Dr. Shriji Kurup
Centre for Environment Education (CEE)
Centre for Environment Education (CEE)
Hello, everyone. I am joining you from India and am deeply honored to share this historic occasion—the first-ever Blue Flag Asia Summit—with you all.
I am affiliated with the Centre for Environment Education (CEE) and serve as the National Operator for Blue Flag in India. CEE was established in 1984 by the Indian Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change. With a mission of “Education for Sustainable Development,” we carry out activities that bridge science, policy, and community actions. Additionally, as a member of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) from India, we implement various Programmes, including Blue Flag, Green Key, and Eco-Schools.
Since 2018, in India, we have been promoting the introduction of Blue Flag in collaboration with the government-led BEAMS (Beach Aesthetics and Management Services) project. As a result, 13 beaches have now been certified. The adoption of international standards has led to widespread recognition of the need for environmentally conscious and sustainable beach tourism, which has also contributed to a shift in mindset among local governments and communities. Today, Blue Flag has expanded to the city, regional, and citizen levels as a “coveted program,” catalyzing improved administrative governance.
As a concrete example, at Shivrajpur Beach in Gujarat, we worked to restore the dune ecosystem, which had deteriorated due to the invasion of invasive species. Using the Blue Flag standards as a catalyst, local government, experts, and residents collaborated to promote conservation activities while fostering a shared vision through environmental education. As a result, the dune has been restored with native vegetation and is being maintained to this day. This initiative demonstrates the effectiveness of “Nature-Based Solutions” (NBS), which protect the natural environment through local community engagement and sustained effort rather than relying on costly infrastructure.
As another example, at Kappad Beach in Kerala, initiatives that harness the power of nature, such as curbing sand loss through vegetation conservation, have yielded positive results. These successful cases have been shared with other Blue Flag-certified beaches nationwide, advancing biodiversity conservation and erosion control efforts across the country.
Moreover, the Blue Flag Programme extends beyond environmental benefits to bring multifaceted benefits
to local communities. Women’s self-help groups are participating in beach management, creating employment and income opportunities. At the same time, members from fishing communities are being trained as lifeguards, which promotes skill development and social inclusion. These initiatives foster local autonomy and pride and enhance the value of beaches as “living learning spaces” that serve as hubs for environmental education and cultural activities.
Furthermore, the development of sustainable infrastructure, such as waste management and renewable energy adoption, is underway, conveying environmentally conscious technologies and behaviors to visitors through hands-on experiences. Additionally, enhanced safety measures are creating an environment where many visitors, including families, can enjoy the beach with peace of mind.
At the same time, challenges have become clear. These include capacity limits due to increased visitor numbers, rising risks of erosion and disasters caused by monsoons and climate change, and the difficulty of managing areas outside the certified zones. Moving forward, a shift is required from managing individual beaches to comprehensive management that accounts for the entire coastal zones and tourist destinations.
To address these challenges, India is strengthening policy coordination, introducing scientific monitoring, and leveraging AI. The Blue Flag initiatives influence the development of domestic standards and policy formation, thereby improving the quality of coastal management.
Finally, the Blue Flag is not merely an environmental certification; it is a “global connection” that links people with nature, and local communities with the world. Its significance is further deepened when linked to values such as India’s “LiFE (Lifestyle for the Environment)” and Japan’s “IKIGAI.”
I hope that today’s discussion will contribute to the development of sustainable coastal management across Asia. Thank you very much.
