Braving all odds, the tiger moved across three islands in the span of four months, Yadav said, adding that he did not venture near human habitats…reports Asian Lite News.
A tiger which had been radio-collared in India was found to have travelled around 100km to reach Sundarbans in Bangladesh over a period of four months, West Bengal’s chief wildlife warden VK Yadav was quoted as saying.
The male tiger was radio-collared in December 2020 to enable foresters to track his movement patterns near human beings. He was captured from Harinbhanga forest just opposite the Harikhali camp under Bashirhat range in Bengal and later released with the satellite collar on December 27, reports said.
His long and arduous journey to Bangladesh involved several hurdles including some rivers wider than a kilometre. Braving all odds, the tiger moved across three islands in the span of four months, Yadav said, adding that he did not venture near human habitats.
“After initial movements for a few days on the Indian side, it started venturing into the Talpatti island in Bangladesh Sunderbans and crossed rivers such as Choto, Harikhali, Boro Harikhali and even the Raimangal,” Yadav said. The tiger could originally have come from Bangladesh before foresters captured him for radio-collaring, Yadav added.
The last recorded location of the tiger was at Talpatti island in Bangladesh on May 11, according to reports. Throwing light on the possible reasons why there was no update on the tiger after May 11, Yadav said the collar may have slipped off its neck.
“The gadget also had a mortality sensor, which gives signals in case of the tiger’s death. But that didn’t happen…. In all probability, the collar has slipped off its neck. In the Sundarbans, salinity in the water can also damage radio collars,” he said.
This was not the first time that a tiger from India has strolled to Bangladesh. In January 2017, a female tiger who was also radio-collared, travelled a 100km distance to reach the Bay of Bengal’s tip. Five other tigers were also radio-collared, out of which one travelled into Bangladesh’s Talpatti island, Dhaka Tribune reported.
Seeing the destruction of forests, the women of Sakhi Mandal took the initiative to protect the forests. “Save the Jungle” initiative was started by 104 rural women from 7 Sakhi Mandals of this area…reports Manoj Pathak.
The active participation of rural women in Jharkhand in environmental protection is a one-of-its-kind initiative taken by the women of Sakhi Mandal, a self-help women’s group from Jharbeda panchayat in Anandpur block of West Singhbhum district, to save the forests from being cut down.
Through this initiative started by the rural women in April 2021, awareness is being spread about environmental protection among the villagers. These women are guarding the forests with sticks in their hands.
The villagers say that Sal, Teak, Asan, Bamboo, Karanj, Chironji, Chaikudi, Mahua, Kendu and several other trees in the forest are spread over 9 hectares in Mahishgida in Anandpur block. In the past, during the cultivation and harvesting of these wild crops for livelihood, smaller trees nearby were cut and forests were also set on fire.
Seeing the destruction of forests, the women of Sakhi Mandal took the initiative to protect the forests. “Save the Jungle” initiative was started by 104 rural women from 7 Sakhi Mandals of this area.
These women have divided themselves into four groups and guard the forest area every day from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. in the morning and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the evening. Carrying sticks in their hands, these women who are emphasising on environmental protection, also count the number of trees daily so that they come to know of any reduction in the number of trees.
They gather at one place every day and then divide themselves into groups and guard the forests. If any woman evades her responsibility of guarding the forests she has to pay a fine of Rs 200.
Baironika Barjo, a woman associated with Sakhi Mandal said, “If any woman of the Sakhi Mandal is found absent without notice, she will have to pay a fine of Rs 200. For failing to pay the fine a provision has also been made for strict action so that a fear is instilled in the self-help group members. During these times of corona pandemic, women are fulfilling their responsibility by following the social distancing norms prescribed by the government by staying at a distance of two yards from each other.”
Nemanti Jojo says “The balance in the environment is lost due to the cutting of forest trees. It is the responsibility of all of us to save the environment so we have to protect the forests on our own. Forests are a significant part of our livelihood. If there is a threat to forests, our future will also not be secure.”
She said all of us (Sakhi Mandal women) guard the forests for two to three hours every day. They also make the villagers aware about environmental balance.
Now the rest of the villagers are praising this effort by these women and also contribute voluntarily in this work. Villagers now collect wood according to their needs after informing the women of Sakhi Mandal.
Nancy Sahai, CEO, Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS), says that ‘Save the Jungle’, a collective initiative of the women of Sakhi Mandal, shows the awareness and social responsibility of rural women towards environmental protection.
She said, “Women are also fulfilling their financial and social responsibility by being associated with Sakhi Mandal. The women of Sakhi Mandal in the state are helped and made aware on all subjects, including organic farming, solar irrigation plant, eco-friendly farming etc. I hope this initiative by sisters of Sakhi Mandal will make others realize the responsibility of environmental protection.”
In 2019, Shah visited the Raipur Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya at Raipur and learnt about the cultivation of lemongrass – an aromatic plant whose Indian variety is scientifically known as Cymbopogan flexuosus…reports Sameer Showkin Lone.
Bhawani Pal Shah was among the first graduates in his remote village in Chattisgarh. He passed out in 2000 – the year the state was formed – and went looking for greener pastures in Rajasthan. After fifteen years of working in an agri firm there, he decided to return to his village, Gudma in Bijapur district, and take up farming. This was a better alternative, he thought, to sweating it out in the desert state. Besides, at his job, he had learnt about modern farming techniques for better yields that could be practised at his farm.
Shah faced little success with paddy, which is predominantly grown in the state, as it requires a lot of water. So it could only be cultivated during the Kharif season at the onset of the monsoon. However, not one to throw in the towel, he started to look out for other crops that would provide better outputs and income.
Herbal farming in Chhattisgarh: Gulbakawali (Wikipedia)
In 2019, Shah visited the Raipur Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya at Raipur and learnt about the cultivation of lemongrass – an aromatic plant whose Indian variety is scientifically known as Cymbopogan flexuosus. Lemongrass is used in soaps and detergents, perfumes, beverages and incense sticks. According to the National Horticulture Board, the oil’s strong lemon-like odour is also used in insect repellents. Lemongrass oil fetches around Rs 1,550 per litre.
“The oil and leaves of lemongrass are also used for medicinal purpose. It reduces inflammation, blood sugar, convulsions, pains and joint aches etc,” said Dr Arun Sakni, a senior scientist at Krishi Vigyan Kendra Bijapur, leading the government’s effort to encourage lemongrass cultivation in Bijapur.
“I took a few hundred saplings and grew it on my half acre land and was delighted with the results. This year I am going to sow lemongrass on three acres of land,” Shah said.
The only thing lacking is a solar pump for irrigation purpose. “I am hopeful the district Agriculture Department will sanction it,” he said.
Shah, who extracted 7 kilograms of lemongrass through a self-made processing unit, said, “We can get a processing unit sanctioned by Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) if more than 10 acres of land or more than 10 farmers are into lemongrass cultivation in my area. I am trying to convince farmers,” he said. He has been encouraging villagers by apprising them of line sowing, transplantation and other modern techniques to get more yield. CIMAP has appreciated Shah’s leadership efforts.
Dr Sakni said that they are planning to form a group of interested farmers to promote lemongrass farming in the district and Shah would act as a master trainer and motivator. “With 80 per cent of the area covered by forests, lemongrass can be a great change-maker in the lives of people who are mostly tribals. It doesn’t need much water nor hard labour. Just a spray of water to keep the soil moist. And once planted, its sapling regenerates thrice in a year,” he said.
Replicating the success of neighbours
Bijapur was carved out of Dantewada district which was a part of Bastar district – a region plagued by Naxalism. In addition to the hostile weather, farmers here also have to contend with the challenges posed by Naxals where their diktats extend even to the area of cultivation.
In a bid to wean away jobless youth from taking to violence in the Naxal-infested region, the CIMAP provided training to youth to cultivate lemongrass and oil extractors. The initiative was taken under the direction of the central government’s ‘Aroma Mission’, launched by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.
In Kondagoan district, some 200 kilometres from Bijapur, lemongrass farming has seen a steep increase. The CIMAP has set up three processing units in the Malegaon area of Kondagoan.
Shah’s friend, Mohan Ram Netam, a farmer in Malegaon village said, “It is much profitable than paddy. One acre of lemongrass cultivation fetches between Rs 40,000-45,000.” He said the rates keep varying between Rs 1300 to Rs 2000. “Last year we sold at Rs 1,500 per kg and this year at Rs 1,375.” At present, there are 25-30 farmers in Malegaon who are now dedicated lemongrass farmers, said Netam.
“One sapling reproduces some 100 saplings. The process continues thrice a year. In some cases, the saplings keep reproducing for two to three years depending upon the soil fertility. Though our land is suitable for lemongrass, we also planted Mentha grass which is another variety of aromatic plant,” he said.
Another 100 kilometres towards the north of Kondagoan lies Dhamtari, a district in Central Chhattisgarh. Lemongrass farming in this district has reached the next level with the support of the district administration. The Zila Panchayat has promoted a Self Help Group (SHG) – Jai Bhawani – to cultivate lemongrass. It extracted 15 quintals of lemongrass from 3 acres of land fetching an income of Rs 50,000.
Lemongrass at a market (Wikipedia)
Three acres of wasteland in Gram Panchayat Bhatgaon were turned into a cultivable land with the help of MGNREGA using the convergence model between Departments of Chhattisgarh State Renewable Energy Development Agency, Horticulture and MGNREGA, according to a District Panchayat Program Officer.
Once the administration is able to get lemongrass cultivation off the ground, the next issue they would need to tackle is marketing. Already, farmers like Netam are finding this problematic. “With no government support, we have to sell it to private contractors who often short charge us,” he said.
(The author is a Bijapur-based freelance journalist and a member of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters)
The LPA of the season rainfall over the country as a whole for the period 1961-2010 is 88 cm…reports Asian Lite News.
Southwest monsoon’s seasonal rainfall from June to September this year over the country, as a whole, is most likely to be normal and well-distributed spatially, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The rainfall during these four months is expected to be 96 to 104 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA).
However, the IMD’s National Weather Forecasting Centre said, quantitatively, the monsoon seasonal rainfall during these four months over the country as a whole is likely to be 101 per cent of the LPA with a model error of four per cent up or down.
The LPA of the season rainfall over the country as a whole for the period 1961-2010 is 88 cm.
Rain. (File Photo: IANS)
“Monsoon seasonal rainfall is likely to be well distributed spatially and most parts of the country is expected to receive normal to above normal rainfall during the season,” said the IMD.
The latest global model forecasts indicate the prevailing neutral ENSO (El Nino Southern Oscillation) conditions are likely to continue over the equatorial Pacific Ocean and possibility of development of negative IOD conditions over the Indian Ocean during the monsoon season, it said.
The weather office further said the southwest monsoon seasonal (June to September) rainfall over the four homogeneous rainfall areas is most likely to be normal over northwest India from 92-108 per cent and south peninsula from 93-107 percent. It is most likely to be below normal over northeast India (106 per cent).”
The southwest monsoon seasonal (June to September) rainfall over the monsoon core zone, which consists of most of the rainfed agriculture regions in the country is most likely to be above normal (over 106 per cent of LPA), it said.
Gauba also stressed that safety of Covid patients be ensured and disruption of functioning of Covid hospitals and centres avoided…reports Asian Lite News.
With cyclonic storm ‘Yaas’ expected to reach West Bengal and adjoining northern Odisha coasts by May 26 evening, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba has emphasised that all measures should be taken in a timely manner to minimise loss of lives and destruction of property.
Reviewing the preparedness of central and state agencies during the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) meeting, Gauba further emphasised on the early evacuation of people from the areas likely to be affected by the cyclone along with ensuring the return of all boats and vessels to the shores, so that there is zero loss of life.
Gauba also stressed that safety of Covid patients be ensured and disruption of functioning of Covid hospitals and centres avoided. He also advised that steps be taken to maintain the generation and movement of oxygen from the cyclone affected areas, to other parts of the country.
The officer also said that preparatory arrangements should be made to restore power, telecom and other important services and directed the concerned agencies to work in close co-ordination and extend all requisite assistance to the states and the Union Territories (UTs).
Director General of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Mrutyunjay Mohapatra briefed the committee that the cyclone is expected to reach the West Bengal and adjoining northern Odisha coasts by the evening of May 26, with wind speeds ranging from 155 to 165 kmph, accompanied by heavy rainfall and storm surges in the coastal districts of these states.
Chief Secretaries of the concerned states apprised the committee of the preparatory measures put in place to deal with the cyclonic storm.
Evacuation of people from the low-lying areas is being carried out. Adequate stocks of foodgrains, drinking water and other essential supplies have been arranged and preparations made to maintain essential services such as Power and Telecommunications, the Chief Secretaries informed during NCMC meeting.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi making an aerial survey of areas of Gujarat and Diu affected by Cyclone Tauktae on May 19, 2021. (PIB)
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Director General informed that the force’s 65 teams are deployed, and 20 more teams are on standby. Rescue and relief teams of the Army, Navy and Coast Guard along with ships and aircrafts have also been deployed.
Necessary arrangements are also being made to ensure uninterrupted functioning of hospitals and Covid Care Centres, alongwith ensuring generation and supply of oxygen to Covid facilities across the country.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretaries and officers of West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar and Puducherry. Secretaries of Ministries of Home, Power, Shipping, Telecom, Petroleum & Natural Gas, Civil Aviation, Fisheries, Chairman Railway Board, Member Secretary NDMA, Chief IDS and DGs of Coast Guard, NDRF and IMD also participated in the meeting.
The Green Deal is the EU’s lead program to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050, reports Xinhua news agency…reports Asian Lite News.
The European Commission has pledged to develop a sustainable maritime economy in a bid to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
“We add the blue dimension to the European Green Deal,” said European Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius, who is in charge of Environment, Oceans and Fisheries at the Commission, said on Monday.
The Green Deal is the EU’s lead program to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050, reports Xinhua news agency.
By blue economy, the Commission refers to all sectors working with or in close proximity to seas and oceans, including fisheries, aquaculture, coastal tourism, maritime transport, port activities and shipbuilding.
It provides employment to 4.5 million people in the EU, with a turnover of more than 650 billion euros ($789 billion).
“Pollution, overfishing and habitat destruction, coupled with the effects of the climate crisis, all threaten the rich marine biodiversity that the blue economy depends on,” said Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-president of the European Commission for the Green Deal.
Carbon emission(Pixabay)
The goals are to reach climate neutrality, to switch to a circular economy, to preserve biodiversity, to ensure sustainable food production and to improve the management of maritime space, according to a press release from the EU Commission.
The transition to sustainability for the blue economy will be funded by relevant EU funds and private capital will also be mobilized, according to Sinkevicius.
“In Bardez, the worst-affected sub-district in North Goa, 31 houses were damaged while in South Goa, Mormugao was the worst affected sub-district where 36 houses were damaged,” Sawant said…reports Asian Lite News.
Stormy winds and heavy rains caused by Cyclone Tauktae claimed two lives and uprooted more than 1,000 trees in Goa, disrupting normal life and road traffic and causing power outage in most parts of the coastal state on Sunday.
“Two people lost their lives because of the cyclone. A woman of around 30-35 years died after a coconut tree fell on her at Mapusa town (in North Goa). Another accident occurred at Marcel where two youth were going on a scooter and an electric pole fell on them and one of them lost his life while he was being rushed to hospital,” Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told a press conference.
He said that all roads faced blockages due to debris and uprooted trees.
“In Bardez, the worst-affected sub-district in North Goa, 31 houses were damaged while in South Goa, Mormugao was the worst affected sub-district where 36 houses were damaged,” Sawant said.
Goa (IANS)
Power Minister Nilesh Cabral said that feeder electrical lines from other states have been damaged in the state, which has resulted in a severe power outage.
“We are still in the process of assessing the damage caused to electricity poles which have been uprooted across Goa,” he said.
Konkan Railway said that rail traffic was affected by the cyclonic winds and rain with uprooted trees blocking the railway track in at least five places in the state.
“No injuries or casualties have been reported. The traffic on the Konkan Railway route is running smoothly,” it said in a statement.
The Goa branch of the Indian Meteorological Department has predicted that the severe cyclonic storm will last till May 17 with wind speeds in the range of 100 to 175 km per hour.
Weather system wreaks havoc in coastal Kerala and Karnataka set to hit Gujarat on Monday, reports Asian Lite News.
The severe cyclonic storm Tauktae over east central Arabian Sea is likely to intensify further in the next 24 hours.
The cyclone is likely to move north-northwestwards and reach Gujarat coast in the evening hours of Monday and cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva (Bhavnagar district) around Tuesday early morning, said the National Weather Forecasting Centre of the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Tauktae moved nearly northwards with a speed of about 11 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centered at 5.30 a.m. on Sunday over east central Arabian Sea near latitude 15.0 degree North and longitude 72.7 degree East, about 130 km west-southwest of Panjim-Goa, 450 km south of Mumbai, 700 km south-southeast of Veraval (Gujarat) and 840 km southeast of Karachi (Pakistan).
In Kerala, light to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places on Sunday and heavy falls at isolated places on May 17 is likely to take place.
The IMD forecast mentions light to moderate rainfall at most places in Karnataka (coastal and adjoining Ghat districts) with heavy to very heavy rainfalls at isolated places later in the day on Sunday.
There is possibility of light to moderate rainfall at most places in Konkan and Goa with heavy to very heavy rainfalls at a few places adjoining Ghat areas on Sunday and heavy falls at isolated places on Monday over north Konkan.
In Gujarat, light to moderate rainfall at many places is very likely to commence including over coastal districts of Saurashtra from Sunday afternoon, with heavy to very heavy rainfalls at isolated places over Saurashtra and Kutch and Diu and extremely heavy falls at isolated places on May 17 and with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places over Saurashtra and Kutch and Diu with extremely heavy falls at isolated places on May 18.
Modi reviews situation
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a high-level meeting to review the preparedness of states and central ministries concerned to deal with the situation arising out of Cyclone Tauktae.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is assisting the State agencies in their preparedness for evacuating people from vulnerable locations.
Cyclone (IANS)
Mumbai transfers patients from jumbo centres
Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai transferred 580 Covid patients from jumbo centres to other hospitals in safe places as a precautionary measure.
The Mumbai Police is also exploring the option of shutting down the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, as heavy rain and strong winds are expected to lash the city on Sunday and Monday. “Depending on the situation, following updates from the IMD, the decision to close traffic on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link on Sunday will be taken,” said a police officer. The suburban rail services will run on Sunday and Monday, said officials.
In a review meeting on Saturday morning, the IMD informed BMC that Mumbai is not in the direct line of the threat of the cyclone. However, as it will pass through the sea near the Mumbai coast, its effect is likely to be accompanied by rain and strong winds.
The two Prime Ministers launched an ‘Enhanced Trade Partnership’ (ETP) to unleash the trade potential between the 5th and 6th largest economies of the world and by setting an ambitious target of more than doubling bilateral trade by 2030, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk.
India and the UK on Tuesday adopted an ambitious ‘Roadmap 2030’ to elevate bilateral ties to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” between the two countries in major sectors covering trade, defence and climate security.
The roadmap will pave the way for a deeper and stronger engagement over the next ten years in the key areas of people-to-people contacts, trade and economy, defence and security, climate action and health, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement.
The decisions were taken in a virtual summit attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson — a move ahead as both the countries already enjoy long standing friendly ties and share a Strategic Partnership underpinned by mutual commitment to democracy, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, strong complementarities and growing convergences.
The two leaders also discussed the Covid-19 situation and ongoing cooperation in the fight against the pandemic, including the successful partnership on vaccines.
PM Modi thanked PM Johnson for the prompt medical assistance provided by the UK in the wake of the severe second wave of Covid-19 in India.
Johnson appreciated India’s role in extending assistance to the UK and other countries over the last year, including by way of supply of pharmaceuticals and vaccines.
The two Prime Ministers launched an ‘Enhanced Trade Partnership’ (ETP) to unleash the trade potential between the 5th and 6th largest economies of the world and by setting an ambitious target of more than doubling bilateral trade by 2030.
“As part of the ETP, India and the UK agreed on a roadmap to negotiate a comprehensive and balanced FTA, including consideration of an Interim Trade Agreement for delivering early gains. The enhanced trade partnership between India and UK will generate several thousands of direct and indirect jobs in both the countries,” the statement said.
The UK is India’s second largest partner in research and innovation collaborations. A new India-UK ‘Global Innovation Partnership’ was announced at the Virtual Summit that aims to support the transfer of inclusive Indian innovations to select developing countries, starting with Africa.
Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation on new and emerging technologies, including Digital and ICT products, and work on supply chain resilience. They also agreed to strengthen defence and security ties, including in the maritime, counter-terrorism and cyberspace domains.
Defence Partnership
Both the leaders agreed to enhance the India-UK defence partnership with a particular focus on maritime and industrial collaboration.
According to British High Commission (BHC), the leaders reaffirmed the benefits of closer cooperation in a free and open Indo-Pacific, recognising their shared interest in regional prosperity and stability.
They agreed to significant new cooperation on Maritime Domain Awareness, which includes new agreements on maritime information sharing, an invitation to the UK to join India’s Information Fusion Centre in Gurgaon and an ambitious exercise programme which includes joint trilateral exercises.
The two countries are also working to conclude a Logistics Memorandum of Understanding that will enhance the joint ability to tackle shared challenges.
In addition to commitments on the Indo-Pacific, India and the UK agreed to build on existing government-to-government collaboration on India’s future combat air engine requirement.
(Modi, Boris. ANI)
As part of their ‘2030 Roadmap’, they agreed to work closely together in support of India’s indigenous development of the Light Combat Aircraft Mark 2. They also spoke of the potential for further industrial collaboration in areas like maritime propulsion, space and cyber, marking the start of a promising new era of UK-India research, capability and industrial collaboration on Indian combat air and beyond, according to the release.
“This agreement builds upon that signed between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Rolls Royce to move aspects of the manufacture of the MT30 Gas Turbine engine to India, supporting PM Modi’s Make in India initiative. The MT30 is an engine employed widely in navies around the world and is the basis of the UK’s Integrated Electric Propulsion system that powers the Queen Elizabeth Class Carriers,” the BHC said.
Climate Change
The roadmap sets out an ambitious agenda for UK-India collaboration on fighting climate change, including a new partnership on clean energy transition, which will drive progress on development of renewables like offshore wind, improved energy efficiency and storage, and advances in electric mobility. Both countries also committed to collaborating on green hydrogen.
It also talks about jointly launching a new global Green Grids Initiative at COP26 for countries to work together on interconnected grids for renewable energy, to help deliver India’s vision of One Sun One World One Grid.
The roadmap called for a joint action through the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), which the UK and India co-chair, to support Small Island Developing States to prepare for the impacts of climate change by bolstering their infrastructure. (with inputs from ANI)
Tackling this challenge requires technical expertise and capacity that are often not available in Commonwealth countries…reports Asian Lite News.
A new policy handbook will help Commonwealth governments put in place strategies to tackle ocean acidification — a key aspect of climate change.
Ocean acidification happens when the sea absorbs excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, primarily caused by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.
This leads to an increase in the acidity of the ocean, affecting the lifecycles and biology of certain marine species, and in turn, threatening the entire food web as well as the lives and livelihoods of communities that depend on these ocean resources.
Tackling this challenge requires technical expertise and capacity that are often not available in Commonwealth countries. The new handbook addresses this gap by identifying existing resources, streamlining technical concepts, outlining pragmatic solutions and providing useful templates for policy makers.
The handbook was commissioned by the New Zealand government, which champions the Commonwealth Blue Charter Action Group on Ocean Acidification.
The Foreign Affairs Minister of New Zealand, Nanaia Mahuta, said: “We know that ocean acidification has serious consequences for sea life, and this Policymakers’ Handbook for Addressing the Impacts of Ocean Acidification is an important resource.
“It is designed for people who make decisions about how we use and protect our oceans. It introduces them to the steps needed to address ocean acidification. It enables them to act as ‘kaitiaki’ or guardians.”
Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, stated: “The study of ocean acidification and its effects has grown dramatically in the past 15 years, and while the problem is global, it is important for national and regional responses to be developed to address local impacts.
“The handbook has the potential to deliver far-reaching and lasting value, by supporting the identification and implementation by policymakers of response strategies to ocean acidification.”A particular focus in the handbook is on collaboration, which is a distinctive feature of the Commonwealth Blue Charter, an agreement adopted in 2018 by the 54 Commonwealth member countries to work together to solve ocean challenges.
The Commonwealth Blue Charter is implemented through 10 action groups led by 15 “champion countries”, which focus on guiding the development of knowledge, tools and training on ocean priorities such as marine plastic pollution, ocean climate change, and the sustainable blue economy.
Head of Oceans and Natural Resources at the Commonwealth Secretariat, Nicholas Hardman-Mountford, said: “This new handbook is an example of the concrete and practical outcomes that are generated by the Commonwealth Blue Charter Action Groups and their discussions.
“While we all understand the grave threats that confront the ocean — and consequently, the entire planet — we must also realise that we, as the global community, can do something about it, by working together to share expertise, pool resources and align national and regional strategies to existing global commitments.”
The launch of this publication follows on the first-ever workshop by the Commonwealth Ocean Acidification Action Group, hosted in 2019 by New Zealand in its role as Champion Country for the group.
