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The Thames and Ganges Twinning Project - India Water ... Flipbook PDF
The Thames and Ganges Twinning Project Dr Peter Spillett, TRT Trustee 1 March 2013
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The Thames and Ganges Twinning Project Dr Peter Spillett, TRT Trustee 1 March 2013
This story begins in Australia
Thames – International Riverprize winners 2010 • International Riverfoundation • NGO based in Brisbane, Australia • Awards the annual World Riverprize $350,000 Aus • Sponsored by Theiss Pty Ltd of Australia
Why the Thames won • Partnership application from the Environment Agency and TRT • Demonstrable improvements in the river ecosystem over 60 years • Plans for further improvements e.g. Thames Super Sewer, Thames 2100 Flood Plan, London Rivers Action Plan, Catchment Sensitive Farming • Plus close involvement of community groups
Twinning project – River Ganges • Riverprize money must be used to help another river • Ganges and Thames face similar issues and challenges • Working with local partners The PEACE Institute and WWF India • Developing new techniques to help restore other rivers around the world
Upper Ganges
River Yamuna
PEACE Institute Charitable Trust • Well established NGO, based in Delhi • Track record of good delivery of projects • Set up Friends of River groups in 10 GRIDS along Yamuna • Agreed priority grassroots actions for each GRID
MAP OF THE RIVER YAMUNA WITH GRIDS
WWF India – Upper Ganges project • Project started 2009 • Twinning Programme funding 2011 - 2013 • Gharial reintroduction and Turtle hatchery • Organic farming • Improved livelihoods
WWF India – lower Yamuna project • Biodiversity surveys • Alternative livelihoods • Organic agriculture • Capacity building • Cooperation with PEACE and Friends of River groups
Knowledge exchange • Visit to Thames river, May 2012 • Mr Manoj Misra of PEACE and Dr Asghar Nawab of WWF India • Visited river restoration, biodiversity and water treatment projects
Meeting Friends of the River Kennet
Seeing river restoration in London
Meeting Mrs Margaret Hodge MP – Member of Parliament for Barking
Twinning Programme – some achievements • 128 SMART targets achieved • Capacity developed in 10 Friends of the River groups • 3,500 volunteers involved • 6,000 trees planted • 32 events involving school students • 15 river and village clean up events • 12 capacity building workshops • 150 gharial released • The first River Action Plan for a Yamuna tributary is being written
10 Lessons learned from this Programme 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
NGOs from different countries can work together well A small amount of funds can go a long way Good local knowledge of a river is essential Local political support is essential River ecosystems can be improved at the local level Local Friends of the River groups are key to success Local people must see benefits from river restoration NGOs are trusted by local people to lead projects Involving government agencies strengthens a project A River Action Plan is needed for long-term improvements
These lessons learned will be expanded in the report of the Twinning Programme, to be published in April