Papers by Malavika Chauhan
Ecohydrology & Hydrobiology, 2016
We introduce here the term ''River Culture'' to delineate an eco-social approach to mitigate the ... more We introduce here the term ''River Culture'' to delineate an eco-social approach to mitigate the biological and cultural diversity crisis in riverscapes. It is based on the insight that current environmental change endangers both, biological and cultural diversities in rivers and their basins, and those activities to improve ecosystem functions, biodiversity and capacity of the biological species to evolve will have a similarly positive effect on human cultural diversity. ''River Culture'' has two dimensions, including (a) the influence of the biophysical setting of rivers (specifically, their pulsating flow regimes and their biological features) on the expression of elements of human culture in general and (b) the aspect of ''learning from the river'' for the development of technologies and management options that are targeted to maintain and improve ecosystem functions and diversity in a more sustainable way. The River Culture approach, as given in this concept and discussion paper, is preliminarily based on five tenets: (1) Reset values and priorities in riverscape management in favor of human wellbeing and a harmonious coexistence of man and riverscape; (2) Live in the rhythm of the waters, i.e. adapt management options in accordance with the hydrological dynamics rather than fighting against them; (3) Transform traditional use of rivers into modern cultural activities and management options; (4) 'Ecosystem bionics': by copying survival strategies of flood-pulse adapted
The conflict over the use of the waters of the Panchna dam for the Keoladeo National Park, in whi... more The conflict over the use of the waters of the Panchna dam for the Keoladeo National Park, in which upstream farmers in the command area of the dam have staged protests, is about rapidly decreasing water supply amidst a growing number of users. There is a need to increase the quantity of available water, though the government's plan to supply chemically-treated drinking water to the park, as part of a larger scheme, will condemn millions of fish, invertebrates and amphibian young to oblivion.
Abstract. The Sundarban, covering about one million ha in the delta of the rivers Ganga, Brahmapu... more Abstract. The Sundarban, covering about one million ha in the delta of the rivers Ganga, Brahmaputra and Megh-na is shared between Bangladesh (~60 %) and India (~40 %), and is the world’s largest coastal wetland. The area experiences a subtropical monsoonal climate with an annual rainfall of 1,600–1,800 mm and severe cy-clonic storms. Enormous amounts of sediments carried by the rivers contribute to its expansion and dynamics. Salinity gradients change over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. The biodiversity includes about 350 spe-cies of vascular plants, 250 fi shes and 300 birds, besides numerous species of phytoplankton, fungi, bacteria, zoo-plankton, benthic invertebrates, molluscs, reptiles, am-phibians and mammals. Species composition and com-munity structure vary east to west, and along the
The Centre for Ecology Development and Research (CEDAR) works on issues of ecology, environment, ... more The Centre for Ecology Development and Research (CEDAR) works on issues of ecology, environment, and development primarily in the Himalayas. CEDAR works with communities, policy makers, and development practitioners to bridge the gap between theory and practice, policy and implementation. We do so by linking applied research to ground initiatives on the one hand and the output of such collaboration to various external stakeholders on the other hand. We believe that such initiative would help establish a better understanding of the ground realities while, at the same time, help document best practices for replication, subsequent programme design, and optimal allocation of funds.
International journal of ecology and environmental sciences, 2010
This paper discusses the evolution of watershed development projects and their implementation in ... more This paper discusses the evolution of watershed development projects and their implementation in the central Himalayan state of Uttarakhand in India. It traces the historical growth of thinking on watershed in the region, and highlights issues and influences. Impacts and benefits are discussed in relation to sustainability. The review shows that success in these projects is usually isolated, mostly seen in small micro-watersheds with naturally good water harvesting conditions. Overall, the results and impacts of watershed programmes in the region have been vastly disproportionate to financial and technical inputs, usually because benefits are slow, gradual and unevenly distributed. The involvement of NGOs, which bring a strong social organizational aspect to the activities, brought necessary focus to the programmes. However, in some areas unhealthy levels of community dependence on NGOs are visible, losing the long-term sustainability factor. Gaps in the understanding of technical a...
... To protect the town Suraj Mal, the then ruler of Bharatpur state constructed Ajan Bund someti... more ... To protect the town Suraj Mal, the then ruler of Bharatpur state constructed Ajan Bund sometime between 1726 and 1763, a kilometre from ... It is dominated by ahirs (around 120 families) followed by kolis (100 families) while the rest are from dalit, suthar, bawa and bharwad ...
SIL Proceedings, 1922-2010
Conserving Biodiversity in Arid Regions, 2003
... 6. REFERENCES Abdi, RD 1993. Maldharis of Saurashtra-Glimpses into their past and present. Su... more ... 6. REFERENCES Abdi, RD 1993. Maldharis of Saurashtra-Glimpses into their past and present. Suchitra offset, Bhavnagar, India. 57 pages. AH, S. and Vijayan, VS 1986. Keoladeo National Park ecology study. Summary report 1980-85. ...
River Research and Applications, Jun 1, 2005
This paper documents vegetation changes in a floodplain area lying next to a newly constructed re... more This paper documents vegetation changes in a floodplain area lying next to a newly constructed reservoir on the River Yamuna (near Delhi), about a kilometre downstream of an older, silted-up reservoir. The study site was a rectangular depression bounded by dykes on three sides and agricultural fields on the fourth. The composition and abundance of species in the plant community were observed over a ten year period (1986)(1987)(1988)(1989)(1990)(1991)(1992)(1993)(1994)(1995)(1996) and changes in water level both at the study site and in the reservoir were followed. Site hydrology was governed by water level changes caused by reservoir operation with effect from 1990, when it was first filled to capacity and water began to seep through the dyke. The study area experienced increasing depth, duration and frequency of flooding. Species richness peaked in 1992, and the plant community developed four distinct zones closely associated with the hydrological gradient. Patchiness also increased though Typha angustata patches merged over time to form a continuous expanse. The microtopography of the study site, and hydrological and plant-induced changes were largely responsible for community changes. Dyke compaction over time resulted in cessation of seepage and the study site gradually dried up by 1998, with a consequent loss of plant species. The study concludes that the hydrological regime, rather than physical connectivity with the river, may play the dominant role in developing and maintaining plant community structure in floodplain wetlands.
This paper discusses the evolution of watershed development projects and their implementation in ... more This paper discusses the evolution of watershed development projects and their implementation in the central Himalayan state of Uttarakhand in India. It traces the historical growth of thinking on watershed in the region, and highlights issues and influences. Impacts and benefits are discussed in relation to sustainability. The review shows that success in these projects is usually isolated, mostly seen in small micro-watersheds with naturally good water harvesting conditions. Overall, the results and impacts of watershed programmes in the region have been vastly disproportionate to financial and technical inputs, usually because benefits are slow, gradual and unevenly distributed. The involvement of NGOs, which bring a strong social organizational aspect to the activities, brought necessary focus to the programmes. However, in some areas unhealthy levels of community dependence on NGOs are visible, losing the long-term sustainability factor. Gaps in the understanding of technical aspects including hydrogeological issues, changing livelihood and landuse patterns, and upstream -downstream linkages continue to undermine possible impacts. However, watershed programmes are evolving with time, adapting and streamlining thinking and processes, and lessons learned are being used in the design and development of future programmes.
The River Yamuna is the second most important river after River Ganga and has attracted much atte... more The River Yamuna is the second most important river after River Ganga and has attracted much attention because three major cities -Delhi (the capital of India), Agra (the city known for Taj Mahal) and Mathura (the birthplace of Lord Krishna) -are located within a stretch of 200 km on its banks. This stretch is the most polluted and degraded in the entire country. Gopal and Sah (1993) have described the characteristics of Yamuna river basin and reviewed the state of knowledge of the river. There has been relatively little change in the state of the river or our understanding of its ecosystem characteristics except that the levels of pollution have increased despite increasing efforts under Yamuna Action Plan II (YAP-II) and the encroachments on to the floodplain have increased. In the context of the present book and the proposals for rehabilitation of the upper catchment of River Tons and a part of the floodplains in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, we describe here only the salient featur...
Our National River Ganga, 2013
Economic and Political Weekly, 2006
... To protect the town Suraj Mal, the then ruler of Bharatpur state constructed Ajan Bund someti... more ... To protect the town Suraj Mal, the then ruler of Bharatpur state constructed Ajan Bund sometime between 1726 and 1763, a kilometre from ... It is dominated by ahirs (around 120 families) followed by kolis (100 families) while the rest are from dalit, suthar, bawa and bharwad ...
River Research and Applications, 2005
This paper documents vegetation changes in a floodplain area lying next to a newly constructed re... more This paper documents vegetation changes in a floodplain area lying next to a newly constructed reservoir on the River Yamuna (near Delhi), about a kilometre downstream of an older, silted-up reservoir. The study site was a rectangular depression bounded by dykes on three sides and agricultural fields on the fourth. The composition and abundance of species in the plant community were observed over a ten year period (1986)(1987)(1988)(1989)(1990)(1991)(1992)(1993)(1994)(1995)(1996) and changes in water level both at the study site and in the reservoir were followed. Site hydrology was governed by water level changes caused by reservoir operation with effect from 1990, when it was first filled to capacity and water began to seep through the dyke. The study area experienced increasing depth, duration and frequency of flooding. Species richness peaked in 1992, and the plant community developed four distinct zones closely associated with the hydrological gradient. Patchiness also increased though Typha angustata patches merged over time to form a continuous expanse. The microtopography of the study site, and hydrological and plant-induced changes were largely responsible for community changes. Dyke compaction over time resulted in cessation of seepage and the study site gradually dried up by 1998, with a consequent loss of plant species. The study concludes that the hydrological regime, rather than physical connectivity with the river, may play the dominant role in developing and maintaining plant community structure in floodplain wetlands.
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Papers by Malavika Chauhan