The Kuttanad Wetland Ecosystem - Research Paper Example

The Kuttanad Wetland Ecosystem Abstract Wetlands are very important for a healthy environment and it is now assessed as the most threatened of all types of biodiversity. The aim of the wetland information network is to create awareness about the importance of these ecosystems as they help in retaining water during droughts, incase of floods they reduce water levels. Conservation of Wetlands guarantees drinking water, food security and breeding grounds for wildlife. Wetlands are of different types like marshes, swamps, mangroves, etc. The swiftly increasing human population, land development, incorrect use of water bodies has seriously hampered these ecosystems. This can result in poor quality of water, extinction of endangered species and danger to humans. Hence there’s an urgent need for conservation of this important ecosystem. “The Kuttanad Wetland Ecosystem” in Kerala is the largest wetland ecosystem on the west coast of India. This landscape of natural beauty in the olden times was a part of the shallow coastal area of the Arabian Sea. Due to the geological uplift, a shallow bay was formed into which four main rivers namely Pampa, Achencoil, Manimala and Meenachil, discharged. The silt deposited at river mouths formed the delta and the shallow bay formed into a lake-lagoon backwater system opening on to the Arabian Sea. All these rivers join into the Vembanad Lake which lies 0.6 to 2.2 m below mean sea level. This region extends from 9 deg 17’ to 9 deg 40’ N latitude and 76 deg 19’ to 76 deg 33’ E longitude, covering an area of 1100 sq. km. which includes 304 sq. km of garden lands and 524 sq. km of low lying rice fields, the rest being waterbodies. The area includes vast stretches of backwaters, bordering mangrove formations which support a rich variety of endemic and exotic species of birds and rice fields. Floods are usually experienced during the monsoon period due to the discharge of large quantities of river water into Kuttanad. The Wetlands are important as a genetic reservoir for certain plant species. (Dungan P.J.,1990) As the monsoons withdraw, the area is attacked by tides of saline water from the Arabian Sea through the Kochi barmouth, making the wetland ecosystem largely saline. Thus the Kuttanad agrosystem, has to face severe issues of hydrology, floods and salinity. However, due to the high profit margin for rice it has attracted many farmers to rice cultivation regardless of all these problems. Another theory, explains that the entire sea was a dense forest, which caught fire and got engulfed by the sea during the succeeding geological ages. After several years, the sea receded, revealing the land which forms a part of the midland and coastal region of Kerala. This land was known as “Chuttanadu” which means burned land and hence derived the name “Kuttanad”. The whole region has a facade of dense forest, rich in organic residues and burnt wooden logs locally called as Kari. Wetlands of India 3 In the recent years humans have played a major part in the destruction of this biological environment. For their personal gain and power they are destroying the nature. An extensive part of the lowland rice fields in Kuttanad were reclaimed from the Vembanad lake, due to planned state policies, so as to get more area under rice cultivation. After the Second World War and Bengal famine, these state policies, together with private intercession, led to large scale conversion of shallow parts of Vembanad Lake for rice cultivation, reducing the lake expanse by about 65 percent. At the same time, the severe agriculture for plantation crops in high ranges, gave rise to deforestation, and also led to large scale silting up of the lake. Due to the regular occurrence of floods in the monsoon season and increase of saline water during summer threatening rice cultivation, a spillway has been constructed to drain flood water quickly into the Arabian Sea. Although the construction of the spillway has not made any great development in controlling the floods, it helped in growing an supplementary crop of rice. A salt water control device was constructed in the Vembanad estuary in order to solve the issue of salinity in Kuttanad. This construction actually divided these backwaters into a fresh water lake on the southern side and a saline lagoon in the north. This structure has been successful in preventing the salinity intrusion during summer, but the partial construction of the barrage with an almost 1/3rd earthed up mid section further slowed the flood water from receding during the monsoons and brought about disastrously changes in the ecosystem of Kuttanad. New durable granite bunds are used as a substitute of earthen bunds to make possible supplementary crop of rice during monsoons. These granite bunds are also responsible for the extensive harm to the environment in Kuttanad. The whole backwater area used to become saline or brackish during the pre-monsoon period. The construction of the Thanneermukkom regulator has separated the backwater into a saline or brackish region on the northern side, and a fresh water region on the south. Previously this region was rich in estuarine fish fauna, consisting of species created from the sea, fresh water species and true estuarine species. The fresh water species would reproduce in the estuarine environment and discover their physiological best in brackish water. The marine fish and prawns reproduce in the saline waters of sea and migrate to the estuary after completing their pelagic development. These regions commercially important species were the Grey mullets, Milk fish, Marine cat fish, Pearl spot, Penaeid prawns, Machrobachium, edible Crab and Black clams. Some of these species are now extinct, while some are on the verge of being extinct, because of the construction of the Thanneermukkom regulator. There’s absolutely no doubt that mankind has developed these regions for prosperity, but by doing so have harmed the environment knowingly or unknowingly. The drastic rise in the cost of production and less profits has led the farmers to leave Wetlands of India 4 rice cultivation and find other kind of jobs. The construction of the spillway, the regulator and the usage of granite bunds have not only provoked the floods, but also large-scale environmental degradation due to poor designs and caused severe ecological problems. Later the closure of the regulator, resulted in severe deterioration and transformation of this wetland ecosystem. When the regulator is closed, there is practically no flow of water making the entire Kuttanad a static pool. The periodic tidal inflow which used to wash out the water body is entirely prohibited. And hence the drained water from the rice fields with heavy load of pesticides and fertilizer residues remains stagnant in the waterbody. To these pollutants the human, animal, agricultural wastes and industrial wastes are added. Due to the continuous cultivation in rice fields the soil is getting exhausted, the usage of fertilizers and pesticides is causing serious degradation of soil in Kuttanad, by the reduction of soil organic matter and of nutrients, rise in soil acidity, accumulation of heavy metals etc. Other severe fresh water conditions are the large number of weeds, poor quality of water, rise in morbidity among the local population and damage of survival fishery on which the local fishermen depended. In the past decade sudden reduction in estuarine fish landings had been reported. The reasons could be the decline of salinity in water, the disturbance of migration routes of marine fauna by the obstruction, loss of the area as the nursery ground for post larval prawns which need salinities for most favorable growth, and pollution due to pesticides and organic residues. The complete Vembanad lake region is emerging as a tourist spot with its small islands, lagoons, backwaters and reclaimed rice fields. Hence there’s a threat to reclaim land for real estate. Taking into account the delicate nature of these wetlands, uncontrolled promotion of tourism will not only pollute the environment but also the ethnic culture. The on the verge of extinction mangroves tropical vegetation which harbours a variety of endemic and exotic species of birds are a hot spot for naturalists and ornithologists. The Vembanad mangroves, though not rich in species diversity, provide a rich habitat for migratory birds. All the chief bird sanctuaries of Kerala are located in mangrove forests and there have been constant demands to protect this vital ecosystem. Several policies and strategies are formed by the government of India, which directly or indirectly support wetland conservation in India. Several individuals, voluntary and government organizations are working hard together to save this wetland ecosystem. The State Government had appointed several commissions to study the system and to find out appropriate remedial measures for its restoration. Most of the wetland is being lost due to ignorance of the true value of the resources concerned or no education about Wetlands of India 5 their importance. The awareness of these issues can be taken care by creating a report, directed at three principal bodies: 1. Government Planners: Due to the rise in demands upon the declining resources, all government bodies have to deal with the difficulty in choosing investment priorities. Conservation biologists for wetland resources need to understand the potential value of the given situation and provide the best information and understanding for their good environmental management. Wetlands conservation helps in reviewing the past experiences of success and failures and proves how investment in this conservation and management proves beneficial to society. For example the Ramsar Convention. 2. Development Assistance Agencies: This community is also being asked to reassess its investment policies in order to contribute largely to sustain rural development. As a contribution to this Wetland Conservation shows how good management can improve the prospects of sustainable development and so represents sound investment of development funds. It also provides guidelines as how wetland conservation can be better integrated within the development process. 3. Conservation Professionals: This Wetland conservation group is provided examples of the diverse benefits of wetlands and explains management approach which lets sustainable utilization of wetland resources. Also recommendations are provided on how these approaches can be adopted extensively. (Dungan P.J., 1990) The National Conservation Strategy and Policy Statements on Environment and Development (1992). This Policy highlights conservation and sustainable development of wetlands including coastal areas, river line and island ecosystems. The policy should ensure the following: Wetland conversion and degradation should be completely stopped. Ecological processes and functions should be maintained. Establishment of principles for wetland resources utilization on a sustainable basis. To construct Wetland conservation within the broader framework of cross-sectional national planning. Maintaining biological diversity and ecological processes while the local community benefits. Rehabilitation and enhancement of degraded wetlands. Involving NGO’s and local communities and concerned agencies in their management. Application of Environmental impact Assessment on all activities impacting the wetlands. (Parikh J.K., Datye H.S., 2003) Inspite of all the measures taken by the government to save the Wetlands, Kuttanad is still facing problems. This can only be changed by educating the people and changing their minset. Wetlands of India 6 In-Citing References K C Manorama Thampatti and K G Padmakumar, (http://www.wetlandsofindia.org/Kuttanad%20Wetland.pdf) http://www.wetlandsofindia.org/#, Ramsar Convention http://www.wetlandsofindia.org/wetlands/Kuttanad%20Wetland.pdf Dugan, Patrick J., Wetland conservation: a review of current issues and required action International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, 1990. (pg.25) Jyoti K. Parikh & Hemant S. Datye, Sustainable management of wetlands: Biodiversity and beyond. 2003 (pg.57) Read More