Mangroves

Mangroves forests of Bhitarkanika.

Significance of Mangrove Ecosystem

Mangroves are salt tolerant plant species found in the inter-tidal regions along the creeks and estuaries near the coast, on the river mouth. They play a very significant role in protecting the hinterland against (i) cyclones and (ii) the ingress of sea water during tidal surge. Mangroves stabilize coastal land mass against sea erosion. They are repositories of immense biological diversity and are also the nursery and breeding ground of several marine life forms, such as species of prawns, crabs, fishes and molluscs. Mangroves sustain the ecological security of the coastal areas as well as livelihood security of the thousand of fishermen and others who live in these areas.

Status Of Mangroves in Orissa

The mangroves all along the Orissa coast are threatened due to high density of population in these areas and competing demand for land for agriculture and prawn farming. The mangrove belt in Kendrapada district called the Bhitarkanika mangrove forests, comprising areas between in the Dhamara mouth to Barunei on the coast, has been notified as Bhitarkanika Sanctuary (672 sq.km.). Part of this area (145 sq.km-) is notifies National Park. This latter stretch of mangrove is the only area, which is relatively well preserved. Mangrove vegetation in Mahanadi delta region between Barunei mouth to Mahanadi mouth (Paradip) is fragmented and degraded due to large-scale encroachment of these areas. Further south, sparse mangrove vegetation occurs along the coast from Mahanadi mouth to Devi mouth. Degraded mangroves also occur to the north of Dhamara mouth up to Chudamani in
Bhadrakh District coast, and also on Subarnarekha mouth in Baiasore District.

The mangrove areas were the Zamindari forests till 1951. With abolition of the Zamindari system these lands vested in the State Government in 1952 (under Anchal Administration of Revenue Department). In 1957, the demarcated and notified protected forest blocks out of vested Zamindari forests were transport to the control of the Forest Department.

So far only 5 forest blocks in Mahanadi delta have been constituted as Reserve Forest under the Orissa Forest Act, 1972. Forest settlement proceedings on the proposals for reservation of the other remaining forest blocks are yet to be finalized.

Submerged Mangroves during high tide.

Conservation Highlights

• A state level Steering Committee under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary for Conservation and Management of Mangroves and Coral reefs in Orissa has been constituted vide Forest and Environment Department Resolution No. 1022/FandE/dated 12.1.2000.
• Mangroves of Brarnhani -Baitarani delta in Kendrapada district have been declared as: (a) Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary in April 1975 covering an area of 672 Sq.km. (b) the core area of the sanctuary has been declared as Bhitarkanika National Park in September, 1998 covering an area of 145 Sq.km.
• Bordering the Bhitarkanika sanctuary/National Park, an area of 1435 Sq. km. (out of which 1408 Sq.km. is sea to a width of 20kms. form the coast) has been declared as Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife sanctuary in September, 1997. It covers two Reserve Forest Blocks of Mahanadi delta mangroves comprising 27 Sq.km.
• Creation of a Wildlife Division at Chandbali in 1980 which was later renamed as Mangrove Forest Division (Wildlife), Rajnagar, with jurisdiction over the entire coastal mangrove forests of Bhadrakh, Kendrapada, and Jagatsinghpur district. With effect from 1.10.2003, the mangrove forest of Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur Districts have been constituted into Rajnagar Wildlife Division, while the mangrove areas of Bhadrakh and Puri Districts are now part of Bhadrakh and Puri Wildlife Divisions.
• Bhitarkanika Sanctuary area has been designated as a 'RAMSAR SITE' (i.e., Wetland of International importance) during the 8th meeting of the contracting parties held at Valencia from 18-26th November 2002. In Orissa this is the 2nd wetland of International importance under Ramsar Convention and is one of the 19 such sites in the country.
• Mangroves of Bhitarkanika and Mahanadi delta have been considered as a single ecological unit and have been proposed to be designated as a Biosphere Reserve.
• Implementation of Management Action Plans (MAPs) since 2000-01 for conservation and management of mangroves at six identified locations, namely Bhitarkanika, Mahanadi delta, Dhamara, Devi-Kadua, Subarnarekha and Chilika under the central plan scheme of Government of India.

Conservation Measures On The Anvil

• Completion of Reservation proceedings of all mangrove forest blocks, UN-surveyed areas, newly emerged islands/ mudflats, etc. in all deltaic regions and declaration of these areas as Reserve
• Forests within a specified time frame so as to provide proper legal cover against encroachment and unsustainable use of these forest/ Sanctuary lands.
• Disposal of all title suits and misc. court cases within a specified time frame.
• Final notification of Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary under section 26(A) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Demolition of all un-authorised prawn gherries in mangrove areas/ CRZ -I areas.
• Massive afforestation of degraded mangrove areas, banks of tidal rivers.
• Provision of adequate staff, transport and communication facilities.
• Preparation of mangrove atlas based on digitized GIS maps of all mangrove areas, showing their actual land use pattern.
• Removal and prevention of encroachment of mangrove wetlands.
• Prevention of re-encroachment of the mangrove areas retrieved after eviction on encroachers.
• Steps for identification, quantification and reduction of dependencies on mangrove forests.
• Providing alternate sources of livelihood and employment generation through Eco-development programmes.