Collaborative conservation: A nature-based solution for Palk Bay’s people and biodiversity

The Palk Bay Dugong Conservation Reserve is at the heart of a collaborative conservation effort led by the Zoological Society of London, the Wildlife Institute of India, local communities, and the Tamil Nadu Forest Department. Together, they are developing a comprehensive management plan to restore seagrass habitats, increase dugong populations, and reduce threats from fishing net entanglement and illegal activities, such as dugong and sea cucumber harvesting.

This plan emphasizes sustainable fishing practices, more vigorous law enforcement, and diversified income sources for local households to create a balanced approach to conservation. A key project component is a sustainable financing mechanism that includes seagrass blue carbon credits, biodiversity credits, and nature-positive enterprise investments. This innovative strategy not only improves economic sustainability and ensures fair benefit distribution but also enhances climate resilience for the region, reducing dugong mortality rates and protecting vital seagrass ecosystems for future generations.