integrated coastal zone management project west ... - Iczmpwb.org

36technical field staff in biodiversity conservation in coastal areas including specializedconservation issues of tigers of Sundarban.96. WBBB has a scientific manpower of 7 research officers in the core team. Anothergroup of 17 scientists from various Universities and Institutes are involved in collaborativeresearch programmes with the Board. At present about 12 research projects are continuing inthe Biodiversity Board. The scientists of the Board regularly participate in various nationalseminar and bring out publications which are highly acclaimed in the scientific community.97. Sundarban Development Board(SDB) has over the years has achieved success inpromoting and funding several schemes in the Sundarban region on livelihood developmentof the local population. The Board played a pivotal role for a balanced development of theSundarban region by co-ordinating the programmes of various line departments of the State.Ecotourism and preparedness for disaster management are the other fields in which SDBplayed a stellar and catalytical role. The Board obviously needs dedicated well trained manpower if it has to play its role to the fullest extent.98. DSDA has been able to imbibe a scientific flavour in local planning andadministration of the critically sensitive tourist resort of Digha-Sankarpur having multifacetedchallenges relating to coastal zone management. However, the Authority lacksorganized trained and qualified man power to carry forward the modest beginning made byit.99. School of Oceanographic Study, Jadavpur University has developed specializedresearch expertise in various fields of coastal research. Their research endeavourencompasses physical, chemical and biological aspects of coastal eco-system. A majorachievement of the School is in their working out the tell-tale effects of sea level riseparticularly in Sundarban areas where a net loss of land areas has been established during thelast century. The School has built up substantial capacity in trained man power andinstrumentation in the field of remote sensing and GIS techniques but their entire expertiserelies heavily on part time efforts of key personnel. Lack of a suitable second line expertiselevel may affect its working in the coming years.100. The major bottleneck in the state for capacity building in CZM activities is lack ofadequate number of scientific personnel in most fields. IESWM and to some extent WBPCBhire temporary research scholars who form the back bone of CZM activities in these36