The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : GIS for Coringa sanctuary

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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

GIS for Coringa sanctuary

V. Raghavendra

DoD develops system for mitigating mangrove degradation

Periodic erosion of beaches posing major challenge
Coringa home to several protected species of animals

KAKINADA: With the Coringa sanctuary facing a real danger of being decimated by heightened industrial activity and human exploitation, the Department of Ocean Development (DoD) has developed a geographical information system containing exhaustive details of the rich variety of flora and fauna existing in this huge mangrove formation, for the purpose of conservation.

Second only to the Sundarbans in size, Coringa had been declared a ‘critical habitat’ along with 10 others in the country, namely the Gulf of Kutch, Gulf of Khambhat, Gulf of Mannar, Malvan, Karwar Islands, Cochin Islands, Kadmat Island of Lakshadweep, Pichavaram (Tamil Nadu), Gahirmatha and Sundarbans.

Afforestation sought

Their status (land cover changes and degradation) has been assessed with the help of advanced remote sensing tools as part of the Integrated Coastal and Marine Area Management (ICMAM) project to plan conservation measures in view of their importance in protecting the coastal ecosystems.

The DoD has recommended afforestation to be taken up on a large scale to mitigate the degradation of the mangroves at Coringa and to enhance the flushing of tidal waters in their interior areas, which is essential for growth.

RIL initiative

Reliance Industries Limited, which is poised to commercially exploit oil and gas in K-G basin, initiated the raising of mangrove plantations on a large scale in association with the Chennai-based M.S Swaminathan Research Foundation.

Under the Integrated Coastal and Marine Area Management, it was found that the presence of breakwaters of Kakinada port at the current location, has resulted in decreased flow of tidal water into the Coringa mangroves, thereby causing low levels of dissolved oxygen in its interior areas.

Construction of ports and harbours, expansion of beaches for tourism activities, etc have been found to cause geomorphological changes which in turn lead to periodic erosion of beaches. This is a major challenge confronted by government departments concerned and environmentalists.

Protected species

Scientists have reached the conclusion long ago that agriculture practices, oil and natural gas drilling, port expansion and land reclamation to build shrimp farms had resulted in the degradation of the Coringa ecosystem. Coringa is home to fishing cats, jackals, sea turtles, estuarine crocodiles, snipes, ducks, sea gulls, flamingoes and otters which are protected species.

It is now imperative that a well-devised strategy aimed at protecting not only the Coringa mangroves but the animal species that dwell on the vast wetland, is put in place to pass the maritime heritage associated with it to posterity.

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