MSSRF 30 Years. Presented by Dr.Selvam, Former Executive Director, MSSRF,Chennai

1. Reducing vulnerability and increasing
resilience to climate change in the coastal
areas
Consultation on Achieving Sustainable
Development Goals and Strengthening Science for
Climate Resilience
M S Swaminathan Research Foundation
August 7-9, 2019

2. Coastal zone management in India
1981 GO banned permanent construction within 500 m
from the HT line
1991 Coastal Zone Regulation Notification under
Environment Protection Act
1991-04 amended more than 25 times
• diluted effectiveness
2004 M S Swaminathan Committee was formed to
review CRZ notification
Suggestion - shift from regulating activities to
manage activities

3. Community
development
Developmental processes in the coastal zone
Imperatives are repulsive to each other
Economic
development
Ecological
development

4. M S Swaminathan Committee suggested to balance the
development processes to achieve Sustainable Development
Economic
development
Community
development
Ecological
development

5. Current status
Economic dev.
Ecological dev
Community
Dev.
Increases vulnerability
and decreases resilience
Coastal ecosystems Coastal poor and women
Port
Power plants
Industrial complex
Special economic
Zones
Tourism
Urban develop
Policy support
Resource allocation

6. Problem is further aggravated by the climate change
concerns
Sea level rise
Increased frequency and intensity of cyclone and
associated seawater surges
Cumulative effects
Salinization of water and land resources
Damages to 5 capitals (natural, human, social, physical
financial)
Long term recovery period

7. Adaptation strategies to SLR – IPCC Model
RETREAT
ACCOMODATION
PROTECTION
PROTECTION
ACCOMODATION
Suitable for rich and less
populated countries
Hard solutions – Expensive
Soft solutions – Mangroves
Coral reefs
Change in land use: LESA;
saline tolerant crops;
mangroves; coral reefs
Options tested and readily
available

8. Disaster Risk Reduction in coastal areas
Preparedness and mitigation
Improve identification and assessment of disaster
risk
Early Warning systems
Ecosystem Approach
Institutional arrangements
Planning
Response - Relief
Recovery – 5 capitals (natural, human, social, physical and
financial)

9. Integration of sustainable development, climate change
adaptation and disaster risk reduction in a mutually reinforcing
manner will reduce vulnerability and to increase resilience of
coastal ecosystems and coastal community
Sustainable
development
Climate
change
adaptation
Disaster
Risk
Reduction
Reduced Vulnerability and increased Resilience

10. To be tested - cyclone prone coastal district
or block
to identify available options to achieve SD, CCA
and DRR
to identify opportunities and gaps to integrate
them
to identify policy and resources supported
required