SDG 14: Life Below Water
Introduction:
Sustainable Development Goal 14 “Life Below Water” may be achieved by involving Education, Research and Practice. The faculty of Agriculture, Department of Environmental Science, Sri Sri Centre for Advance Research on Water Resources and Environmental Management (SSCARWREM) are primarily involved in education and research on water resources. The operations and maintenance department takes care of the technological, operational and facilitation of the water supply, water treatment and wastewater treatment and monitoring. Sri Sri University organises events, workshops, conferences and other awareness rallies, events by time.
- Environmental studies is a compulsory subject for all undergraduates. Its syllabus encapsulates water Scarcity, water pollution and its management.
- Undergraduate Programmes are taught on Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, an integral focus of which is watershed management
- Educational programmes are run on fresh-water ecosystems including water irrigation practices, water management and conservation for local communities
- River Rejuvenation Projects have been undertaken by the Vyakti Vikas Kendra, India (VVKI). VVKI has signed an MoU with Sri Sri University, focusing on the following:
- extensive water conservation measures,
- creating an increase in ground cover to establish sustainable farming practices,
- creating institutions for sustainable natural resource management, and
- aligning with govt schemes to make the River Rejuvenation Project functional.
- Awareness campaigns are organised by the SSU on the Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of the Oceans like beach cleaning, community outreach programmes
- Constant initiatives are carried out to maintain the ecological value of the campus’s internal and adjacent wetlands
- Water sensitive waste disposal system has been constituted adhering to the ‘Water Discharge Guidelines and Standards of the local government
- Initiatives for waste management inside the campus continue to reduce plastic waste that might pollute the water bodies and the wetlands
- Bio-STP recycles the sewage water, which is then used for plants, without being emptied into the waterbodies close to the SSU
- Minimizing the alteration of aquatic ecosystems is being taken up as a priority
- To prevent wetland pollution, regular monitoring of the following is conducted: the health of aquatic ecosystems, the aquatic fauna and flora, the soil dumps, the waste and sewage outfall, and garbage
- Sri Sri University has policies on Reducing Marine Pollution, Waste Management, Restoration Ecology and Sustainability
Evidence (s):
14.2.1 – Fresh-water ecosystems (community outreach) Offer educational programmes on fresh-water ecosystems (water irrigation practices, water management/conservation) for local or national communities
14.2.3 – Overfishing (community outreach) Offer educational outreach activities for local or national communities to raise awareness about overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices
14.3.1 – Conservation and sustainable utilization of the oceans (events) Support or organize events aimed to promote the conservation and sustainable utilization of the oceans, seas, lakes, rivers and marine resources
14.3.2 – Food from aquatic ecosystems (policies) Have the policy to ensure that food on campus that comes from aquatic ecosystems is sustainably harvested
14.3.3 – Maintain ecosystems and their biodiversity (direct work) Work directly (research and/or engagement with industries) to maintain and extend existing ecosystems and their biodiversity, of both plants and animals, especially ecosystems under threat
14.3.4 – Technologies towards aquatic ecosystem damage prevention (direct work) Work directly (research and/or engagement with industries) on technologies or practices that enable the marine industry to minimize or prevent damage to aquatic ecosystems
14.4.1 – Water discharge guidelines and standards Have water quality standards and guidelines for water discharges (to uphold water quality in order to protect ecosystems, wildlife, and human health, and welfare)
14.4.2 – Action plan to reducing plastic waste Have an action plan in place to reduce plastic waste on campus
14.5.1 – Minimizing alteration of aquatic ecosystems (plan) Have the plan to minimize physical, chemical and biological alterations of related aquatic ecosystems
14.5.2 – Monitoring the health of aquatic ecosystems Monitor the health of aquatic ecosystem
14.5.3 – Programs towards good aquatic stewardship practices Develop and support programmes and incentives that encourage and maintain good aquatic stewardship practices
14.5.4 – Collaboration for shared aquatic ecosystems Collaborate with the local community in efforts to maintain shared aquatic ecosystems
14.5.5 – Watershed management strategy Have implemented a watershed management strategy based on the location-specific diversity of aquatic species