.
  • Assist in developing user-friendly databases and potentially online platforms for PBR data management and sharing.
  • Help establish networks of stakeholders (like local communities, experts) for ongoing data collection and verification.
  • Provide training and capacity building to local teams for data management and conservation planning where required.

Core Activities (Methodology)

  • Executed systematic field surveys for biodiversity documentation.
  • Performed thorough literature reviews and compiled relevant existing ecological data.
  • Applied expertise in database design and development principles for organizing PBR information.
  • Facilitated data compilation and structuring for the registers.

Project Scope & Collaboration

Duration:
2019 - 2021 (Active support from Jan 15, 2020 onwards)
Geographical Focus:
Selected Municipalities, Blocks, and Zilla Parisad areas within Hooghly and North 24 Parganas districts, West Bengal.
Supported Jurisdictions:
  • Konnogar Municipality
  • Balagar Block
  • Chinsura Mogra Block
  • Uttarpara Kotrung Municipality
  • North Dum Dum Municipality
  • Bhadreswar Municipality
  • Hooghly Zilla Parisad
  • Rishra Municipality
  • Champdany Municipality
Primary Collaboration:
West Bengal Biodiversity Board (WBBB) and the respective local governing bodies (Municipalities, Blocks, Zilla Parisad).

Project Context Gallery

Illustrative visuals representing the PBR creation process. (Replace placeholders; specific project images unavailable from source PDF).

Biodiversity Documentation

Biodiversity Documentation

Illustrating the process of field surveys and species documentation for PBRs.

Data Management

Data Management

Representation of database creation and management for biodiversity data.

Stakeholder Collaboration

Stakeholder Collaboration

Symbolic image of collaboration with West Bengal Biodiversity Board and local bodies.

Project Outcomes & Significance

The primary outcome of this technical support was the successful creation or advancement of comprehensive People's Biodiversity Registers in the supported jurisdictions. These registers serve as:

  • Valuable Conservation Tools: Providing baseline data essential for improved conservation planning and management of local biodiversity.
  • Foundation for Research: Offering structured data that enhances opportunities for ecological research and development within these areas.
  • Support for Sustainable Development: Contributing to informed decision-making for sustainable resource utilization and development planning.
  • Fulfilment of Legal Mandate: Assisting local bodies in fulfilling their obligations under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

By providing technical expertise, this project played a crucial role in translating the legal requirement for PBRs into tangible, valuable resources for biodiversity conservation in West Bengal.

Ongoing Value of PBRs

The People's Biodiversity Registers developed through this collaborative effort remain valuable, living documents. Their ongoing maintenance, updating, and utilization by the West Bengal Biodiversity Board and local bodies are key to realizing their full potential for long-term conservation monitoring, research, and community-based environmental stewardship.