The IMWBES project is funded under Global Environment Facility (GEF). The GEF Trust Fund (GEFTF), has sanctioned a budget equivalent to Rs. 31.13 crores over a period of five years.

      

            The three wetlands included in the project are Sasthamcotta Lake in Kerala, Harike Lake in Punjab and Kabartal in Bihar. Out of the GEFTF, a total budget equivalent to Rs. 19.02 crore has been allocated for the said three wetlands, to be given equally to all the three States.

 

The following activities have been undertaken till date:

 

• As a part of project inception, the project results framework, monitoring indicators and activity plan have been updated to incorporate developments since project approval. Project baselines have been updated. A Project Management Unit (PMU) and National Project Steering Committee (NPSC) have been constituted.
• Two brochures have been developed – a) the IMWBES project brochure summarizing the key project elements, and b) Identifying and Managing Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Site).
• Ramsar Information Sheets (RIS) for 16 Ramsar Sites have been updated and submitted to the Ramsar regional team.
• The PMU conducted a technical appraisal of the Integrated Management Plans submitted by State Governments, especially analysing the incorporation of ecosystem services and biodiversity values and mapping the interventions with the threats.
• Further, the works on the three demonstration sites by designing a framework for updating existing management plans and disbursing funds to the State Governments of the three demonstration sites was initiated.

 

This information was given by Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change in Rajya Sabha today.

 

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HRK

(Release ID: 1797152)