IIT Bhubaneswar, ECRICC join hands to restore seagrass beds, salt marshes along Odisha coast

IIT Bhubaneswar conducted a workshop on Tuesday to restore, protect and enhance the survivability of seagrass beds and salt marshes on the coasts of Odisha in collaboration with Enhancing Climate Resilience of India’s Coastal Communities (ECRICC). The seagrass are deemed highly essential for the Odisha ecosystem to increase and manage carbon sequestration. 

Reason Behind Conducting The Workshop: 

The Odisha Forest, Environment, and Climate Change (FE&CC) Department took significant steps to address climate change and promote sustainability by signing three key agreements on Jan 22, 2025. These initiatives aim to protect Odisha’s biodiversity, coastal ecosystems, and enhance the resilience of vulnerable communities in the face of climate challenges.

What Was The Step Taken By Odisha Govt To Address Climate Change?

The FE&CC department entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IIT Bhubaneswar as part of the ECRICC project. The partnership focuses on restoring critical coastal ecosystems, specifically seagrass beds and salt marshes. These ecosystems are essential for carbon storage, biodiversity conservation, and protecting the coast from environmental threats. 

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IIT Bhubaneswar has been designated as the Technical Support Agency (TSA) for the restoration and management of these vital ecosystems along Odisha’s coastline. They will provide the necessary technical expertise for implementing sustainable ecosystem management practices.

Forest Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia emphasized that the collaboration with IIT Bhubaneswar would lead to improved research opportunities and greater community involvement in sustainable coastal management. Satyabrata Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary of the FE&CC Department, highlighted the importance of people-centric, climate-resilient practices to safeguard both ecosystems and livelihoods. The event was attended by several officials, including Shreepad Karmalkar, Director of IIT Bhubaneswar, and Dr. Amrit Kumar Mishra, a senior scientist from James Cook University in Australia.

What Was Discussed During The Workshop?

Ashish Chaturvedi, Head of Energy, Environment, and Resilience at UNDP India, shared insights on the Green Climate Fund (GCF) initiatives and the progress of the GCF-backed ECRICC project. Meanwhile, SH Farooq, Associate Professor and Head of the School of Earth, Ocean, and Climate Sciences at IIT-BBS, highlighted the scope of seagrass and salt marsh interventions, along with expected outcomes and deliverables.

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Amrit Mishra, Senior Scientist at James Cook University, Australia, discussed stakeholder roles, timelines, and capacity-building needs for the protection and restoration of seagrass and salt marshes in Odisha.

The discussions fostered knowledge exchange on global best practices, policy recommendations, and innovative restoration methods tailored to Odisha's ecological and socio-economic context.

What Are The Other Collaborations Signed By The Government Of Odisha?

Another important collaboration was established with the World Food Programme (WFP) through a Letter of Understanding (LoU) for the Adaptation for Resilience (ADAT4R) project. This regional adaptation project, involving India and Sri Lanka, aims to strengthen the resilience of farming communities, especially women farmers, in Odisha's Nuapada district. Over the next five years, the project will work to reduce the vulnerability of these communities to climate change impacts, enhancing their adaptive capacity to ensure sustainable livelihoods.

Furthermore, the government signed an MoU with the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW) to develop a Net-Zero Roadmap for the state. This initiative focuses on reducing carbon emissions in key sectors such as industry, power, transport, and agriculture, aiming for a sustainable future with reduced environmental impact.