Environment, Climate and Natural Landscape

Resource Institution: Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (IFGTB), Coimbatore

Overview:The project aims to identify and deploy mangrove genetic resources to address hypersalinity and enhance overall mangrove productivity. It focuses on developing control pollination and propagation techniques, selecting climate-resilient mangrove genetics for future afforestation programs, and strategizing mitigation measures.

Resource Institution: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras

Overview: The project will examine peri-urbanization dynamics in Madurai and Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Its goal is to create a methodological blueprint for analyzing peri-urbanization and propose targeted interventions. Key themes include urban sprawl, labor migration, and growth management amidst climate change and sustainable development challenges. The aim is to develop recommendations for addressing these issues effectively.

Resource Institution: World Resources Institute India (WRI)

Overview: This study will collaborate with the district administration in Tamil Nadu to decentralize climate risk management and integrate climate adaptation into policy. Anchored with the office of the District Collector, it aims to identify and prioritize climate adaptation actions and map climate co-benefits of development interventions. A framework for district climate adaptation prioritization will be developed through community engagement and expert consultations.

Resource Institution: Auroville Botanical Gardens

Overview: : The project aims to identify and classify mine sites across Tamil Nadu for potential restoration, considering various factors such as land stability, soil type conducive for rehabilitation, topsoil availability, proper disposal of excavation material, and water availability. Information will be gathered from relevant departments, including the mining department and pollution control board. The project will utilize GIS and geospatial information for mapping mine sites and conduct on-site verification to identify potential restoration candidate sites.

Resource Institution: Tamil Nadu Agricultural University(TNAU), Coimbatore

Overview: The study aims to evaluate Vetiver grass technology’s (VGT) efficacy in restoring tannery-contaminated soil, assessing its efficiency in carbon sequestration, and promoting adoption among farmers in affected areas. This involves field evaluations, carbon sequestration assessment, and farmer demonstrations to encourage VGT implementation

Resource Institution: Dept. of Forests, Chennai

Overview: Urbanization in India signifies economic growth but often lacks planning, leading to unsustainable land use, environmental degradation, and issues like pollution and traffic congestion. Rapid and unregulated urban development alters landscapes, impacting microclimates. The study uses satellite imagery to evaluate vegetation cover in five corporation areas to increase urban green cover

Resource Institution: Dept. of Forests, Chennai

Overview: The study evaluates forest vulnerability to fires in Tamil Nadu using Geographic Information Science. Analyzing factors like topography, vegetation, and human presence, it identifies 56% as highly susceptible areas and 30% as moderately vulnerable. Insights reveal specific forest types and regions prone to fires, aiding in management planning. The research aims to guide forest fire mitigation strategies in the state.

Resource Institution: Annamalai University

Overview: This study assesses land use conversion in Tamil Nadu’s Cuddalore and Viluppuram coastal districts. It identifies constraints in acquiring land for tree plantations, recommends cashew and casuarina cultivation, and emphasizes policies like Coastal Regulation Act enforcement, farmer awareness, and public-private partnerships to preserve coastal areas, combat land degradation, and promote sustainable greening initiatives.

Resource Institution: Dept. of Forests, Chennai

Overview: The Massive Tree Planting Programme (MTPP) launched in Tamil Nadu aims to increase green cover. Evaluation in Cuddalore District utilized field inventory and satellite analysis, revealing a 26.50% survival rate of planted seedlings. Satellite images indicated a 66 sq. km rise in forest/tree cover, accounting for 13.5% of the district’s area, showcasing the program’s impact assessment.

Resource Institution: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai

Overview: This study assesses the anticipated impacts of sea-level rise (SLR) up to 2050 along Chennai’s coast under two scenarios (1m and 3m rise), revealing significant land, population, and infrastructure at risk. Economic losses are estimated at ₹7,91,790 Cr (Scenario A) and ₹10,68,009 Cr (Scenario B), profoundly affecting ports and urban areas. Recommendations emphasize climate-conscious coastal development and wetland preservation to safeguard vulnerable populations.

Resource Institution: Madurai Kamaraj University(MKU), Madurai

Overview: This study investigates the ecological, sociological, and economic impacts of invasive Pterygoplichthys species in the Cauvery and Vaigai river basins in Tamil Nadu. Objectives include assessing the distribution, abundance, reproductive potential, water quality influence, and impacts, aiming to devise strategies to mitigate population growth and prevent further invasion in non-invaded regions.

Resource Institution: Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation Research(CCCAR), Anna University, Chennai

Overview: This integrated study in the Chennai Metropolitan Area combines future climate scenarios and urban drainage networks to evaluate projected climate change impacts on stormwater and floodplain management in Velachery and Mudichur. Objectives encompass land use mapping, analyzing past/future climate scenarios, assessing surface flooding impacts, identifying vulnerability hotspots, and proposing mitigation options for science-based climate risk assessment and urban water management adaptation.

Resource Institution: Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation Research(CCCAR), Anna University, Chennai

Overview: The rapid urbanization and population surge in India have propelled migration from villages to cities, resulting in substantial Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) production. Expected to escalate as India targets industrialized status, MSW poses environmental threats. Chennai experienced a 75% waste increase from 2002 to 2014, surpassing population growth, leading to open dumping and hazardous waste burning, impacting both the environment and public health. The study aims to study the impacts of Chennai’s two dumpsites.

Resource Institution: University of Madras, Chennai

Overview: This study assesses groundwater quality, water level fluctuations, pollution presence around a landfill, and geological aspects using geophysical tools. It aims to comprehend primary pollutants’ movement, aiding in future landfill design and pollution reduction techniques, and providing a foundation for advanced research on landfills.

Resource Institution: Centre for Development Finance (CDF),Institute for Financial Management and Research (IFMR), Chennai

Overview: This study assesses environmental performance at the district level in Tamil Nadu. Focused on institutional change, it aims to pinpoint areas needing corrective measures, fostering policy integration for sustainable development, and emphasizes the gap between scientific research and ground-level data availability.