The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 defines environment as “environment includes water, air and land and the interrelationship which exists among and between air, water and land and human beings, other living creatures, plants, micro-organism and property”.

NISARGA’s developmental approach includes Protection & Promotion of Environment. Hence, through the implementation of Watershed Development Programmes, Community Based Tank Rehabilitation Programme, Integrated Farming Systems and Promotion of Organic Farming, we ensure active interventions in the area of protecting the environment which in turn protects human health, protects the ecosystem and promotes the sustainable development.

 Watershed Development Programme (WDP)

Watershed development Programme is all about the conservation, regeneration and the judicious use of all the natural resources particularly land, water, vegetation and animals and human development within the watershed.

The main objective of the programme is to improve water conservation, irrigation facility, and land use pattern leading to increased agricultural productivity in drought prone and desert prone areas. Poverty reduction, better livelihoods and improved bio-physical and socio-economic environment ensures sustainable development. It is recognized as an effective measure in combating climatic changes world-widely.

Since 2003, NISARGA has been engaged in implementing the WDP in Hosadurga Taluk, one of the arid zones of Karnataka. 16 Watershed Development projects are completed and two are on the process.

a. Farmer Producer Organization – “Raithashakthi Farmer Producer Company Limited

For the continuity of supporting the farmers in the Watershed area, Raithashakti FPO was formed and registered under Companies Act in 2019 with shareholders of four Watershed areas. Presently, it has 983 shareholders. It's an initiative of NABARD as  follow up of the Watershed projects and Climate Change Adaptive Agriculture project.

b.  jiva

    For sustainable and climate adaptive Agriculture, Organic farming is promoted through JIVA Project. As a pilot intervention, 54 farmers are motivated and supported for initiating the organic farming in Siddhagondanahalli  Watershed Area. JIVA aim to ensure using the principles of agro- ecology, long term sustainability and transform the  pre-existing social and natural capital and encourage the farming community towards natural farming.