Pune: The Department of Environment and Climate Change, Government of Maharashtra, has signed an MoU with the Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR) and its research arm, the WOTR Centre for Resilience Studies (W-CReS), to integrate Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) into the state’s development framework.
The partnership aims to embed ecosystem services in planning, conserve biodiversity, strengthen rural institutions, and involve communities in co-creating climate solutions. It also features in the Maharashtra State Action Plan on Climate Change (MH-SAPCC): Pathways for 2030.
Maharashtra, with over 112 million people, remains heavily dependent on agriculture, which employs nearly half its workforce and contributes 11% to the state’s GDP. But recurring droughts, erratic rainfall, and rising water scarcity threaten both livelihoods and food security.
By institutionalising EbA, the state seeks to: Regenerate degraded ecosystems and conserve biodiversity, Equip communities to sustainably manage natural resources, Enhance adaptive capacity of farmers and rural institutions, Reduce risks from climate shocks such as droughts and floods
The agreement rests on three pillars:
1. Ecosystem Regeneration – restoring degraded land and conserving biodiversity.
2. Community Participation – empowering rural communities to manage resources inclusively and equitably.
3. Institutional Capacity – strengthening local institutions to generate resilient incomes and sustainable livelihoods.
“Ecosystem-based Adaptation must become the backbone of Maharashtra’s development journey. Only by weaving nature into policy and practice can we build resilience and secure incomes and biodiversity for the future,” said Marcella D’Souza, Director, W-CReS.
Abhijit Ghorpade, Director, State Climate Action Cell, added: “EbA should be the bedrock of public policy. By working with WOTR and W-CReS, we aim to embed resilience into every layer of Maharashtra’s development agenda.”
WOTR and W-CReS bring over three decades of experience in watershed development, water management, and climate-resilient agriculture. They have already restored 3.84 million hectares of degraded land and improved water security for 8.4 million people across 10 states.
Through this collaboration, Maharashtra aims to mainstream people-centric, ecosystem-based solutions and align its development goals with India’s commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
