Dugong Conservation Reserve Workshop Explores Sustainable Finance for Seagrass and Dugong Conservation in India
Cover photo: © Harish Guleria
In February 2026, the Coordinating Unit of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Dugongs (Dugong dugong) and their Habitats throughout their Range (Dugong MOU), an agreement under the Convention for the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), participated in the Dugong Conservation Reserve (DCR) Sustainable Finance Workshop in Palk Bay, Tamil Nadu, India.
The workshop was organised by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and brought together conservation practitioners, government representatives, researchers, and technical experts, including the Tamil Nadu Forest Department (TNFD), representatives from IUCN, OMCAR Foundation, GroundUp Conservation and members of the TN-SHORE Project.
The objective of the workshop was to address one of DCR’s most urgent environmental challenges: securing long-term, sustainable protection for the DCR’s seagrass habitats and India’s remaining dugong (Dugong dugong) population.
As the first dedicated sustainable finance workshop focused specifically on the DCR, the event marked an important step toward translating scientific evidence into actionable, sustainable financing solutions that support ecosystem health, coastal resilience, blue carbon storage, and alternative local livelihoods.
Established in 2022, the DCR spans 434 km² along nearly 50 km of coastline, encompassing extensive seagrass meadows vital for biodiversity and ecosystem services. In 2025, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department (TNFD), Wildlife Institute of India (WII), GroundUp Conservation, and the OMCAR Foundation, conducted a Blue Carbon Feasibility Study. Funded by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Standard Chartered Bank, the study assessed the potential for sustainable financing through seagrass protection and restoration, including opportunities to generate revenue through carbon markets.
The assessment identified opportunities for long-term financing via carbon revenue, while also highlighting critical gaps in ecological and social base line data, dugong population monitoring, governance frameworks, and legal clarity carbon rights. Addressing these gaps is essential to achieving investment readiness and ensuring that finance mechanisms deliver measurable conservation and community benefits.
Workshop Outcomes
During the workshop, participants reviewed sustainable finance findings, set a research agenda for seagrass and dugong conservation, and strengthened governance and coordination.
Thematic breakout sessions on ecology, community engagement, and governance produced a consolidated and ranked list of priority research and management interventions, and a roadmap for developing immediate funding proposals and longer-term blue carbon investment pathways.
As a direct outcome of the workshop, the Dugong MOU, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), and the Government of Tamil Nadu have initiated discussions to collaborate on advancing carbon finance modelling, strengthening sustainable livelihood initiatives, and supporting the development of policy frameworks for dugong rescue and rehabilitation. In doing so, they also explored practical, community-based implementation pathways, including participatory stakeholder consultations, microfinance-supported income diversification, and NGO-led enterprise models tailored to local contexts.
The strong multi-stakeholder engagement ensured the next phase aligns scientific rigor, social inclusivity, and effective governance, laying the groundwork for credible, inclusive and durable financing solutions.
Dugong MOU and IKI SES Project
The workshop highlights the CMS Dugong MOU’s commitment to coordinated conservation of dugongs and their habitats across range states. By advancing innovative finance-driven approaches, the initiative strengthens conservation management, regional collaboration, and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
These efforts are directly linked to the SeagrassEcosystem Services (SES) Project, which is funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the Federal Government of Germany. The project supports the development of nature-based solutions, sustainable financing mechanisms, and climate-smart conservation strategies across key dugong habitats. Implementing these strategies within the DCR not only supports dugong and seagrass recovery in India but also positions the reserve as a potential model for blue carbon finance in other dugong range states, contributing to global seagrass conservation and migratory species conservation.
