Gujarat Forest Dept Buys Plastic to Save Ramsar Site

The Gujarat forest department has initiated a significant project to protect the ecologically sensitive Nalsarovar wetland from plastic waste. A Rs 2.9 crore scientific plastic waste management project, approved under the Project for Eco-Restoration in Gujarat and supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, is now underway.

This initiative aims to tackle plastic pollution by collecting waste directly from 14 villages surrounding the Ramsar Site. The forest department will purchase plastic at a rate higher than the market price, encouraging local participation and addressing the economic viability of collecting single-use plastics.

A dedicated collection center has been established, and the project involves systematic collection, transportation, and processing of plastic waste. This effort is expected to create local employment opportunities and improve waste management infrastructure around the wetland.

Nalsarovar, designated a Ramsar Site in 2012, is crucial for migratory birds along the Central Asian Flyway. Recent census data recorded approximately 6.4 lakh birds of 270 species, including several threatened ones, highlighting the ecological importance of this intervention.