Introduction of BCRLIP
Biodiversity Conservation and Rural Livelihood Improvement Project (BCRLIP) aims at conserving biodiversity in selected landscapes, including protected areas/critical conservation areas, while improving rural livelihoods through participatory approaches. Implementation of Joint Forest Management (JFM) and eco-development in some States has produced models of new approaches to provide benefits to both conservation and local communities. The project intends to build on these models and expand lessons to other globally significant sites in the country to strengthen linkages between biodiversity conservation and livelihood security of proximate communities as well as to enhance the local and national economy. The Project is being implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, amounting to US$ 30.52 million, spread over six years.
The project is to be implemented/completed in six years (13th.July, 2011 to 12th July, 2017) with the following outlay:
US $ 15.36 million ( Rs. 69.13cr) (IDA)
US $ 08.14 million ( Rs. 36.61cr) (GEF)
US $ 06.06 million ( Rs. 27.28cr) (GOI and States)
US $ 0.96 million ( Rs. 4.33cr) (Beneficiaries)
Total US $ 30.52 million ( Rs. 137.35cr)
The preparatory phase of the project (PPP) commenced on 1st July, 2005 and was completed on 31st.December, 2007. The Project was negotiated with the World Bank on 22-23, March, 2011 and was approved by the W.B. Board on 17th May, 2011. Its legal document was signed on 14th June, 2011 thereby making project effective on 13th July, 2011.
The Project would be implemented by the Forest/Wildlife Department of the respective State Government through the Society based on site-specific landscape plans involving sectoral integration at two identified landscapes falling in Gujarat and Uttarakhand, three Field Learning Centers (Kerala, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu) and national capacity centre at WII. The Conservation and Survey Division in the Ministry of Environment & Forest would be overseeing and coordinating the Project at the country level.
Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), Government of India, has launched BCRLIP with aims to conserving Biodiversity in selected landscapes, including wildlife protected areas/critical conservation areas while improving rural livelihoods through participatory approaches. The project intends to build on these models and expand lessons to other globally significant sites in the country to strengthen linkages between conservation and improving livelihoods of local communities that live in the neighborhood of biodiversity rich areas-as well as to enhance the local and national economy.
At the National level, the Project will seek to distil and disseminate good practice through structured learning to a wide range of stakeholders to build the institutional capacity for adoption of landscape-level conservation approaches and successful landscape conservation models nationwide.
• To develop and promote new models of conservation at the landscape scale through enhanced capacity and institution building for mainstreaming biodiversity conservation outcomes.
• Strategy Improving policies, tools, methodologies, knowledge and skills for developing multi-stakeholder partnerships that support mainstreaming of biodiversity conservation objectives, improving rural livelihoods, enhancing learning and replication of successful participatory conservation models, improving cost-effectiveness and sustainable funding for conservation of biodiversity at landscape level.
The Second Component will support improved knowledge and capacity building on learning and experience from the two demonstration landscapes and other local conservation models. (a) This component will support different sites and centers of Project to provide hands-on training through cross visits, exchange assignments, work experience and training sessions, and distillation of conservation best practice; and (b) National capacity-building program through the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) to facilitate the promotion of landscape conservation approaches nationwide.
The Third Component would support the further testing and replication of landscape conservation approaches to two additional high biodiversity landscapes from the third year onwards with project financing. The two additional sites will be selected to demonstrate specific aspects of landscape conservation.
The Fourth Component will support coordination for landscape conservation at the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF). Activities to be financed include establishment of Management Information System (MIS) for project and landscape monitoring, impact evaluation, and limited operational and technical support to enable MOEF to coordinate and administer the implementation of project activities and facilitate replication elsewhere in India.
The Project is implemented by the Forest/Wildlife Department of the respective State Government through the Society based on site-specific landscape plans involving sectoral integration at two identified landscapes falling in Gujarat and Uttarakhand and three Field Learning Centers (Kerala, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu) and national capacity centre at WII (Wildlife Institute of India). The Conservation and Survey Division in the MoEF would be overseeing and coordinating the Project at the country level.
1. Little Rann of Kutch landscape, Gujarat
2. Askot landscape, Uttarakhand
3. Gir Field Learning Centre, Gujarat
4. Periyar Field Learning Centre, Kerala
5. Kalakad Mundanthurai Field Learning Centre, Tamil Nadu
6. Satpura Landscape, Madhyapradesh
7. Agasthyamalai Landscape, Kerala & Tamilnadu
1. Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, New Delhi
2. State Forests Departments (Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand)
3. International Development Agency (IDA)
4. Global Environment Facility (GEF)
5. Beneficiaries including local stakeholders