Padma Mahanti
Director, Directorate of Environment & Climate Change
Trivandrum
Kerala is a
synonym of Backwaters and wetlands. These are not only reflects the beauty of
the state but it is the home many communities who depend on them for their
livelihood. These backwaters come under Wetland of the country and their
conservation is a prime issues. Wetlands are the major part of Climate, Flora,
Fauna and the human beings. Therefore their conservation and maintenance for
the human and ecology is essential things. Hence, in the year of 1971, there is
a International treaty was held at Ramsar city of Iran for the Conservation of
Wetland, known as Ramsar Convention organized by UNESCO and it came into force
in 1975. The Contracting parties identify wetlands of International importance
and keep the identified Wetland as Ramsar site. The next meetings will be held
in United Arab Emirates in 2018. The major wetlands are: Marine / Coastal
Wetlands, Inland Wetlands and Human-made Wetlands. The state have three Ramsar
sites which stand the objectives of Ramsar Convention; Ashtamudi Lake,
Sasthamkota Lake and Vembanad.
ASTHAMUDI LAKE : The Gateway of backwaters of Kerala
It is a beautiful backwater situated in Kollam district of the
State. With River Kallada and Pallichal, it forms an Estuary with sea at
Needdakara. Most tastiest backwater fish, Karimeen is belongs to this lake. It
is spreaded in 61.4 Km2 having 1,700 Km2 with 1.8
X 1012 cu mi water though it provides irrigation to 61630 ha of
paddy and upland crops. It has two
islands; Munroe and Chavara Thekkumbhagom. Its importance is claimed to be
dated of the Romans of 14th Century. Geographically its basin is the
sediments of Quaternary and Tertiary. Marine and Fluvival alluvium are
Quaternary and Laterite, sandstone and Clays of Warkalai is Tertiary. In the Year 2002, it is declared as Ramsar
site of the state. Its large plam shaped
water body gives it a uniqueness and beauty among other wetlands of the state. The name
derived from having eight cones which indicate the lake topography too. It is
famous for the houseboat and resorts. The Needakara Port of the lake is commercial
hub of Cashew trading and other marine products. The Community who live close to lake, get
their livelihood from the lake. In the year 2014, it became the first marine
Stewardship Council Certified Fishery in the country for their sustainable
claim fishing.
The lake is
rich with diverse flora species including mangroves. The major flora are Avicennia officinalis, Brugiera gymnorrhiza,
Sonneratia caseolaris, Syzygium travancoricum (RET), Calamus rotang etc. It is also the home of about 57 aviafaunal
species (about 6 migratory, about 51 resident); about 26 butterflies and many
other faunal along with Phytoplanktons like Cyclotella, Gyrozigma, Navicula
etc. it is the rich with about 97 species of fish along with Prawns and edible
crabs make it second biggest fish-landing centre after Vembanad estuary. Munroe
Island is a cluster of eight small islands of this lake. Thekkumbhagom is a
islands, situated on the bank of the lake which important in providing the
natural beauty with rustic life of the local community. Great poet Azhakath
Padmanabha Kurup belongs to the area. Economically it is very significant for
the state. The total direct use value is about Rs. 66.8 million per annum.
The lake is
very much important for the state but deterioration of the lake environment is
noted in recent years due to much anthropogenic activities, which send
Kanjiracode is on the verge of extinction. Kanjiracode creek is the south end
of the lake, suffering from the anthropogenic activities which make Lake :Sapthamudi”
in near future.
Sasthamcotta
Lake: Home of Cavaborus
It is the largest fresh water lake of the state. It is known as
for the ancient Sastha Temple. It is the source of drinking water of the city
Quilon. It is the prime source of fishing of the area. The larva Cavaborus is rich in the lake and
they consume the water born pathogenic bacteria. In the year of 2002, it came
under Ramsar sites of the state. It has
373 ha surface area having 12.69 km2 catchment area. Geographically, It has archaean origin of rock with
intrusions of charnockite and dolerite dyke rocks. It was observed that
tertiary varkala formation along the
coastal beds. No visible tributaries feed the lake but
springs at the bottom are stated to supply water throughout the year. The lake enjoys the beauty of Drosera ( an
Insectivorous plant) species along with aquatic floral diversity. The major
faunal species are Etroplus suratensis, Calichrous bimaculatus, Wallago
attu, Puntius ticto punctatus,
Horabagrus brachysoma, Parambassis thomassi . The lake also suffering the anthropogenic
pressure, encroachment for agriculture, cultivation of Tapioca, agrochemical
wastes, soaking of dry leaves of Coconut palm before matting.
Vembanad lake: Longest Lake of the country
It is the largest lake of the State
and known as Punnamada in Kuttanas and Kochi Lake in Kochi. It has many island
such as Vypin, Mulavukad, Vallarpadon, Willingdon etc. the major highlights of
the lake is Nehru Trophy Boat Race. In the year of 2002, it has came under
Ramasar sites of the state. It has about 2033.02 Km2 having about
398.12 km2 below MSL. It is
situated near the Arabian Sea and separated by a narrow barrier island. The
barrier has helped local in Kuttanad by freeing the area of salinity and
allowing them an additional crop in dry season.
It also create a loss as fish and prawns to migrate upstream, weed
growth (rampant propagation of Water Hyacinth). It is about 14 Km wide and fed by 10 rivers
including six major (Achenkovil, Manimala, Meenachil, Muvattupuzha, Pamba and
Periyar) rivers. It provides about 30 %
of the total surface water resource of the state. The highlight stuff of the lake is Kumarakom
Bird Sanctuary. Lake is home of about
20,000 waterfowls and provide ideal habitat of shrimps.
Source: From Literature
