Chhattisgarh’s Raipur is bridging the gap between conservation and development with a new integrated landscape initiative in Balodabazar that brings together agriculture, industry and forestry to protect the wildlife ecosystem while creating sustainable livelihoods for forest-dependent communities.
Divisional forest officer Janvier Damachel told PTI on Friday that integrated landscape-level planning, a first-of-its-kind action plan, is being prepared through convergence and coordination among various departments, organizations and institutions.
He said that the initiative aims to achieve positive results in protecting wildlife, conserving water and generating income for forest-dependent communities.
In areas bordering forests, the initiative focuses on promoting livelihood activities such as beekeeping, lac farming and other income-generating practices, the official said.
Emphasis is also being placed on community engagement through training programs and effective implementation of farmer-focused plans, he added.
The action plan also includes ecological restoration of abandoned mining areas, with a focus on water conservation, development of green belts and plantation drives in collaboration with multiple institutions, he said, adding that authorities are also exploring the possibility of developing such sites into eco-tourism destinations.
“The aim is to ensure that all departments work together to achieve optimal utilization of financial resources, effective implementation of plans and coordinated delivery of benefits to targeted beneficiaries,” Damashel said.
During an inter-departmental coordination meeting on ILLP in Balodabazar earlier this week, detailed discussions were held on landscape-level development, livelihood enhancement, and resource optimization.
Officials from agriculture, horticulture and other departments showcased their ongoing initiatives. The official said the discussions also examined options such as turmeric and mustard cultivation, besides beekeeping, as measures to mitigate human-wildlife conflict.
The Krishi Vigyan Kendra presented its work on identification and conservation of traditional plant species, and participants agreed to develop a structured action plan for implementation.
He said that the meeting highlighted the need for data integration, targeted planning, and the establishment of a convergence cell at the region level to enhance coordination between departments, noting that the participants agreed to enhance training programs, exchange best practices, and organize exploratory visits to replicate successful models.
The meeting was attended by officials from agriculture, horticulture and fisheries departments, National Rural Livelihood Mission, CSR officers, representatives of Azim Premji Foundation and various cement companies.
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