Amrit Dharohar Scheme 2023, Objectives, Components, UPSC Notes

Amrit Dharohar Scheme is a wetland conservation and nature-tourism initiative focused on the sustainable use and conservation of Ramsar Sites. It integrates species and habitat conservation through local participation. The scheme promotes biodiversity conservation while encouraging replication of successful conservation practices.

As a site-based initiative, it involves government institutions as well as local communities. Its implementation faces challenges related to tourism-conservation balance, institutional coordination, scientific monitoring, livelihood viability, and resource mobilisation

Amrit Dharohar Scheme 2023 About

The Amrit Dharohar Scheme is a government initiative launched in June 2023 to promote the conservation and sustainable use of India's vital wetland ecosystems, specifically focusing on Ramsar sites.

• Amrit Dharohar Scheme Launch Date: Announced in the Union Budget 2023-24 under the "Green Growth" priority and launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• Implementing Ministries: A collaborative effort by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and the Ministry of Tourism.
• Duration: Implemented over a period of three years (2023 onwards).

Ramsar Sites

A Ramsar Site is a wetland of international importance designated under the Ramsar Convention, an intergovernmental treaty adopted in 1971 for the conservation and wise use of wetlands. Wetlands may be natural or artificial and include lakes, rivers, estuaries, mangroves and other wetland ecosystems important for biodiversity and ecological functions.

Amrit Dharohar Scheme Objectives

Amrit Dharohar Scheme aims to conserve and sustainably use Ramsar Sites while integrating biodiversity conservation, nature tourism, livelihoods and climate action. Its key objectives include:

• Species and Habitat Conservation: Safeguard biodiversity and habitats of species of local, national and international conservation significance.
• Wetland Conservation: Promote optimal and wise use of wetlands while maintaining their ecological character.
• Nature Tourism: Promote sustainable, high-value nature tourism that supports conservation and local economies.
• Livelihood Generation: Create employment and diversify livelihood opportunities for wetland-dependent communities.
• Community Participation: Encourage local communities and citizens to participate in wetland conservation through initiatives such as the Wetland Mitra Network.
• Carbon Conservation: Conserve and enhance wetland carbon stocks and support climate-change mitigation.
• Monitoring & Replication: Strengthen biodiversity inventories, ecosystem-health monitoring and management effectiveness while developing conservation practices for replication.

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Amrit Dharohar Scheme Components

The implementation strategy of the Amrit Dharohar Scheme is organised around four major components covering biodiversity, tourism, livelihoods and wetland carbon.

• Species and Habitat Conservation: Integrated management plans, biodiversity inventories, hydrological monitoring and management-effectiveness assessment.
  • Example: Floral and faunal inventories of 75 Ramsar Sites were developed by the BSI and ZSI, respectively. 
• Nature Tourism: Carrying-capacity-based tourism planning, interpretation centres, tourism infrastructure and training of local nature and culture guides.
  • Example: 196 local community members from five Ramsar Sites were trained and certified as nature guides during November 2023–January 2024 through MoEFCC–Ministry of Tourism collaboration. 
• Wetlands Livelihoods: Skill development, alternative livelihoods, employment opportunities and micro-enterprise development for local communities.
• Wetlands Carbon: GHG inventories, carbon baselines, wetland restoration, rewetting and enhancement of natural vegetation.

Amrit Dharohar Scheme Implementation

Amrit Dharohar Scheme is primarily a site-based initiative rather than a conventional individual-benefit scheme with fixed eligibility criteria. It follows a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, involving government institutions, local communities, knowledge partners and citizens.

• Ramsar Sites: Serve as model or anchor sites for their respective States/UTs and for replication across other wetlands.
• State & District Institutions: State Wetland Authorities, District Administrations, Municipal Corporations and Gram Panchayats participate in implementation.
• Wetland Mitras: Citizens participate through the voluntary network supporting wetland conservation and management.
  • Example: The Save Wetlands Campaign engaged 7,66,938 Wetland Mitras/pledge participants against a target of 20,000. 
• Community Institutions: Biodiversity Management Committees contribute to the conservation and updating of People's Biodiversity Registers.
  • Example: More than 600 PBRs around Ramsar Sites were updated under Amrit Dharohar.
• Knowledge Partners: Research and knowledge institutions provide technical and scientific support.
• Convergence: Implementation involves collaboration with ministries and agencies such as the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Education, and the National Museum of Natural History.

Amrit Dharohar Scheme Significance

Amrit Dharohar is significant for integrating wetland conservation with sustainable development, community livelihoods, nature tourism and climate action. It provides a framework for maintaining the ecological, economic and cultural values of Ramsar Sites.

• Wetland Conservation: Promotes wise and sustainable use while maintaining the ecological character and ecosystem services of Ramsar Sites.
• Biodiversity Protection: Strengthens conservation through biodiversity inventories and community-based documentation.
• Sustainable Nature Tourism: Harnesses the tourism potential of Ramsar Sites while supporting conservation and local economies.
• Livelihood Generation: Promotes alternative livelihoods, skill development and nature-guide opportunities for wetland-dependent communities.
• Community Participation: Strengthens citizen involvement through Wetland Mitras, BMCs and local institutions.
• Scientific Management: Improves wetland knowledge through inventories, health assessments and management planning.
  • Example: The Save Wetlands Campaign completed ground-truthing of 77,087 wetlands and prepared 6,248 wetland health cards. 
• Awareness & Replication: Creates public awareness and develops Ramsar Sites as models for conservation practices that can be replicated elsewhere.
  • Example: More than 6,400 awareness and engagement events were conducted during the Save Wetlands Campaign. 

Amrit Dharohar Scheme Challenges

Amrit Dharohar  Scheme’s broad objectives require coordination across multiple institutions and balancing conservation with tourism, livelihoods and development. Key challenges include:

• Conservation–Tourism Trade-off: Expanding tourism infrastructure without adversely affecting the ecological character of fragile Ramsar Sites.
• Institutional Coordination: Ensuring effective convergence among Central ministries, State/UT authorities, district bodies, local institutions and knowledge partners.
• Integrated Management: Developing effective management plans requires institutional capacity, scientific expertise and continuous monitoring.
• Community Participation: Sustaining meaningful participation and ensuring conservation-linked livelihood benefits reach local communities.
• Livelihood Viability: Creating sustainable employment requires appropriate skills, training, market linkages and support for micro-enterprises.
• Scientific Monitoring: Maintaining reliable biodiversity, hydrological, water-quality and ecosystem-health data requires technical capacity.
• Resource Mobilisation: Convergence with multiple Central and State schemes and partnerships requires effective coordination and timely resource mobilisation.
  • Example: The Save Wetlands Campaign engaged 7,66,938 Wetland Mitras/pledge participants against a target of 20,000, highlighting the scale of public participation and the need to translate awareness into sustained conservation action.

Amrit Dharohar Scheme UPSC PYQs

Q1: Consider the following pairs: (UPSC Prelims 2022) 

Wetland                                           Lake Location 

1. Hokera Wetland                                  Punjab 
2. Renuka Wetland                              Himachal Pradesh 
3. Rudrasagar Lake                                  Tripura 
4. Sasthamkotta Lake                                Tamil Nadu 

How many pairs given above are correctly matched? 

(a) Only one pair 

(b) Only two pairs 

(c) Only three pairs 

(d) All four pairs

Ans: (b)

Q2: If a wetland of international importance is brought under the ‘Montreux Record’, what does it imply? (UPSC Prelims 2014) 

a) Changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring or are likely to occur in the wetland as a result of human interference. 

b) The country in which the wetland is located should enact a law to prohibit any human activity within five kilometres of the edge of the wetland. 

c) The survival of the wetland depends on the cultural practices and traditions of certain communities living in its vicinity, and therefore, the cultural diversity therein should not be destroyed. 

d) It is given the status of ‘World Heritage 

Ans: (a)