RAMSAR SITES OF KERALA: TREASURE OF THE STATE

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 14^th 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