A. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH PROMOTION PROGRAMMES RESEARCH PROGRAMMES
The programmes under which environment-related research is supported by the Ministry are as follows:
I. Environmental Research programme (ERP)
The ERP specifically deals with the “Brown issues”, i.e. problems related to pollution, hazardous waste management, agro-chemicals, waste minimization and reuse, carrying capacity studies, development of eco-friendly and cleaner technologies and providing scientific inputs to address policy problems relating to environmental pollution control and management.
II. Ecosystems Research Scheme (ERS)
The Ecosystem Research Scheme (ERS) is an interdisciplinary programme which emphasizes the ecological approach to the study of inter-relationships between man and the environment and seeks to generate scientific knowledge needed to manage natural resources wisely.
III. Eastern and Western Ghats Research Program (E&WGRP)
The Research programme on Eastern and the Western Ghats is intended to evolve scientific inputs and technology packages for solving location specific problems in the fragile areas of Eastern and Western Ghats.
IV. Man & Biosphere Reserves
The term “Man & Biosphere Reserves (MBA)” is a term used by UNESCO for putting man at centre stage along with Biosphere Reserves namely representative parts of natural and cultural landscapes extending over large areas of terrestrial or coastal/marine ecosystems or their combinations. BRs are designated to deal with important questions reconciling the conservation of biodiversity with sustainable economic and social development and maintenance of associated cultural values.
V. Mangroves and Coral Reefs
This Programme supports research for conservation and management and coral reefs ecosystems from degradation, aforestation of degraded mangrove areas, maintenance of genetic diversity, especially of the threatened and endemic species and ‘coral reefs’ restoration and artificial regeneration and creation of awareness among the people on the importance of mangroves and coral reefs ecosystems.
VI. Wetlands
Wetland resources having significant biological diversity are of great ecological, economic and aesthetic importance. Research support relates to various aspects of conservation and management of wetlands including enhancement of their productivity & utility for supporting floral and faunal diversity and anthropogenic benefits.
VII. National Natural Resources Management System (NNRMS)
The programme supports research aimed at optimal utilization of remote sensing along with conventional data for addressing key environmental and ecological issues such as management of forests, grasslands, faunal resources, wetlands, coastal areas including mangroves and coral resources, land degradation, the impact of developmental activities etc.
VIII. National River Conservation Programme
This programme supports research on site-specific and scheme-specific research which could result in water quality improvements or which could be dovetailed into the existing scheme for pollution abatement. Water quality monitoring and modelling, impact analysis, estimation & treatment of non-point pollution, Phytoremediation etc, are some of the thrust areas relevant to the pollution abatement programme taken up under NRCP. Besides these, the development of low-cost treatment technologies and tertiary treatment for disinfection of treated sewage are given priority. Capacity building also forms a part of R& D under which an M.Tech. Programmer on Conservation of Rivers and Lakes has already been imitated at IIT, Roorkee since 2004-05
IX. Wildlife Conservation
Wildlife Division supports research proposals/studies and surveys related to wildlife conservation in the country under the scheme of “Strengthening of Wildlife Division and Consultancies for Special Tasks”. Proposals may include population surveys, species/ecosystem specific studies including threat perception, habitat ecology and management aspects etc.
X. Climate Change
This programme supports NGO’s which are commissioning research relevant to international negotiations on Climate Change. It includes all research/ data collection and other activities as warranted on need basis under various bilateral and multilateral agreements on Climate Change including Asia Pacific Partnership and Research related to impact assessment/advance preparedness of the country to deal with all issues related to climate change.
XI. Biodiversity Conservation
This programme supports commissioned research projects on issues relevant to the Convention on Biological Diversity and Bio-safety Protocol.
