Natural Resource Management

Natural resource management receives special attention in SRISTI’s research programme. Detailed case studies and in-depth research is aimed at studying innovations in soil and water conservation, forest and tree based innovations and common property resource management.  

Studies on indigenous soil and water conservation practices

Case studies on virda systems in Gujarat for harvesting fresh water in saline regions, Khadin systems and other traditional water harvesting structures in Rajasthan and some other innovations from Madhya Pradesh are in progress. Recently, a study on variation of indigenous water harvesting structures and farming systems on a gradient line cutting isohytes of 400 mm to 100 mm annual rainfall was initiated in Rajasthan.

Future plans include a compilation of selected innovations for watershed management and another compilation of detailed case studies exclusively on soil and water conservation.

Studies on local initiatives for tree and forest management and germplasm conservation

SRISTI has taken up studies on documenting, and augmenting, the repertoire of local initiatives for tree and forest management with the support from FAO/FTPP. Two detailed case studies respectively from Gujarat and Rajasthan have been completed and five more in India are planned. One regional level and one south-east asia level workshops have been organised under the project. An inventory of sacred groves in being initiated.

Action research on institution building and ecological economics

Action research studies on institution building are being pursued with NGOs, farmers’ groups in the form of Shodh Sankal (club of experimenting farmers) and Gyan Van (knowledge forest). SRISTI extends its support to its network members and institutions various activities and conducts many workshops in related disciplines.

A directory of scholars pursuing research and/or teaching in ecological/environmental economics was compiled as a part of a global initiative of Gothenburg University, Sweden. SRISTI extended its support to the summer schools on CPR management for university teachers conducted by Centre for Management in Agriculture, IIMA.