Upper Bhima Basin
The larger initiative started work with the ‘Upper Bhima Basin’ largely in Maharashtra to support the creation of a collective that would work on a CAP for the sub-basin. Starting in January 2023 through Sept. 2023 the collective emerged with an draft conservation action plan.
At this time, the collective has ties to the larger effort, but is very focussed on the Upper Bhima Basin, and comprises of CSOs with deep work in the basin, as well as community based organisations, educational institutions, independent experts and the attention of relevant governmental stakeholders.
MAP Document
01
MAP - Multi-Actor Platform
MAP engages multiple actors, addresses the situation at the ground and builds the groundswell for the conservation planning and ensures buy-in for identified conservation goals and actions for a basin. It has four distinguishing characteristics:
1. Address a challenge of public importance and concern,
2. Convene groups representing different sectors of society,
3. Link actors across scales of decision-making,
4. Represent a sustained effort over time.
02
Collaborators
With the larger goal of conserving freshwater ecosystems in the Upper Bhima Basin, an Upper Bhima Basin Conservation Collective was formed in principle, comprising of more than 15 organizations/individuals from the basin (e.g. Jeevitnadi, CSD-GIPE, ITC, Astitva, Shashwat, BAIF, ATREE, SOPPECOM, ACWADAM, FES, TNC-India and others).
03
Conservation Action Plan
The key aim of the collective is to harmonize, and upscale conservation actions and efforts for freshwater ecosystems such as river, lakes, groundwater, riparian areas and associated biodiversity and ecosystem services. Over the course of a year, the collective went through a process of drafting the freshwater conservation action plan for UBB and is currently in the process of defining the operational plan for action (based on organization goals and interests). Within this plan, the collective drafted vision statement for 2050 for the basin, defined six conservation targets and corresponding objectives (for 2030 and 2040) and activities.
The collective also identified several thematic situation models, including dams, sugarcane farming, urbanization, industrialization, groundwater, habitat loss, and institutional strengthening.
04
Convenings and Progress
The process of convening started in Feb 2023. The last convening happened in Oct 2023 to plan the target areas, and actions for the collective.
05
Conservation Action Plan
The collective emerged with a Conservation Action Plan. Within this plan, the collective drafted a vision statement for 2050 for the basin, defined six conservation targets and corresponding objectives (for 2030 and 2040) and activities. This is a living document which will be reviewed and updated periodically.
