The Hindu : Sea erosion hits Pitchavaram forests

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 25, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Sea erosion hits Pitchavaram forests

By Our Staff Reporter

CUDDALORE APRIL 24 . The mangrove forests in Pitchavaram near Chidambaram has degenerated due to nature's havoc, especially sea-erosion.

A study conducted by the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation made available to presspersons at Chidambaram states the coastal area around Pitchavaram has undergone a ``severe erosion''. Between 1930 and 1970, 550 metres of seashore was eroded. Between 1970 and 1992, the rate of erosion was about 12 metres, the study said.

The impact of such changes was not clear the report said and warned if the rate of erosion continued, ``the Pitchavaram forest will be exposed directly to the high wave action of the Bay of Bengal and consequent uprooting of trees. ``The waves wash away the seeds'', the study said.

Sedimentation was yet another problem. The rate appeared to be high from external and internal sources such as erosion of the banks of some tidal creeks and canals. ``High rate of sedimentation is perceived through the enlarged size in islands''. In one particular case, an interior part near the mainland (in 1970) has now linked to the mainland.

Some canals were silted. ``The impact of such changes on mangrove plant and hydrodynamics is not clear and a full-fledged study in this regard is necessary''.

The study was conducted by scientists attached to the foundation, V. Selvam and K. K. Ravichandran, expressed happiness over the precautionary measures taken to check the man-made stresses on the mangrove forests.

The ``Coastal Regulation Act, 1995'' was enacted following the recommendation of an expert committee headed by Dr. M.S. Swaminathan. The Act prohibits the development of prawn farms within a radius of two km around the mangrove wetlands.

The Forest Department also prohibited film shooting. ``Chemicals used during the course of shooting fight-sequences affects the growth of mangrove'', the study said.

On restoration techniques being adopted in and around Pitchavaram, the study said two feeder canals were set up exclusively to supply tidal waters at a demonstration site. About five hectares out of a total 8.2 hectares degraded due to development of trough-shaped topography.

Test-planting was conducted using Rhizopora mucronata and R.apiculata.

``Only Pitchavaram in the entire coastal part of the country had good population of these two species'', the study said.

The survival and growth performance of the Rhizophora on the demonstration site ``is normal and comparable to that of healthy mangrove environment''.

On the growth of Avicennia marina, the study said that there was a sharp improvement in the salinity of the demonstration site.

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