From 23 –27 September 2026, Nature Environment & Wildlife Society (NEWS) organized a 5-day Capacity Building Programme on “Ecosystem Services Valuation and Diverse Values of Nature in the Indian Sundarban Mangrove Ecosystem” at ICAR-CIFE, Kolkata. 25 participants, including scientists, government officials, and research scholars, explored how the diverse values of the Sundarban can inform conservation, climate resilience, livelihoods and development planning.
The programme brought together eminent experts:
🔹 Prof. Ramachandra Bhatta, Former Professor of Fisheries Economics, Mangalore College of Fisheries, Karnataka, and Scientist, ICAR-CMFRI
🔹 Prof. Mahadev G. Bhat, Distinguished University Professor and Fulbright-Nehru Scholar, Florida International University, USA 🔹 Dr. Prasanna Surathkal, Research Fellow, Azim Premji University, Bengaluru
Prof. Bhatta shared insights from his work on the Everglades in Florida, drawing comparisons with the Indian Sundarban and demonstrating qualitative and quantitative approaches to ecosystem services valuation.
A key highlight was the hands-on Ecosystem Service Evaluation exercise, encouraging participants to explore: What does nature provide? Who benefits? How can these benefits be measured?
The programme was enriched by the presence of Ms. Ajanta Dey, Joint Director and Programme Secretary, NEWS, and Mr. Milon Sinha, Director, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry.
A panel discussion featuring Dr. T.K. Ghoshal, Principal Scientist, ICAR-CIFE, reinforced an important message: ecosystem valuation should help Sundarban communities recognize, protect, and grow with nature while building resilient livelihoods.