T.N.’s Ramsar bounty: Cruising on wetland wealth

There is unbridled joy in Tamil Nadu with the announcement of 10 Ramsar sites in the State. But that joy must be tempered with responsibility and constant monitoring, and a continuing commitment to choosing environment-friendly policies

In just one week, Tamil Nadu’s count of Ramsar sites, wetlands of international importance, went from just one to 10. It was 20 years ago, in August, that the Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary was declared a Ramsar site in the State. For the next two decades, it remained the only such designated site. Something has changed. For starters, the State seems to have improved its credibility with its commitment to environment issues, at a time when the country has set its sights on the Ramsar tag for 75 sites on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Indian independence.

Naturalists and wildlife enthusiasts, not to forget birders and forest officials, were in for delight this past week, when after two decades, first three, and then six more wetlands in the State got the Ramsar site recognition. “Congratulations, Tamil Nadu. We just added six more to our list of four, reaching 1st position in India alongside UP with a total of 10 Ramsar sites,” Supriya Sahu, Secretary, Environment, Climate Change and Forests Department, wrote on Twitter after the official announcement came.

What comes with the Ramsar tag though? No doubt, there is prestige and also funding, but great responsibility, too. The tag will help to promote and tap into ecotourism potential responsibly and enhance international visibility. The Centre and the State, in particular, must ensure the wetlands are protected and conserved. Constant monitoring is necessary and any slackness could earn the wetlands negative points and delisting if the degradation is not stopped, activists say.

The Pallikaranai marshland in the heart of Chennai, an ever-expanding metropolis, poses a huge challenge to conservation. While there is no doubt that the marsh deserves international importance; it remains a haven for birds, both resident and migratory, though it has shrunk to one-fourth of its original size. The most important feature is that its protection is critical to flood management in south Chennai, says Jayshree Vencatesan, founder, Care Earth. Since it is in the middle of a metropolitan city, there is no buffer to the marsh and the edge conditions are very sharp and so the pressure is high on the wetland, she points out.

The Perungudi dump continues to be the biggest challenge, followed by the road network. The encroachments on the Velachery-Tambaram route, with more houses coming up encroaching upon the marsh, are the other threats, she says. Another development on the southern side is the ELCOT complex, which has blocked the flow from more than 30 lakes that drain floodwater into the marsh. There have been some minor adjustments, and there are plans to correct this, according to forest officials.

“It is a miracle that despite all the pressure that includes domestic and treated sewage, the birds continue to flock the marsh. 2018-19 was the best season as there was continuous rain, like this year, and not downpours for a few days,” says KVRK Thirunaranan of Nature Trust. He has been birding at the marsh for over a decade and the patterns of migration amaze him. There are concerns though: the south side is losing floating vegetation that was the nesting ground for nearly 800 pheasant-tailed jacanas. This year, the sandpipers have already flown down. Birds like the bronze-winged jacana that were not seen in 2014 are coming in. “The diversity is good and the migration happens on the exact dates,” he says.

“The Pallikaranai marsh has already been saved. As funding is not a problem, it is time for consolidation,” Ms. Jayshree says. Mr. Thirunaranan feels the approach has to be holistic and everyone has a role to play. He commends the print media for its role in saving the marsh over the past two decades.