Authority for wetlands sought

Jabir Mushthari

Kozhikode,  
The Hindu, February 3, 2015 

The need for creating an authority for wetland management was stressed during the World Wetland Day observation programme organised by the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM) on its campus at Kunnamangalam in the district on Monday.

Organised in collaboration with the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment, the programme discussed various measures including the introduction of more stringent guidelines to ensure the protection of the wetlands in the State.

The session attended by several water scientists, evaluated the general condition of the wetlands in the State and examined what citizens could do to ensure their protection. The discussion on the theme ‘Conservation of Wetlands of Kerala for our future,’ also gave explanations for why these vital water bodies should be important for the existence of life on earth.

C. Unnikrishna Warrier, scientist, Isotope Hydrology Division of the centre, explained how different isotopes could be applied to predict the shrinkage of wetlands in different regions. He presented the details based on a case study conducted at the Wetlands in Sasthamkotta in Kollam. Scientist and head of the Geomatics Division of the centre V.P. Dinesan elucidated the possible impacts of the interlinking of Pamba and Achencoil rivers on the Vembanad wetland system.

Head of the Thiruvananthapuram sub-centre of CWRDM George Chackacherry spoke about the management of wetlands in the State while head of the Water Quality Division of the Centre P.S. Harikumar talked about the water quality management of wetlands. Wetland Technical Unit coordinator of KSCSTE P. Harinarayanan gave details of the legal and institutional aspects of wetland conservation.

M.K. Raghavan, MP, inaugurated the programme, which was presided over by the CWRDM executive director N.B. Narasimha Prasad. Mr. Raghavan also presented the prizes for the winners of competitionsorganised by the centre in connection with the World Wetland Day.

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Wetlands are being gobbled up

T. Nandakumar
Thiruvananthapuram,  
TheHindu, February 2, 2015 

In the absence of a conservation and sustainable management plan for wetlands, the lakes in Kerala are increasingly prone to encroachment, pollution, and debilitation caused by invasive alien species.

On the eve of the World Wetlands Day 2015 to be observed on Monday, scientists have called for drastic measures to check the considerable reduction in waterspread area of the three Ramsar sites in Kerala, namely the Ashtamudi, Sasthamcotta and Vembanad lakes, and the ecological threats faced by smaller waterbodies like the Veli-Akkulam lake.

The Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM) has initiated efforts to prepare a management action plan for the Ashtamudi and Sasthamcotta lakes.

According to George Chackacherry, scientist, CWRDM, there is an urgent need to address the threats faced by the wetlands from an environmental perspective.

The consequences

Scientists say the disappearance of wetlands will affect access to fresh water for millions of people, and impact livelihoods and biodiversity. Research work done by the Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, University of Kerala, reveals that the organic pollution of the Veli-Akkulam lake ecosystem in Thiruvananthapuram has assumed serious dimensions.

A study conducted by U.G. Abhijna showed that all the ecological indicators were far below the required standards. Another work by R. Regi showed that more than half the area of the lake was affected by the spread of the exotic water hyacinth Eochhornia crassipes while the exotic Tilapia had emerged as the dominant species, crowding out native fishes.

The increasing number of African catfish and sucker catfish in the Akkulam Lake is also of great concern, notes A. Biju Kumar, Head of Department. The indigenous catfish (mushi) which was common in the lake is not seen anymore. Increased development activities and encroachment have also whittled down the water mass and impacted on the health of the lake ecosystem.

Dr. Kumar argues for a Wetland Management Authority for conservation and management of the lakes in Kerala. He highlights the need to prepare a GIS map of the wetlands to identify encroachments and prevent further reclamation.

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Wetlands in Malabar under threat

MITHOSH JOSEPH

Rapid urbanisation, pollution affect fragile regions
Rapid urbanisation, pollution, and reclamation of land for industrial development are threatening the existence of over 100 identified wetlands in northern Kerala.
Human encroachment and conversion of wetland areas for aquaculture, agriculture, and settlement had also been causing unfavourable changes in the chemical and biological composition of these ecologically fragile places.

Photo courtesy Wikimedia commons

Of the 100 wetlands identified in northern Kerala, 17 important wetlands — located in Kozhikode, Kannur, Wayanad, Kasaragod, and Malappuram districts — had been identified as highly prone to exploitation (including exploitation for natural resources, unregulated spatial development, and disposal of domestic sewage and industrial effluents).
Prime threats
A recent study by the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM), Kozhikode, had identified land-filling and pollution as major threats for the 17 important wetlands in the Malabar region.
Wetlands in Kavvayi, Chempallikkundu, Pulathuruthpandy, Elathuruthpandy, Kottappally, Aavala, Cherandathur, Kandanchira, Akalappuzha, Govindhankettu, Erangikkal, Kottuli, Mavoor, Olavanna, Kadalundi, Thattanchuttythuruth, and Purathur had been identified as locations with heavy loss of vegetation.
Large-scale poaching of wetland birds had been reported from the Pulathuruthpandy, Govindhankettu, and Mavoor wetlands in Kozhikode district.
Weed infestation, and reckless dumping of plastic and solid wastes were also major threats, the study said.
The wetlands of Sasthamcotta, Ashtamudi, and Vembanad had been named as Ramsar Sites but Kavvayi in Malabar had not been identified as one.
The CWRDM had asked the State government to take steps to take steps to ensure protection of all wetlands.

Over 100 wetlands identified in Malabar

Dumping of wastes a major threat

The Hindu, 13/2/2012

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