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Ecological Characterization of Chilika: Defining Strategies and Management Needs for Wise Use

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Ecology, Conservation, and Restoration of Chilika Lagoon, India

Part of the book series: Wetlands: Ecology, Conservation and Management ((WECM,volume 6))

Abstract

Describing the ecological character of Chilika has enabled advances in the formal conceptualisations and definition adopted by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands to be presented, in particular through the inclusion of ecosystem services and governance settings. The evolution of the concept of ecological character is described and related to the parallel concept of ensuring the wise use of wetlands. Framing the ecological character of Chilika as a social-ecological system allows for identification and prioritization of a number of wetland features from their ecological and social subsystems, as well as pathways for governance systems that can be guided by the needs of meeting the limits of acceptable change for these parameters. Uncertainty about the trajectory of changes in ecological character calls for continued efforts in knowledge building, experimental management design, bridging different knowledge systems, and ongoing monitoring and evaluation. The Chilika Development Authority can enable such by: (a) enhancing knowledge and understanding of critical ecosystem functions and their relationship with system dynamics (particularly species migration and exchange between riverine, lagoon and sea; sediment and nutrient dynamics; and factors influencing distribution of macrophytes); (b) feeding ecological knowledge into management decisions and actions (such as the regulation of interferences to migratory pathways or species habitats, regulation of tourism pressure on critical habitats); (c) supporting the development of multilevel governance systems, and polycentric institutional and organizational linkages (particularly linking the role of fisher cooperatives, tourism associations, village panchayats within the overarching governance regime); and, (d) developing capacity for dealing with perturbations and uncertainties, specifically in the context of climate change.

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Acknowledgements

Financial support received from the International Development Research Center, New Delhi under project on ‘Strengthening Livelihood Security and Adapting to Climate Uncertainty in Chilika Lagoon, India’ is gratefully acknowledged. The authors also thank all scientists from the Wetlands Research and Training Center of the Chilika Development Authority for their contributions to the Chilika Ecological Characterization Workshop held from March 3–6, 2015 at the Center. Kamal Dalakoti (Wetlands International South Asia) prepared the map. Dr. Gurdeep Rastogi, Dr. R.N. Samal, Dr. P.R. Muduli, Mr. Sujit K. Mishra provided specific data for setting limits of acceptable change.

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Correspondence to Ritesh Kumar .

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Kumar, R., Finlayson, C.M., Pattnaik, A.K. (2020). Ecological Characterization of Chilika: Defining Strategies and Management Needs for Wise Use. In: Finlayson, C., Rastogi, G., Mishra, D., Pattnaik, A. (eds) Ecology, Conservation, and Restoration of Chilika Lagoon, India. Wetlands: Ecology, Conservation and Management, vol 6. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33424-6_3

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