ECOWATCH
Green forts for the coast
SWAHILYA
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The tsunami changed the attitude of villagers along the coast and they now help restore Pichavaram’s mangrove bio-shields.
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Photo: Swahilya
Resourceful fisherfolk: Digging artificial canals and planting mangroves has created coastal security and job opportunities.
The wind beats on the watch tower over the saline waters of Pichavaram. Down below boats have been arranged in a semi-circle. All is quiet and calm in the salty sheet of water below.
But it took a tsunami to highlight the need for mangrove plantations and coastal bio-shields to protect the coastline from natural calamities.
A scientist explained the concept of coastal bio-shields to a group of villagers in Nainar Kuppam along the East Coast Road in Chennai.
Under normal conditions, eyebrows are not necessary. But when one sweats, the eyebrows offer protection by preventing the drops from getting into the eyes. Mangroves, trees of the coastline and sand dunes with vegetation act in the same way, he told an amazed group of villagers.
Coastal plants
Mangroves are woody trees and shrubs that grow in places where the river mixes with the sea in an estuarine ecosystem, intersected by a number of small creeks and channels. Mangroves flourish in tidal creeks, channels, canals and water bodies, predominantly along the coastline.
Out of 4,87,775 hectares of mangroves along the Indian coastline, the east coast alone has 56.7 per cent. In Tamil Nadu, mangroves flourish at Muthupet and Pichavaram.
Declared a Reserve Forest in 1893, Pichavaram was in a highly degraded condition in the early 1990s due to the coupe felling system in the British period and clear felling between 1930 and 1970 leading to the loss of 12 to 15 hectares every year.
Dr. V. Selvam, a member of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation’s (MSSRF) mangrove project team, points to the resourceful and environmentally-conscious villagers of Pichavaram. “They know that their livelihood depends on the health of the waters here and so conservation is not an issue,” he says.
Both the Tamil Nadu Forest Department and the MSSRF undertook the restoration of the degraded mangrove forests. The idea was to cut canals in addition to the existing natural canals or water inlets around the Pichavaram estuary in a Joint Mangrove Management project. Pichavaram already has 4,446 natural canals.
But after the tsunami,there was no loss of life in the mangrove-protected T.S. Pettai, which had a bioshield created by the native Thillai and other varieties. The other unaffected villages were Vadakku Pichavaram, Killai Fisher Colony, Kalaignar Nagar and M.G.R. Nagar. In the unprotected Pazhayar village, 58 people died; in MGR Thittu 50 and in Madavamedu 13.
The researchers noted two important changes in the attitude towards mangroves and other coastal vegetation after the tsunami. Fishing communities, which were normally reluctant to participate in any coastal vegetation management programmes, showed interest. Policy makers, planners, administrators, including local government and panchayat institutions, were willing to support mangrove and non-mangrove bio-shield programmes.
Bio-shields were raised at MGR Thittu, Muzhukkuthurai and Mudasalodai as mangrove, non-mangrove plantations and sand dunes.
At Madavamedu village in Nagapattinam, non-mangrove bioshields with multiple species of trees, sand dunes and tree fencing of residential areas were created.
One volunteer explained how they were told to leave or face the consequences in 1993 when they came to the MGR Thittu to plant mangroves. But after the tsunami, villagers invited the volunteers to plant mangroves and even pitched in with help.
Pichavaram and Muthupet receive fresh water during the northeast monsoon season from October to November. But the reduction in freshwater flow and closure of the estuary mouth during much of the year are serious threats.
JMM programmes were implemented both in Pichavaram and Muthupet mangrove wetlands with a tripartite agreement between the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, MSSRF and the local communities.
In Pichavaram, Village Mangrove Councils, comprising 480 families, implement the JMM. They have restored 250 hectares of degraded areas in Pichavaram mangroves.
Restoration
The Forest Department is restoring the remaining area. Over 50 self help groups have implemented a number of income-generating activities with the help of the Forest Department, District Rural Development Agencies, Scheduled Banks and Government agencies. The newly formed Forest Development Agency has adopted three project villages and is implementing its programmes through the village VMCs.
The Tamil Nadu Government has also realised the protective impact of shelter belts. The Government sanctioned Rs. 1, 451.37 lakhs for 2006-07 to raise 2,850 hectares of shelter belts and 1,650 hectares of mangroves. The projects will be continued under the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project in 2007-08.
The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Conservation in Ramanathapuram and Tuticorin also aims to integrate bio-diversity conservation and coastal marine management. There is a proposal for raising 500 hectares of shelter belt and 500 hectares of mangroves for 2007-08 at a cost of Rs. 550.27 lakhs.
With a tranquil stretch of water with access through boats, Pichavaram is a good example of eco-tourism apart from protecting the coastline from the ravages of nature.
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