In 1993, when scientists of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation approached the residents of MGR Thittu urging them to take part in a drive to grow more mangroves, the village panchayat threatened them with dire consequences. But after the tsunami struck in December 2004, they learnt the value of mangrove bioshields.
While MGR Thittu, Muzhukuthurai, Chinnavaikal, Pillumedu and Kannagi Nagar have lost 76 lives to the giant waves, there was no loss of life at Thandavarayan Sozhan Pettai, Vadakku Pichavaram, Killai Fishermen Colony, Kalaignar Nagar and MGR Nagar.
V. Selvam, Director, Mangrove Research Department, MSSRF, told reporters during a tour of the Pichavaram on Monday that mangroves required an environment of fresh water mixing with tidal seawater.
With a major stretch of the forests destroyed due to the felling of the matured forest, the estuary was declared a reserve forest in 1930.
"When we began our research in 1993, none knew that the degradation was because of this practice. We decided to create artificial canals to let in high tide water." People benefited greatly as digging of canals provided off-season employment. They also saw a substantial increase in prawn catch.
The major problem, however, was due to the reduced flow of freshwater from the Coleroon because of several dams along the Cauvery in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and the Veeranam canal. "In the 1930s, freshwater inflow a year was 70 tmcft, while it came down to 30 tmcft between 1960 and to 70 and around 15-20 tmcft in 1980. Since 2000, the freshwater inflow is nil," he said.
The Joint Mangrove Management in Pichavaram was implemented through the Village Mangrove Councils, which had 480 families as members. They restored 250 hectares of degraded areas. The remaining areas are being restored by the Forest Department.
The tourism notice board at Pichavaram mentions that the estuary has 4,446 canals. N. Kuppammal of MGR Nagar is one of the very "resourceful" villagers to understand the importance of the relationship between environmental conservation and livelihood. "The men will work together in cutting the canals and we will plant trees," she said. The fishermen have realised that planting of more mangroves has helped to increase their catch of crabs, prawns and fish.
Near the Uppanar, K. Illanchezhiyan has experimented with a prawn farm lined with mangrove plantations as part of an integrated seawater farming system. At Madavamedu, the Foundation has developed a non-mangrove coastal bio-shield, with the support of villagers, for 700 metres along the Pichavaram coast। THE HINDU
While MGR Thittu, Muzhukuthurai, Chinnavaikal, Pillumedu and Kannagi Nagar have lost 76 lives to the giant waves, there was no loss of life at Thandavarayan Sozhan Pettai, Vadakku Pichavaram, Killai Fishermen Colony, Kalaignar Nagar and MGR Nagar.
V. Selvam, Director, Mangrove Research Department, MSSRF, told reporters during a tour of the Pichavaram on Monday that mangroves required an environment of fresh water mixing with tidal seawater.
With a major stretch of the forests destroyed due to the felling of the matured forest, the estuary was declared a reserve forest in 1930.
"When we began our research in 1993, none knew that the degradation was because of this practice. We decided to create artificial canals to let in high tide water." People benefited greatly as digging of canals provided off-season employment. They also saw a substantial increase in prawn catch.
The major problem, however, was due to the reduced flow of freshwater from the Coleroon because of several dams along the Cauvery in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and the Veeranam canal. "In the 1930s, freshwater inflow a year was 70 tmcft, while it came down to 30 tmcft between 1960 and to 70 and around 15-20 tmcft in 1980. Since 2000, the freshwater inflow is nil," he said.
The Joint Mangrove Management in Pichavaram was implemented through the Village Mangrove Councils, which had 480 families as members. They restored 250 hectares of degraded areas. The remaining areas are being restored by the Forest Department.
The tourism notice board at Pichavaram mentions that the estuary has 4,446 canals. N. Kuppammal of MGR Nagar is one of the very "resourceful" villagers to understand the importance of the relationship between environmental conservation and livelihood. "The men will work together in cutting the canals and we will plant trees," she said. The fishermen have realised that planting of more mangroves has helped to increase their catch of crabs, prawns and fish.
Near the Uppanar, K. Illanchezhiyan has experimented with a prawn farm lined with mangrove plantations as part of an integrated seawater farming system. At Madavamedu, the Foundation has developed a non-mangrove coastal bio-shield, with the support of villagers, for 700 metres along the Pichavaram coast। THE HINDU
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