The opening up of mangrove belt for development, as proposed by the Shailesh Nayak Committee, could end up in Kerala losing large tracts of the ecologically significant vegetation.
With 53.35 per cent of the mangrove vegetation of Kerala located on private holdings, the panel recommendations, if accepted, would see a flurry of construction activities, reclamation and destruction of plants.
A recent estimate showed that the mangrove in Kerala was restricted to 25.05 sq. km. The Nayak report, while suggesting development activities in buffer zones in large tracts, is silent on measures to guarantee the sustained flow of water and its withdrawal during tides.
The mangroves will survive only in the inter-tidal zone at the interface between the land and the sea/brackish water. Healthy growth of the plants depends on the flushing of water during high tide and its retrieval during low tides, pointed out a former member of the Kerala State Coastal Zone Management Authority.
The growth of the mangroves in various places of the State is influenced by the micro-habitat peculiarities. Most of the species are habitat-specific ones. The ecology of the region is important for the survival of each species, said P. Sujanapal, a scientist of the Kerala Forest Research Institute, Thrissur.
The coastal belt of Ernakulam between Vypeen to North Paravur is considered as the largest patch in Kerala. The segment between Valapattanam and Payyannur of Kannur district is considered as the richest region in terms of the extent of occurrence, structural dynamics, abundance, pattern of distribution, and ecosystem health, he said.
In Kollam, Asramam is another important location due to a unique true and semi-mangrove association. The Kadalundi region of Kozhikode is also known for the unique faunal association with mangroves. Many species of the State, especially mangrove associates, are restricted to one or two localities, said Dr. Sujanapal who was involved in the preparation of a management and conservation plan for mangroves in Kerala.
53.35 per cent
of the mangrove vegetation of Kerala located on private holdings
