India’s major deltaic systems—the Sundarbans, Krishna–Godavari, and Mahanadi—are among the country’s most climate-vulnerable regions, facing accelerated sea-level rise, recurrent cyclones, flooding, and salinity intrusion. Nature-Based Solutions (NbS), which leverage natural processes to strengthen ecosystem functions, offer long-term and cost-effective pathways for climate mitigation and microclimate regulation in these fragile landscapes. This chapter examines the role of NbS such as mangrove restoration, wetland protection, riverine buffer zones, and agroforestry in enhancing carbon sequestration, improving local microclimates, reducing extreme-weather impacts, and supporting biodiversity. Drawing on case studies from India’s key deltas, the chapter highlights community-driven initiatives and government programmes that jointly enhance ecological resilience while delivering social and economic co-benefits. It also analyses the major barriers to effective NbS implementation, including land-use conflicts, funding constraints, and governance gaps, and proposes policy measures for integrating NbS into regional planning and climate-adaptation strategies. By aligning with India’s national climate commitments and Sustainable Development Goals, NbS emerge as scalable and adaptive tools for strengthening long-term resilience in delta regions. The chapter underscores the need for collaborative, multisectoral planning and inclusive stakeholder engagement to ensure that nature-based climate actions in India’s deltaic landscapes are both effective and sustainable.

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Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Mitigation in Indian Deltas

  • Shashikant Nishant Sharma,
  • Kavita Dehalwar

摘要

India’s major deltaic systems—the Sundarbans, Krishna–Godavari, and Mahanadi—are among the country’s most climate-vulnerable regions, facing accelerated sea-level rise, recurrent cyclones, flooding, and salinity intrusion. Nature-Based Solutions (NbS), which leverage natural processes to strengthen ecosystem functions, offer long-term and cost-effective pathways for climate mitigation and microclimate regulation in these fragile landscapes. This chapter examines the role of NbS such as mangrove restoration, wetland protection, riverine buffer zones, and agroforestry in enhancing carbon sequestration, improving local microclimates, reducing extreme-weather impacts, and supporting biodiversity. Drawing on case studies from India’s key deltas, the chapter highlights community-driven initiatives and government programmes that jointly enhance ecological resilience while delivering social and economic co-benefits. It also analyses the major barriers to effective NbS implementation, including land-use conflicts, funding constraints, and governance gaps, and proposes policy measures for integrating NbS into regional planning and climate-adaptation strategies. By aligning with India’s national climate commitments and Sustainable Development Goals, NbS emerge as scalable and adaptive tools for strengthening long-term resilience in delta regions. The chapter underscores the need for collaborative, multisectoral planning and inclusive stakeholder engagement to ensure that nature-based climate actions in India’s deltaic landscapes are both effective and sustainable.