This report highlights the results of a training project on RIVER HEALTH assessment by using Bio Indicators. The project was implemented by the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) in India with the funding support of the Asia Pacific Network of Global Change Research (APN). A group of 41 stakeholders consisting of educationists, scientists, practitioners, and members of Biodiversity Management Committees, representing different river basins of the country were trained. The river Pampa in Kerala has been taken as a case in the entity for field observations and hands-on training. Pampa is the third-longest river (176 km) in Kerala, enriched by 13 tributaries, and known for its sacredness and pollution aspects associated with the world-famous Sabarimala, Maramon, and Cherukolpuzha pilgrimages.

The training was conducted in two cohorts-one from 2022 March 14 to 16, and another from 2022 April 18-22, covering a total of 8-day theory classes and field visits to three hotspots of the Pampa River basin followed by the formation of an active WhatsApp discussion group. The participants were given lecture classes covering the river health assessment parameters focusing on the health of catchment, biota, flood plains, environmental flow, and channel. And they were imparted with the theoretical framework and field-level methodologies for assessing river health with a system perspective, and evolving location-specific strategies in partnership with the local community user groups for river health research, rejuvenation, reporting, and management. The hands-on activities included transect studies in the hilly watershed, populated mid-plains, and the lower Kuttanad including the Vembanad lake basin.

The sustainability aspect of the training was followed up by the formation of a river protection platform called the Kerala River System Health Needs Assessment and Action Alliance (Krishna3). The Krishna3 is initiated by the trainees from Kerala and it is envisaged as an open platform consisting of multi-stakeholders who are committed to undertaking need-based action steps using science-based tools and skills in river health management. A Training Manual with detailed module descriptions for River Health Monitoring and Restoration is ready for publication. A Plan of Action Framework for the rejuvenation of the Pampa River has been prepared in partnership with the local community leaders and brought to the attention of the Kerala state government. Further, a good amount of literature and field-level stories have been collected, which resulted in the development of a Web Portal for River Health Assessment -science, innovations, and techniques. The Portal will be maintained by the Krishna3 team with the support of MSSRF. A set of 22 riparian tree species were multiplied and 1000 plus saplings were distributed to the groups involved in the pampa river restoration for planting in the degraded riparian locations.

It is expected the training delivered will help improve stakeholder skills, awareness, and commitment, of those who associate with the River Health Assessment, monitoring, and restoration. It is also expected more rational decision comes from on the part of policymakers and enforcement officials in holistic river health management and conservation of river biodiversity for improving water security and resilience to climate vulnerabilities.