B. WATERBODY CATEGORIES

i. Inland Waterbodies

1. Lakes & Ponds

Bodies of standing water occupying distinct basins. These waterbodies occur in natural depressions and normally fed by streams/rivers. Both natural and artificial lakes/ponds can qualify as potential OECMs. Glaciers will also be included in this category.

Specific guidelines:

Only waterbodies existing outside forest areas mapped by FSI or PAs (National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Reserved forests, etc.) can qualify as OECMs.
The waterbody is either primarily managed for biodiversity conservation, or for water resource management, and such management delivers effective ancillary conservation due to restricted access leading to effective protection of habitats and species.
The waterbody is known for its biodiversity values for providing habitat - including special habitats (such as, breeding grounds) to threatened, and or endemic flora and fauna; stopover of migratory birds; fish breeding grounds etc.
There are sufficient management provisions and safeguards to ensure that structure of waterbodies would be maintained for achieving its primary objective, and use of the lake would not be changed in the near future.

2. Riverine waterbodies

Riverine waterbodies are those systems that are contained within a channel (e.g. river, creek, waterway, rivulets or springs) and their associated streamside vegetation. They can be natural or artificial and may connect to lacustrine, palustrine, estuarine and marine waterbodies.

Specific guidelines:

Only waterbodies existing outside forest areas mapped by FSI or PAs (National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Reserved forests, etc.) can qualify as OECMs.
The waterbody is either primarily managed for biodiversity conservation, or for water resource management, and such management delivers effective ancillary conservation due to restricted access leading to effective protection of habitats and species.
The waterbody is known for its biodiversity values for providing habitat - including special habitats (such as, breeding grounds) to threatened, and or endemic flora and fauna; stopover of migratory birds; fish breeding grounds etc.
There are sufficient management provisions and safeguards to ensure that structure of waterbody would be maintained for achieving its primary objective, and use of the waterbody would not be changed in the near future.

3. Artificial Waterbodies

An artificial waterbody is a body of surface water created by human activity. Although their primary objective is water resource management, they also provide habitat to many fish, birds, aquatic mammals, and reptile species. This category will include all artificial waterbodies apart from canals, including dams and reservoirs that are not included under the Wetland Rules.

Specific guidelines:

1. Only artificial waterbodies existing outside forest areas mapped by FSI or PAs (National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Reserved forests, etc.) can qualify as OECMs.
The artificial waterbody management delivers effective biodiversity conservation, even if as an ancillary function, leading to effective protection of habitats and species.

4. Canals

Canals are long channels of water used for irrigation or transportation to a bigger body of water. They can be natural as well as artificial. Larger canals have the land on either side owned by irrigation departments. They are linear but can harbour significant biodiversity. The availability of water and biodiversity make as potential OECM.

Specific guidelines:

Only those canals existing outside forest areas mapped by FSI or PAs (National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Reserved forests, etc.) can qualify as OECMs.
The canal management delivers effective biodiversity conservation, even if as an ancillary function, leading to effective protection of habitats and species.
Only those canals which are not in use for the purpose of transportation qualify as OECMs.
The canal must not be contributing to environment harming activities.

iI.Coastal waterbodies

1.Important Coastal Biodiversity Areas (ICBAs)

ICBAs include interface or transition areas between land and sea that hold ecological value. The area can also be socio-economically important with significant ecosystem and cultural functions.

Specific guidelines:

Only those important coastal areas will qualify as OECMs which have not been mapped as forest areas by FSI or recognised as PAs.
The management of the area delivers effective biodiversity conservation, even if as an ancillary function, leading to effective protection of habitats and species.
Areas existing within Critically Vulnerable Coastal Areas (CVCAs) that do not fall under the PA network will qualify as OECM under this category.