Environmental activists in the district have urged the government to restrict anthropogenic activities on the Kuruva islands, the lone freshwater islands in the Western Ghats.
The unique habitat of the Kuruva islets on the Kabani is under stress from the increasing number of tourists. The flow of tourists will adversely affect the fragile ecosystem of the islets, says Thomas Ambalavayal, secretary, Wayanad Prakruthi Samrakshana Samiti.
The Kuruva Destination Management Committee has announced that the destination will reopen for tourists from November 1.
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Data available with the Forest Department say that more than 2,000 tourists visit the place every day. Thousands of tourists arrive here on the weekends, Mr. Thomas said.
The Forest Department has jurisdiction over the islets. The land, measuring about 380 hectares, shows ecological succession (more or less predictable and orderly changes in the composition or structure of an ecological community) of the natural vegetation in the Nilgiris biosphere. Deposits of river sediments had led to the gradual formation of the nearly 62 islets, says C.S. Dharmaraj, secretary, Our own nature, an environmental forum in the district.
Mr. Dharmaraj said that though no major studies had been conducted on the flora and fauna, the islets was a treasure trove of unique plants and microorganisms. The islets were a safe haven for thousands of migratory birds and butterflies.
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Every year the District Tourism Promotion Council and Forest Department collect a huge amount from tourists as entry fee. However, they were yet to spend a single paise for the conservation of the islets, Mr. Thomas said.
Hence the government should restrict the entry of tourists to the islets after assessing the carrying capacity of the fragile destination , Mr. Thomas, said.