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Thursday, February 12, 2015
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Inputs as Invited Expert for coastal research, Central Agricultural Research Institute, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Approach
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Performance
measure
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Goal 1
# Resource Inventory of coastal salt affected soils
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Generation of credible
database on distribution and extent of different types of soil and water
resources as well as the degradation status of soils using latest technology
of remote sensing and GIS.
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·
Creation of
databank for short, medium and long term planning for soil and land use
planning for the coastal ecosystem
·
Classification
of coastal problem soils as per soil health index to be worked out will be
helpful to plan for sustainable productivity in the long run
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Goal
# 2: Agriculture sector ─
Natural resource management
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Strategy for arresting
land degradation through suitable soil & water management, mulching with
organic farm wastes and other low cost materials.
Location specific low
cost integrated plant nutrient management using local organic wastes
including vermi-composting,
green manuring, etc., and bio-fertilizers
Use of sea weeds in
coastal land management
Promotion of organic
agriculture
Amelioration of coastal
problem soils like, acid sulphate soils, sodic soils in coastal areas with
suitable amendments.
Management of coastal
wetlands
Evolving improved/
alternate and integrated farming systems
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·
Improve
soil productivity in terms of crop yield and better soil health
·
Improvement of productivity of crops
and health of degraded soils
·
Managing
wasteland in coastal areas for better uses
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Integrated plant nutrient system
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·
Improvement of nutrient use
efficiency
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Ensuring improved soil health and
sustainability in yield with integrated nutrient management practices under
adverse soil and ecological conditions
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Improved soil and water management
techniques for crop production in the salt affected and flood prone areas
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·
Enhancement of crop water productivity to maximize benefit under salt
and waterlogged stress situations
·
Enhancement of resource use
efficiencies
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Introduction of land shaping techniques under low land situations |
·
Alleviation of the problems of water logging
and salinity build-up
·
Rain water harvesting to supply fresh
irrigation water during scarcity period
·
Converting land from mono-cropping to
multiple cropping round the year and enhancing crop production
·
Crop diversification and enhancing
cropping intensity
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River water dynamics, soil & water salinity, and sedimentation load at specified grid intervals |
·
Will help in preparing
spatial and temporal variability of soil salinity and other relevant
parameters in relation to river water hydrology and sedimentation
·
Appropriate strategies
to be adopted for regulating river water flow to minimize increase in soil
salinity
·
Sedimentation load in
relation to river water hydrology will suggest drainage problems particularly
in the coastal lowlands
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Working out demand and availability of coastal water sources for their optimal use |
·
Demand and availability
of coastal water from different river basins should be worked out and
optimized for use under various domestic, agriculture and industrial sectors
on watershed basis. The water budget so prepared should be aimed at: a)
increasing crop productivity for every unit of water; b) increasing potential
groundwater supply through artificial recharge methods; c) concentrating on
economic activities where the value of water is very high; and d) getting
water transfers from the water-rich basins.
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Optimal use of surface and subsurface water for arresting salinization of soil |
·
Use of subsurface water for large
scale irrigation and other practices should be moderated or minimized through
application of suitable ‘optimization models’ in order to arrest intrusion of
aquifer containing saline water landward
·
For aquifer in the coastal alluvia
the artificial recharge, which is estimated to be about 10-15 % of the
rainfall amount may be aimed instead at
arresting salt water intrusion landward or pushing the zone further seawards,
and thereby reversing any trend for landward movement.
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Creation of Integrated water management facilities through water harvesting in the pond on community basis |
·
Introduction of on-farm reservoir
(OFR) technology for creating water resources and mitigation of drainage
problems
·
Adoption of suitable flood protection
and drainage measures
·
Enhancement of cropping intensity and
food production
·
Create opportunities for inland
fisheries and integrated farming practices
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Conjunctive use of poor quality water along with harvested rain water |
·
Multiple crop cultivation under
scarcity of fresh water situation
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Desalinated water use and alternate energy use for irrigation and other agricultural operations |
·
Attempt should be made to explore
production of desalinated water through distillation, reverse osmosis, and
electrolysis, most of which are yet to be cost-effective though
technologically sound.
·
Alternate energy sources, such as
wind, solar and wave, available in
abundance along the coast should be harnessed, in place of fossil fuel, through use of
cost-effective technologies.
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Construction of protective embankments |
·
Prevention of frequent flooding and
intrusion of saline water in the agricultural fields during high tides
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Drainage improvement by proper leveling of crop fields and by installing appropriately designed sluice gates, and their proper maintenance |
·
Enhancement of crop production and
improved crop security
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Sluice gates to drain out excess
water and simultaneously to prevent intrusion of saline water into the
cultivated fields
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The dynamics of alluvial landscapes and natural sedimentation patterns that determine the nutrient and energy flows in coastal areas are increasingly being modified by human activities, in particular those that affect water flows (dams, increased water extraction, deviation of rivers) and erosion, especially due to deforestation. This prevents or slows down vertical accretion, thus aggravating salt water intrusion and impairing drainage conditions in riverine, delta or estuarine areas. It reduces or blocks sediment supply to the coast itself, which may give rise to the retreat of the coastline through wave erosion. Beach erosion is a growing problem and affects tourism revenue, especially in island nations. |
·
Desiltation
of river, estuaries and drainage channels will help improvement of drainage,
prevention from salt water intrusion and flooding of land.
·
Beach erosion may be substantially
reduced through appropriate measures against erosion
·
Human activities such as construction
of dams, diversion of water flow thereby adversely affecting the river
hydrology, unplanned extraction of water from the aquifer, deforestation,
etc., which are mainly responsible for increasing trend in sedimentation,
should be regulated
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Promotion of modern irrigation practices, viz. low volume cum high frequency methods |
·
Enhancement of crop production with
judicious and conjunctive use of available water resources
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Development of agricultural machineries |
·
Suitable small and cost-effective
agricultural machineries including hand tools useful for small and fragmented
lands that dominate the coastal areas will be beneficial in augmenting crop
productivity and boosting the economy of the farmers
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Goal # 3 : Agriculture sector ─ Crop
improvement
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Exploration of indigenous germplasm
across different coastal areas and introduction of HYVs of rice especially
for aus and boro rice
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·
Enhancement of rice production during
non-monsoon period
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Towards ensuring food security as
food production is not solely dependent on monsoon aman rice which frequently suffers from cyclone and foods
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Exploration of indigenous germplasm
across different coastal areas and development of improved salt, flood and
submergence tolerant aus, aman and boro rice using biotechnological technologies wherever necessary
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·
Scope for improving rice production
in the areas prone to flooding and saline water ingress and, areas affected
by salinity
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Exploration of indigenous germplasm
across different coastal areas and introduction of high yielding and/ or low
water requiring improved and salt tolerant crops other than rice especially
vegetable and fruit crops
|
·
Enhancement of non-staple foods
production
·
Diversification of agriculture
·
Additional availability of non-staple
foods to poor people for better nutrition and good health
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Development and promotion of high
value crops (horticulture, spices, aromatic and medicinal plants) using
biotechnological technologies wherever necessary, and encouraging
agribusiness enterprises
|
·
Enhancement of economic growth by diversification of
agriculture
·
Making agriculture competitive to
global/ export markets
·
Contract farming will reduce the risk
of marketing and promote post-harvest
management systems
·
More employment opportunities for
labour from surplus small and marginal households as it’s a labour intensive
entrepreneurship
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Promotion of seed village and local nursery
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·
Availability of quality seeds and planting materials to the farmers at
local levels
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Participatory variety selection (PVS)
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·
Quick adoption of suitable crop
varieties
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Goal # 4: Aquaculture sector |
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Promotion of profitable and
sustainable fish production technology such as improved conventional system,
pen aquaculture, cage aquaculture, integrated prawn and shrimp farming
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·
Enhancement of fish production and
income
·
Increase of foreign exchange earning
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Mechanization in inland and marine
aquaculture
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·
Improvement in fish productivity with
higher return in the long run
·
Modern communication support to warn
fishers of adverse weather forecast, and also inform them with nature and
concentration of fish population particularly during deep sea fishing
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Promotion of ornamental fish captive
and under natural condition
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·
Creates tremendous export potential
and higher income
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Promotion of fisheries in drainage,
irrigation channels and canals
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·
Employment generation especially for
women folks
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Promotion of shrimp farming in the
area frequently flooded or prone to flooding by saline tide waters
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·
Enhancement of fish production from
the areas vulnerable to the natural hazards
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Establishment and promotion of feed
factories and environment-friendly hatcheries
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·
Production and supply of quality
seeds and feeds in time at local levels to the fisheries
·
Possibility to manufacture low cost
feed at local level
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Infrastructure development and
institutional support
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·
Enhancement and development of
aquaculture and with long term sustainability
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Providing adequate supports for
inputs, credits and marketing
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Establishment of aquaculture
technological centers
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Providing support for disease
diagnosis, aquatic health management, disease surveillance and water quality
monitoring, information on credits, availability of inputs and government
policy, etc.
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Better extension services and modern
approaches like adaptive learning
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Providing technological know-how
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Development of skills for practising
profitable and sustainable aquaculture
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Goal # 5: Integrated practices of
agriculture and aquaculture
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Promotion of simultaneous (preferably
on community basis) or alternate types of rice-fish farming suited to land
situations
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·
Production of rice and fish from same
piece of land
·
Enhancement of farm income, employment opportunities and
security to livelihood
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Integration of vegetables and fruit
with rice-fish farming with suitable land shaping
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·
Round the year production
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Enhancement farm income and security
to livelihood
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Establishment of model integrated
farm at block (India) level
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For acting as demonstration-cum-training
center
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Facilitatating easy adoption of
integrated farming system
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Goal
# 6: Animal husbandry including dairy, and poultry
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Developing low management and high producing breeds of
birds and animals along with the use of tolerant and adapted local breeds
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The genetically important local breeds like
Garol (sheep), Black Bengal (goat), Billy (goat), etc. should be preserved
and used as genetic stock for
developing improved breeds through genetic engineering
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Location specific
potential low cost feed supplements for
animals and poultry birds to be developed using local resources
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Animals and poultry
birds, particularly ducks, to be introduced as a part of the integrated
farming in coastal areas for higher profits and climate change
adaptations
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Introducing artificial
insemination and using advanced technologies to develop high yielding cattle
tolerant to high humidity and temperatures prevalent to coastal
climates.
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Developing high health
security to animals, ducks and poultry through appropriate health management
programme suitable for high humidity and temperature conditions.
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Goal # 7: Non-farm activities/ alternative livelihood |
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Promotion of alternate livelihood options such as beekeeping, mushroom cultivation, vermi-composting, etc. |
·
Create employment opportunities for
the small and marginal households
·
Less dependence on mangrove forest
areas for honey
·
Increased availability of organic
manure for agricultural crops
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Conservation and plantation of mangroves throughout coastal areas wherever possible |
·
Maintaining the ecology of Sundarbans
and other coastal sites
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Protection of the areas from natural
hazards
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Acting as carbon sinks
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Promotion of community nursery |
·
Providing quality planting materials
at lower cost for plantation of mangroves and non-mangroves tree species
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Promotion of plantation along the canals, roads and river embankments and, agroforesty |
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Enhancement of the area under forest
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Reduction of people’s dependency on
coastal forest for fuel, fodder and woods
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Protecting the areas from natural
hazards through bio-shield
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Promotion of cooperative culture, agribusiness, markets, stores, roads & transport, linkages & communication (preferably through e-governance) |
·
Each one of these activities will
encourage farmers/ fishers to promote
higher productivity through better access to market, in particular, and
thereby generate more income with minimal or no help of the middlemen or
brokers
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Goal
# 8: Integrated policy for tidally dominated (TD) areas
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Framing a unified Integrated TD
policy for different delta areas
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A common policy will ensure
implementation of the causes, like river
water flow and associated factors, conservation of forest, aquaculture practices, disaster management,
etc., in a sustainable manner
·
Establishment of a rapid and
efficient disaster warning and management network throughout the entire TD
areas
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Goal
9 # Public-private partnership for effective dissemination of technologies
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Efficient extension services with
meaningful coordination within public sectors and between public and private
sectors
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Delineation of areas for
location-specific suitable technologies
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Rapid dissemination of technologies
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Avoidance of repetition of works by
different agencies
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Goal # 10: Ecology and adoption to climate change
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Adoption of such practices as conservation tillage, use of organic
farming along with incorporation of organic residues and other materials such
as biochar, appropriate land restoration & management practices,
reduction of erosion, and optimal water use patterns like SRI in waterlogged
rice cultivation are known for reduced emission of CH4 and N2O
and thereby moderate climate change effects
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§ Reduced climate change effects will help maintain
ecology and productivity, and also moderate adverse threats due to natural
hazards
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Coastal waterlogged marshes are regarded as a rich source for carbon
sink; therefore appropriate attention is required to estimate this valuable
parameter with reference to different natural parameters prevalent in this
ecosystem and preferably over a long period of time in the past through
radiocarbon dating.
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§ A study on this and its proper use will be very
much helpful in ensuring sustenance in productivity and adaptation against
climate change
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Coastal ecosystem should be regarded as a rich repository of natural resources
including plant and animal species
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§ Abundance of natural resources and their equilibrium developed and maintained
over a long period of time is invaluable in ensuring sustenance in ecology
vis-a-vis climate change and thereby withstand to a significant measure
threats against natural disaster
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Identifying
intervention matrix of different technological, anthropological, natural &
other climatic factors along with estimation of vulnerability index, and develop optimization guidelines for each coastal site.
There
should be an appropriate strategy to be worked out on optimum population
density in the coastal ecosystem
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§ Appropriate strategies and guidelines will ensure
withstand in the long run damage against climate change for coastal and
adjoining inland areas.
§ Optimum population density will ensure damage
against natural disaster
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Coral reefs cover < 0.5 % of the
ocean floor and 90 % of the marine species are directly or indirectly
dependent on them. About 20% of coral reefs have been destroyed in the last
few decades and an additional 20% or more are severely degraded on a global
scale. There is no proper estimate of the damage in the marine ecosystem in
India. Among others coral bleaching, which results from rising ocean
temperatures caused by climate change is also increasing and further
threatens this valuable resource. Necessary action should be taken for
estimating the damage and steps to prevent such damage especially in the wake
of climate change.
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§ Steps against damage of the coral reefs, a highly valuable marine resource, will
ensure to a significant extent maintain the aquatic species and sustain the
ecological balance
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The estuaries, regarded as “nurseries
of the sea”, should be protected and maintained against environmental hazards
and anthropological activities.
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§ Most
commercially important fish species spend some part of their life cycle in
estuaries. Besides fish, many species of birds depend on estuaries for food
and nesting areas. Marine mammals also use estuaries as feeding grounds and
nurseries. All these marine organisms feed in estuaries because a healthy
estuary produces between 4 and 10 times as much organic matter as a cornfield
of the same size. Estuaries provide a wide range of habitats leading to a
great diversity of marine life. Thus, maintenance of the estuaries will be
very much helpful towards sustenance of the ecological balance.
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The urban developments are taking up
fertile agricultural land and leading to pollution of rivers, estuaries and
seas by sewage as well as industrial and agricultural effluents. In turn,
this is posing a threat to coastal ecosystems, their biological diversity,
environmental regulatory functions and role in generating employment and food.
Overuse of fertilizer can result in
eutrophication, and in extreme cases, the creation of ‘dead zones’. Dead zones occur when excess nutrients—usually nitrogen
and phosphorus—from agriculture or the burning of fossil fuels seep into the
water system and fertilize blooms of algae along the coast. Besides, the
occurrence of hypoxia in shallow coastal and estuarine areas has been
increasing worldwide, most likely accelerated by anthropogenic activities.
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§ Human
activities, which now contribute more to the supply of fixed nitrogen each
year than natural processes do, should be regulated particularly in the areas
of use of fertilizer, burning of
fossil fuels, and surge in land clearing and deforestation. Thus, appropriate
strategies should be developed to decrease the menace due to eutrophication,
hypoxia and dead zones, which will help in maintaining the ecological balance
of the ecosystem..
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Goal
# 11 Forecasting flood and natural hazards
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Developing and
validating a trans-continental forecasting system against flood and natural
hazards
|
·
A system to be developed
that may bring together operational meteorological forecasts with satellite
and discharge data and a suite of hydrological models.
·
Network technologies
should be perfected for rapid dissemination.
·
It should preferably be
tested for validity in a trans-continental mode, and may be used as a
template for flood forecasting also
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