News Excerpt:
Concerns loom over damage to Pulicat wetland as claim settlement of villages in the sanctuary begins.
Pulicat Lake
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More about News:
- Initiation of settlement of claims for local communities residing within Pulicat Birds Sanctuary boundary limits has raised concerns over the shrinking of the sanctuary's eco-sensitive zone (ESZ).
- The National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management has done a study of the wetland, and the ESZ will be marked based on its zone of influence.
- The State government plans to denotify a sizable area of the sanctuary.
- During the 77th meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife held in January 2024,
- A proposal for the use of 215.83 hectares of non-forest land for the development of an industrial park inside the eco-sensitive zone and 5 km from the bird sanctuary.
- The process of rationalizing the sanctuary's boundaries has begun, with the settlement of claims being the first step towards denotifying the sanctuary.
- Chief Wildlife said that once that was done and the final notification was released,
- The current 10 km buffer would not exist.
- The ESZ would be declared based on the sanctuary boundary.
Significance of Pulicat Lake:
- Pulicat is a biodiversity hotspot that hosts around 250 species of birds, 50 of which are intercontinental species.
- Pulicat lagoon is unique in its vulnerability to shoreline dynamics and the presence of more mangrove plantations in the ESZ rather than in the Sanctuary area.
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- Over one lakh people depend on it for livelihood and identity.
- Its importance to wildlife and role in Central Asian Flyway for birds.
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- The Pulicat barrier island and associated sand systems act as critical cyclonic buffers and barricades against tidal and storm surges.
- It also acts as a climate buffer for the city, as the lagoon-wetland complex acts as a massive flood water catchment when cyclones hit the coast.
- Pulicat is one of the very few sites that are both historically and ecologically significant. It is one of the few landscapes where the local's water use is extremely knowledge-driven. It is used for agriculture, marine fishing and inland fishing.
Key concerns over Pulicat Lake:
- Shrinking of the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) due to the proposed denotification of a sizable area of the Pulicat Birds Sanctuary.
- Potential detrimental impact of industrial expansion projects on the already damaged Pulicat ecosystem.
Conclusion:
It's crucial to prioritise the conservation of Pulicat Lake's unique ecosystem and the well-being of its wildlife and human inhabitants. Balancing economic development with environmental preservation is key to ensuring the long-term sustainability of this ecologically significant area.
National Board for Wildlife:
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