By Manika N., IUCN CEM Member, on 14 March 2024.
A landmark event in the world of conservation took place at the Kaziranga Convention Centre on March 12-13, bringing together a distinguished assembly of professionals to discuss the pivotal role of protected areas and the cutting-edge use of geospatial technologies in safeguarding biodiversity. The National Workshop on the Role of Protected Areas for Biodiversity Conservation – A Geospatial Perspective, steered by Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve, in collaboration with the Assam State Space Application Centre, Northeastern Space Applications Centre, Aaranyak and the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management, marked a significant stride towards integrating technology with traditional conservation efforts.
Dr. P.S. Roy, Senior Fellow at the World Resources Institute, India, delivered the keynote address. In his address, Dr Roy delved into the complexities of habitat destruction, climate change, and human-animal conflicts, underscoring the critical need for innovative solutions in biodiversity conservation.
In the first technical sessions on ‘climate change and it’s affect on protected areas’, Prof. Arup Sarma (IIT Guwahati), elaborated on the impacts of human activities on the environment and focused on the economic implications of climate change. Additionally, he gave an estimation of India’s Social Cost of Carbon. Dr Nirmali Gogoi (Tezpur University) explained the role that protected areas play in carbon cycling and the sequestration process.
The panel discussion of the workshop focused on the application of modern geospatial techniques in the conservation and management of Kaziranga National Park and other protected areas. The session was chaired by Dr S.P. Agarwal, Director of the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC), and Dr C. Patnaik, Scientist SAC/ISRO, Ahmedabad. The session featured insights from Dr K.K. Sarma, Dr Suchitra Devi, both from NESAC, Mr. Prasanna Boruah, ASSAC and Ms. Puja Sutodiya, Barpathar Tea Estate, Assam.
The second technical session, chaired by Dr Shalini Dhyani, Principal Scientist at CSIR-NEERI and Vice Chair Asia, IUCN- CEM, focused on habitat management, emphasising addressing challenges posed by invasive species, floods, and erosion control.
Dr Bibhuti Lahkar of Aaranyak and IUCN CEM shared his knowledge and experience in dealing with the various issues faced by protected areas. Dr N Manika, IUCN-CEM performed the role of rapporteur in the workshop.
Dr Sonali Ghosh, Director of Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve, and Dr. Shalini Dhyani moderated an interactive session about the challenges faced by protected areas, providing new insights into dealing with such issues. Participants agreed that it was time to use a variety of approaches and well-structured strategies to find ways out of the triple crisis.
The second day of the workshop was dedicated to a field visit to Kaziranga National Park. It featured a visit to a research facility inside the park, which contained an advanced eddy covariance system. This segment provided participants with a unique insight into the cutting-edge scientific research being conducted within the park, underlining the critical role of technology in conservation biology. This field visit also provided participants with a significant and culturally enriching opportunity to interact with the Karbi tribes, indigenous to the region.
A multifaceted approach to conservation was explored in the workshop. Through insightful discussions on geospatial technologies, innovative research presentations, field trips, and cultural immersions with Karbi tribes, participants were given a holistic view of biodiversity conservation. In addition to highlighting the importance of protected areas and technological advancements in conserving biodiversity, it also highlighted the importance of integrating indigenous knowledge and community involvement.