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The Commission's
main role is project design, In view of its holistic approach, the Commission tries to develop planning models aimed at ecological restoration and sustainable development which would keep in view larger agro-climatic zones and the macro-ecological natural processes while drawing up plans at the micro-levels. The Commission develops techniques and approaches to solve some urgent environmental problems at the micro-level with a view to its adoption on a larger scale and at different locations. For example, the micro-level study of grassland restoration and watershed development project in Kcchchh under the aegis of the Border Area Development Programme. The Banni Project
in Kachchh and Saurashtra aims at restoring degraded, weed-infested
grasslands to their The Restoration of Mangroves in Gujarat is a project carried out by GEC with the support of India Canada Environment Facility (ICEF). This is being executed in select locations in the Gulf of Kachchh and Gulf of Khambhat. GEC proposes to establish community based mangrove restoration and management models which would provide a launching pad for further extension. The initial thrust would be areas in Kachchh and then to sites suitable for extension in Gulf of Khambhat.
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monitoring
and evaluation. At the micro-level, experimental work has been done
to reduce salinity from the soil so as to restore its capacity to
grow grass and maybe other crops or vegetation. This will be used
for large scale application in other areas where the soil is already
uncultivable or under threat of increasing salinity.
original
condition so as to provide fodder security to the area. Under this
scheme, about 1200 hectares have been restored. A special feature
of the Banni exercise is the involvement of the local community
of herdsman in planning, execution, maintenance and sharing of resources.
Because of its demonstration effect, the programme is being progressively
extended and replicated with the co-operation of the stakeholders.
