Analyzing Integrated Wastelands Development Programme in West Bengal: An ecological sustainability perspective

Ecological sustainability is long term maintenance of the capability of the environment to support human life. It is one of the most important dimensions of the sustainability triad i.e Ecological, economic and social sustainability. Achieving ecological sustainability would be instrumental in reversing the trend of fast degrading natural resources of the country. Integrated Wastelands Development Programme (IWDP) which is implemented in four district of West Bengal from 2004 particularly for development of degraded or potentially degradable land has been analysed for ecological sustainability in terms of parameter like increased vegetation, technological intervention with providing due importance to indigenous technologies etc. and the constraints faced by beneficiaries in different stages of project management. This study was conducted in Taldangra block of Bankura district. Result indicated that consideration of indigenous technologies (weight 0.467) and environmental effects (weight 0.328) were perceived as the most important indicators of ecological sustainability. Use of erosion checking measure and water harvesting measure was the most urgent measure to check natural resource degradation. Overall activities under the project had a medium level of ecological sustainability (overall ecological sustainability index 55.75).