Institute of Environmental Studies & Wetland Management

Institute of Environmental Studies & Wetland Management (IESWM) was established in March 1986 with the primary objective of carrying out studies related to wetland functions and its ecology. It was set up initially with the name 'Institute of Wetland Management & Ecological Design' (IWMED). Later on the Institute was renamed as IESWM in April, 2005.

The Institute is presently engaged in application of Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System (RS & GIS) which looks into all matters related to CRZ & CZMP Mapping and Environmental Research and Analysis which deals with pollution abatement measures and analysis of various environmental parameters. In addition, the Institute houses the State Project Management Unit (SPMU) for Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (ICZMP).

Division

IESWM is a Registered Society under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act of 1961. The Institute is basically autonomous in nature with the provision of accepting projects,funded by national and international agencies. Annual Grant-in-Aid supports the Institute for its maintenance and R&D activities,from the Govt. of West Bengal that administratively controls the Institute. The Director looks after the day-to-day functioning of the Institute and is the head of both administrative and research wings. The director works under a Governing Body(G.B) nominated by the Controlling Department. The members of G.B consist of academic experts and administrative heads of the various Government Departments.

Environmental Studies

Since inception, the Institute has been striking a balance between man and the environment. With the passage of time, IESWM has expanded its activities in the field of water quality monitoring, soil and water pollution research, investigation studies of the agricultural produce and fishes which are commercially distributed, harvesting of rainwater (roof top), municipal waste management, hazardous waste management, biodiversity assessment and conservation, and so on. Till date, the institute has completed more than 30 projects successfully along with the installation of the rainwater harvesting system in different government and private schools, colleges and universities in different districts of West Bengal.

Coastal Zone Mapping

The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), GoI, with a view to ensure livelihood security of the local community through sustainable development, to conserve and protect the environment, maintain coastal integrity, mitigate natural hazards and disasters by addressing climate change issues, promulgated implementation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) in 1991 which was further amended in 2011 and 2019 under the provision of Environment Protection Act, 1986.

ICZMP

The objective of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Project is to assist Government of India (GoI) in building national capacity for implementation of comprehensive coastal management approach in the country, and piloting the integrated coastal zone management approach in states of Gujarat, Orissa and West Bengal. There are four components to the project, the first component being national ICZM capacity building. The national component will include mapping, delineation and demarcation of the hazard lines, and delineation of coastal sediment cells all along the mainland coast of India. The second component is the piloting ICZM approaches in Gujarat.