Wetlands like Vembanad are sensitive ecosystems with high biodiversity values. They also support livelihoods of farmers and fishermen and lifestyle ventures such as backwater tourism. However, livelihood, lifestyle and development pursuits render them susceptible to degradation and pollution. No land or forest legislation in India legally defined wetlands, till the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2008, were drafted. No other special enactments for their conservation existed till the 2008 rules were drafted. Our policy interventions have been designed to analyse existing policies and regulatory frameworks and identify policy gaps  in order to conserve  the Vembanad Lake.  Through its policy interventions, CERC acts as catalytic agent in strengthening decentralized conservation governance through community institutions. CERC’s policy interventions had focused on constitutional provisions for decentralized management of natural resources especially water, regulatory frameworks and state Panchayathi Raj laws.