Proliferating EbA Practices in Indian Cities (EPIC)

About

The project will create an enabling environment for mainstreaming EbA solutions in the water management strategy of Bhubaneshwar city in India. The specific focus of the project is on flood mitigation and reducing instances of water scarcity. The activities that will be conducted to achieve the overall objective of the project include (a) performing economic valuation of three major ecosystems in the city, as a precursor to seek buy-in for adoption of EbA solutions from different stakeholders, (b) developing an evidence base of practical EbA solutions for the city especially highlighting the relevant local and traditional practices, (c) creating decision support systems to facilitate the uptake of EbA for mitigating urban flooding and reducing water scarcity, and (d) inspiring other cities in India to adopt EbA as a tangible avenue to complement ongoing water management initiatives. 

Project start date: October 2022

Duration: 24 months

Cohort: 2nd (September 2021 cutoff)

Award: US$249,975

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Project Status

Over time, the natural ecosystems in urban settings experience significant modifications. The primary goal of the EPIC project is to give urban ecosystems a priority in the climate change adaptation programmes of Indian cities. Essentially, the EPIC project is divided into two stages: the first is to show results in Bhubaneswar, and the second is to encourage a larger cohort of Indian cities to adopt EbA practices. Thus far for the first stage, principal stakeholders- the state and municipal level leadership have been involved from the project’s inception. Meetings with key stakeholders are held on a regular basis, and consultation workshops have been organised to encourage key government functionaries to acknowledge the relevance of urban ecosystems. Simultaneously, leading organisations like WWF India, UN-Habitat, Wetland International, INTACH, academic institutions, and a small number of private sector experts have been consulted to gain insight into the ecosystem valuation landscape, particularly in India, and to get their perspective on ecosystem valuation. Fact sheets, thematic mapping, and ground surveys have been carried out in the project geography to develop site-specific nature-based solutions to relieve urban flooding and water scarcity. The communities living close to the vulnerable locations are expected to benefit from the NbS’s implementation. To accomplish the project’s goal to create a knowledge base, several knowledge projects’ advisories are under preparation. The insights gained from the EPIC project will be disseminated in the national symposium which will serve as a platform for showcasing the benefits of EbA to cities across India that are gearing up to adapt to the repercussions of climate change being invited. Social and print media have been so far used to share updates on the EPIC project.