This biannual newsletter of the GoI-UNDP assisted project provides an update of project activities aimed at improving the quality of interventions.

The study, ‘Biodiversity Conservation, Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) Programmes – Ideas for Implementation’, was undertaken to identify pertinent and emerging issues that have implications for biodiversity conservation and livelihoods and the interrelationship between them. A detailed review of the current national and state policies was undertaken along with the strategies being implemented by the government and various multi-lateral and bi-lateral agencies and other organizations, focused especially in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa as provided in the scope of the study. Consultations were carried out with various stakeholders – academicians, key experts, members of non-governmental organizations, research institutions and senior officials in the Central/ State forest departments in the related field. Based upon these, the report attempts to come up with suggestions for programmatic action to address the problems related to land use, land use change and forestry issues.

The assignment was conducted between December 2007 and April 2008, wherein the desk review and consultations with various stakeholders in each state were conducted. Through the review of the policy frameworks at national and state level, particularly that influencing biodiversity conservation and livelihoods, we have attempted to highlight the several strengths and gaps. Through the review of the strategies and learnings from various programmes of government, bilateral agencies and civil society organizations, we also highlight what works and what doesn’t and provide suggestions and steps that may be taken up through various programmes in the next few years.

While there is a growing appreciation that biodiversity needs to be conserved, attempts are isolated either through policy prescriptions or in programmatic action. The issue of land use and conservation of biodiversity not only requires specific attention but also needs to be taken up as a cross-cutting agenda in all development programmes. There are sufficient programmes promoting improvement in pro-poor livelihoods, the intricate relation between biodiversity conservation and poverty as a safety net deserves appreciation. The programmatic ideas for addressing cross-cutting issues in biodiversity conservation and livelihoods promotion suggested are as follows:

Identifying, conserving and protecting the important biodiversity areas

Conservation outside protected areas

Strengthening community institutions to promote biodiversity conservation

Promoting livelihoods that support biodiversity conservation

Strengthening conservation needs in important sectors like agriculture, livestock, fisheries and horticulture

Promoting eco-tourism to protect biodiversity Strengthening small scale production systems at the household level Developing the capacity for biosafety to substantially reduce the impact on biodiversity of invasive alien species and genetically modified organisms Promoting trade practices that support biodiversity conservation Assessment and inventorisation of biological diversity Promoting biodiversity to combat climate change The study has been carried out by the Foundation for Ecological Security, Anand, Gujarat. The Foundation for Ecological Security works towards the ecological restoration and conservation of land and water resources and setting in place the processes of coordinated human effort and governance towards that end. The report is an independent publication commissioned by United Nations Development Programme. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the United Nations or UNDP.