Narasimha Hegde, project director, Snehakunja Trust
Title of CEPF-Supported Project: Linking Fragmented Fresh-water Swamps through the Restoration of Micro-corridors in central Western Ghats, India
What was the most important lesson learned?
Understanding the anthropogenic influences on the regional ecology, having knowledge of participatory restoration plans, and adopting integrated and interdisciplinary landscape approaches are essential for ecological restoration and management of fresh water swamps and tropical forests.
Describe how you learned this and whether / how you have adapted your approach or specific project elements as a result.
Fresh water swamps (FWS) are among the globally recognized, critically endangered habitats prioritized for restoration in the Western Ghats. Some of these swamps are considered sacred and thus have cultural value. Occurring as a network of streams, FWSs play a critical role in flood control and have been dubbed ‘lifeline of fresh-water 
organisms.’ However, these habitats have now been reduced to highly fragmented pockets due to degradation. We undertook restoration of these fragments through the following steps: a) mapping the landscape elements and identifying critical micro-corridors linking the fragments; b) assessing the species composition, diversity, demographic traits, regeneration, and spatial dispersion patterns; and c) undertaking enrichment planting in degraded fragments with carefully selected swamp species.
A generic protocol for restoration of FWSs suitable to the Western Ghats of India was developed, and the ecosystem was restored by creating micro-corridors using participatory restoration plans in the degraded patches of fresh water swamps. Base-line data on the levels of dependency of local people on swamps and threats were assessed. The local people, including women’s groups, were empowered by creating village forest committees, swamp restoration committees and a community trust fund. Communities were also technically empowered to collectively grow nurseries of swamp species for an operational-level planting.
By revitalizing local traditions of swamp-tree-worshipping, the restoration was made more inclusive to people. In order to reduce the dependency on swamps by the local people, community assets like fuel-efficient ovens and driers were developed in the target villages through the CEPF grant, as well as by raising funds through matching grants from other state-departments.
Various stakeholders having resource management expertise were involved in all of the project activities to achieve lasting restoration of FWS.