The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : "Tsunami caused minimum damage to corals in Gulf of Mannar"

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 07, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

"Tsunami caused minimum damage to corals in Gulf of Mannar"

C. Jaishankar

Marine eco-systems saved the island, says UNDP team

SCIENTIFIC STUDY: A United Nations Development Programme team inspecting coral formations at Shingle Island in the Gulf of Mannar on Sunday. — Photo: C. Jaishankar

Shingle Island: A United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) team and Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust (GOMBRT) officials on Sunday recorded a small portion of uprooted corals and mangroves reportedly due to 2004 tsunami in Shingle Island, one of the 21 islands of Gulf of Mannar.

The team comprising K.S. Murali, Programme Officer (Biodiversity) Sustainable Environment and Energy Division, New Delhi, and K.V. Devi Prasad, National Consultant to UNDP, visited Shingle and Kurusadai islands to review various biodiversity conservation projects being implemented by the GOMBRT, which is mainly funded by the Global Environment Fund (GEF).

"The damage due to the tsunami was very minimal when compared to the vast formations of corals and other marine eco-systems around the 21 islands of Gulf of Mannar. They have saved this coast from tsunami," Mr. Murali told The Hindu . Expressing overall satisfaction over the implementation of the biodiversity project through GOMBRT, he said the lagoon area of Gulf of Mannar was blessed with huge marine organisms. The UNDP would continue to support the GOMBRT to speed up the project. The focus should be to empower the local people to manage the ecosystems and marine resources with the support of the Government and other stakeholders.

Mr. Devi Prasad said the GOMBRT was doing a good job in creating awareness among the local community to preserve the ecology. However, it should be given functional autonomy. Successful methods could be incorporated while implementing conservation plans.

V.K. Melkani, Director, GOMBRT, who accompanied the team, said the Trust would initiate several projects, including 11 research and monitoring projects this year. A sum of Rs.10 crore would be spent on conservation and livelihood improvement schemes during this year. Efforts were on to emulate the model of Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala to create sustainable conservation programmes involving local community people.

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