Coral Reef

Coral Reefs are shallow water tropical ecosystems characterized by the remarkably high biomass production and rich floral and faunal diversity. Coral Reefs are particularly important to millions of people around the world as sources of high quality protein and cultured products. They provide raw materials for dwellings along the coast and protect fragile shoreline from damage and erosion. They are also of great value to the world at large as the hotspots of marine biodiversity. Recent estimates reveal that 95 per cent of the world’s Coral Reefs have been damaged by overfishing, dynamiting, pollution, poisoning or ship’s anchor.

The latest event of bleaching in Indian Ocean has caused considerable damage to the Coral Reefs in India.

Taking into consideration the importance of Coral Reefs and the factors responsible for their deterioration, following areas in the country have been identified for conservation and management:- Andaman & Nicobar Islands ,Lakshadweep ,Gulf of Mannar and Gulf of Kutch. State level steering committees have been constituted for the formulation and implementation of management Action Plan.

The Ministry has also been designated as a Focal Point of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) and representative of the Ministry participated in the Planning and Coordination Committee of ICRI.

Estuaries

An estuary is a semi-enclosed coastal body of water which has a free connection to the open sea, extending into the river as far as the limit of tidal influence and within which sea water is measurably diluted with fresh water derived from land drainage". 'Estuary' is applied in an open sense to any coastal water body in which tide has a special significance. Estuaries are the result of fairly recent changes in sea level and have ephemeral features since drastic alterations can be created by small changes of sea level. In estuaries, fresh water collected over vast regions of land pours into an ocean (gravity driven), which send salt water upstream far beyond the river mouth (tide driven).

Coastal plain estuaries were formed by the flooding of river valleys following a rise in sea level over geological time. These estuaries are shallow, with depths rarely exceeding 30 m or so and mostly located in the temperate climate zones.

Bar-built estuaries are drowned river valleys with high sedimentation rates. They are common in the subtropics and tropics but can occur wherever the coastal zone is characterised by deposition of sediments.

Estuaries are known by different names like river mouth, lagoon, natural harbour, bays and inlets

Estuaries are usually biologically highly productive zones.

They also act as filter for some dissolved constituents in river water; these precipitate in the zone where river water meets sea water.

More important is trapping of suspended mud and sand carried by rivers which leads to delta formations around estuaries

Estuaries support diverse habitats such as mangroves, salt marshes, sea-grass, mudflats etc. They are also home to unique aquatic plants and animals such as sea turtles, and sea lions, sea catfish, saltworts, sedge and bulrush

About 100 such channels of varying sizes and shapes occur along the coast of India. Major estuaries occur in the Bay of Bengal. Many estuaries are locations of some of the major seaports. Most of the India’s major estuaries occur on the east coast. In contrast, the estuaries on the west coast are smaller. Two typical examples of estuaries on the west coast are the Mandovi and Zuari estuaries located to the north and south of the main campus of the National Institute of Oceanography at Dona Paula, Goa. Major issues being faced in India are:

1.   Changes in water flow (Excess or much lower than required)

2.   Modification of estuarine catchments

3.   Pollution and Water Quality

4. Recreation and Tourism along with overuse of resources.

5.   Encroachment of area by changing land use patterns

6.   Reclamation of land

7.   Climate change

Medicinal Plants

Medicinal plants are valuable resources which are required to be managed in scientific way to ensure sustained extraction from the natural environment. The conservation of medicinal plants has been identified as one of the thrust areas in the Ministry. Under the Biodiversity programme, conservation of medicinal plant resources and protection of traditional knowledge, have been identified as important issues.

A Task Force has been constituted in Planning Commission on the Conservation, Cultivation, Sustainable Use and Legal Protection of Medicinal Plants.

The Ministry has provided inputs on the chapter on “Inventorization, Conservation and Action Programme for Medicinal Plant Conservation”.

Interaction with Department of Indian System of Medicine and Health for development of programmes pertaining to medicinal plants from the point of view of their availability is in progress.

National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the proposal for the merger of National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) and National Wetlands ConservationProgramme (NWCP) into a new scheme National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA) with the objective of conserving aquatic ecosystems (lakes and wetlands) by implementing sustainable conservation plans. The Government of India and the State Governments would be sharing the costs in a ratio of 70:30 and (in case of the North-Eastern states the ratio is 90:10).

The principal objectives of the new scheme will be holistic conservation and restoration of lakes and wetlands for achieving desired water quality enhancement, besides improvement in biodiversity and the ecosystem, through an integrated and multidisciplinary approach with a common regulatory framework.The scheme would contribute to reduction of pollution loads and improvement in goods and services provided by these water bodies to stakeholders.

The new scheme will have conservation and management of lakes and wetlands in the country within its scope, to include inventory and information system on lakes and wetlands, national level directive on criteria for lakes and wetlands, regulatory framework, capacity building at state government and local body levels, evaluation etc.

MARINE PROTECTED AREAS OF INDIA

Convention On Biodiversity defines Marine Protected Area" as follows:

Any defined area within or adjacent to the marine environment, together with its overlying water and associated flora, fauna, historical and cultural features, which has been reserved by legislation or other effective means, including custom, with the effect with the effect that its marine and/or coastal biodiversity enjoys a higher level of protection then its surroundings. • As of 2010, there are more than 5,000 MPAs, encompassing 0.8% of the ocean's surface

Traditionally, the Marine Protected areas have been established by individual nations. The World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002 called for the establishment of marine protected areas consistent with international laws and based on scientific information, including representative networks by 2012. The Evian Agreement of 2003 (among G-8 nations) and Durban Action Plan 2003 calls for regional action and targets to establish a network of protected areas by 2010 within the jurisdiction of regional environmental protocols. There were calls for establishing protected areas for 20 to 30% of the world's oceans by the goal date of 2012.

India and Marine Protected Areas

India has around 8,000 kms of coastline with two island systems, viz, the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep, and 2,305,143 Sq. Kms of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The marine and coastal environment of India harbours a host of resident and migratory wildlife. The important species found in the Indian waters include, Dugongs, Whales, Dolphins, Olive Ridley Turtles, a variety of fishes including the Whale Sharks & other sharks, Giant Groupers, Sea cucumbers, horseshoe crabs, sea shells, soft & hard corals, etc. of fishes including the Whale Sharks & other sharks, Giant Groupers, Sea cucumbers, horseshoe crabs, sea shells, soft & hard corals, etc.

India has at present 5 designated Marine Protected Areas as follows:

• Gulf of Mannar National Park, Tamil Nadu
• Gulf of Kutch Marine National Park, Gujarat
• Gulf of Kutch Marine Sanctuary, Gujarat,
• Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
• Gahirmatha Sanctuary, Orissa.

India has only five marine Protected Areas. Comparing to the marine diversity, is it too less and there is a greater need to have more marine Protected Areas in the country with well-developed management plans. Since, most of the marine species are migratory and not confined to one area only, management plans have to be based on large areas, rather than confining them to a Protected Area.