CHAPTER 7. IMPACTS AND MANAGEMENT Many human impacts alter resource availability and disrupt communities and ecosystem function. Therefore in mangrove forests are being cut or grazed or fishing is intensified because it answers the need for fuel, fodder and protein respectively. Mangrove ecosystem is well recognized as a source of timber, firewood, charcoal, construction material. fish and other marine products. Budiman and Karatavinata ( 1986) and Tesoro et a1 (1986) pointed out that impacts of man-induced activities have reached such a magnitude that they have become the main focus of attention to environmentalists rather than natural disasters.

The Pichavaram Scenario Chapters 3 (Study area) and 4 (Phytosociology) has putfonh the major impacb of Pichavaram, both natural and man-made. Natural processes highlighted. explains the decline in species at Pichavaram while few man-made causes have been listed. However a comprehensive study carried out in 15 hamlets of Pichavaram (1Jma. 1993. 1995; Uma et a1 1993) reports that most fuel and fodder needs are met with from the forest. Provision of alternative resources by appropriate development and management schemes have been suggested in the end ofthis hamlet study. Prawn f a k i n g has been intensified at Pichavaram in the past two years. Benefits are typically economic and immediate while the costs are ecological and long-term. Most often short term benefits are known but the long term costs are not. Therefore there is great difficulty to objectively balance costs and benefits. Recently. the court has strictly curbed prawn farming which is a good step for conserving Pichavaram. Chapter 6 (Phenology) characterizes growth. reproduction and regenefation potentials of the fringing species which is cruc~alfor preservation of Pichavaram mangroves. Also causes of seedling mortality has been pointed out. Natural disturbances include mortality ofadult trees due to natural causes as well as induced mortality resulting from windstorms. Keepingall the findings ofthe present study in mind, certain recommendations are suggested for Pichavaram mangroves. The only limitation is that it is a short-term study, nevertheless best attempt has been made to average with specific and definite conclusions and recommendations for the identified area-based problems.

Some conclusions and recommendations have also been made at the end of each chapter which are not repeated here but incorporated in the flow chart at the end ofthis final chapter (Figure 32). Conclusions a n d R e c o m m e n d a t i o n s 1. As any forest Pichavaram is dependent on natural regeneration at present for future stocking. Natural regeneration will be usually adequate and can be established by selection-cum-improvement method. In Pichavaram stocks of propagules of Rhizophora and other mangrove species are always easily available in plenty when seedlings of species reach maturity at their respective mature phases (i.e.) when they are ready to be planted. Hence their collection at appropriate times is required to be subsequently raised in the nursery mainly because nursery maintenance not only conserves the seedling stock but also increases chances of seedling survival. Seedlings thus raised should be transplanted in the appropriate sites. Earlier studies have also shown that the nursery raised seedlings give better results (Sekar et al. 1989, Muniyandi & Natarajan 1985). 2. Though regeneration capacity can be enhanced by nursery method - the question is which will be the appropriate site to plant the nursery raised seedlings. Anempts have been made by the Forest Department and research institutes such as MSSRF for eco-restoration of Pichavaram. Initially, canal planting at large scale was taken up by Forest Department. The canal planting method was later improvised by MSSRF but the fundamental limitation lies in the fact that propagules are planted interior to the intertidal zones (i.e.) more towards land. In this context Phytosociology chapter ofthe present study is to be recollected. Though channels serve the purpose of inundation what about edaphic factors, effect of temperature. more chance of grazing in interior areas? The present study clearly points out that fringing species cannot be planted in the back mangrove zone or bare tidal flats where scorching sun and rise in salinity come in the way of seedling establishment. The answer to the solution is "follow the rule of succession and zonationn. Bare tidal flats normally have more heat tolerant and salt tolerant species such as Arthrocnemum. Back mangroves have abundant Suaeda spp. Then comes the Avicennia. mixed species zone and finally the fringing species (Rhizophora). Therefore the best sites of planting species is the zone where the particular species inhabit. Nursery raised seedlings could be transplanted in the appropriate zones by still maintaining the channel

system perpendicular to the water ward zone to enhance inundation

3. Any forest can grow naturally only without human interference. The existence. yield and economic values of forest depend on regeneration, rather natural regeneration. To achieve this in Pichavaram sites with high growing potential (i.e.) the regions where the distinct zones mentioned in phytosociology chapter (e.g. Periaguda islands) are intact, plots could be fenced off and left to regenerate on its own by the representative species. If such plots are strictly maintained. natural regeneration can become a success story except that time involved may be long. However, the process can be quickened by artificially planting nursery raised species in respective zones. These plots have to be free from human interference and cattle. 4. No conservation is possible without involving people. Study on 15 hamlets between 199 1-93 (Uma 1993, 1995) involved comprehensive data collection related to socio-economic characteristics and impact of local population to develop a Sustaihable Livelihood Security Index (SLSI). The study helped in identifying hamlets which were relatively economically and educationally backward and nutritionally poor. The index scoring set priorities to undertake developmental programs for both eco-redevelopment and poverty alleviation. In the context of the present study, recommendations made bq social study seems to be appropriate which suggests that the following need urgent attention

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Protecting and conserving mangroves in the existing conditions for posterity; Reintroduce declining species; Reduce pressure on mangroves by raising appropriate fuelwood and fodder species to satisfy immediate local needs; Creating employment opportunities through programs like agro-forestry, animal husbandry and related activities: Promotion of active involvement of local communities in eco-restoration activities through suitable awareness programs highlighting the importance of mangrove forests and the need to protect and conserve them; and Awareness programme should essentially involve all target groups starting from local government department level down to heads of hamlets, local people. especially women and school children.

Flow chart (Figure 32) is presented to depict the factors affecting mangroves as well as the impacts, its results and solutions for the present conditions. In the figure nature of problems, both natural and man-made are considered as reactors which have

produced a result. To obtain desired results a solution package has been suggested as a catalyser which results in better preservation or conservation and is considered to be the end-product. Therefore it is evident that the problem of biodiversity or genetic diversity loss and ineffectual management ofnatural resources has many aspects namely social, economic. cultural, managerial and scientific. Although all these aspects are equally important only the scientific approach bridges the hope for improved management through better understanding. Nevertheless. science will be of use only if practitioners work closely and cooperatively with other groups such as decision makers, economists. anthropologists, local government departments (Forest. Tourist Department etc.), Panchayat heads, in villages and hamlets and local inhabitants.

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1 Algal m a formatton 2 Setdlang predllon

5 Spwmodkc floodsng close to coast 6 Low ttdal amplitude

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M A N INDUCED (REACTOR 2) RESUL 1 I

I Reduced wedltng growth due to damage cauxd to growbng r h m t ttpr

7 Tbdal flat evolul~on- loss ofzonat!on characterlrllcr cvpanrlon o f tidal flats at the

I 2 & 3 Abwnce of lurur~antmangroves 4 Erorlon by *aver and currents 5 L~mttcd\,eld o f nuvml wdlmenlr

RESULT

F d l o n n ~ w lkla d l o better u.dmt.nd$ng.nd Ia g tern contnnuour monltorlng on C o m m u n ~m~c l u m and populal~ondynamtcs

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Rcgeneratrn potcntlalr of the cornmuntr) (~enctacrarlatmn rtudwr

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+law populalton and cvrnlual u tpmg o f f o f rpcc~cr

SOLUTIONPACKAGE (CATALYSER FOR IMPROVED MANAGFMENTI Prcwrvallon ofmangro>er ~n prlstlnc slate fur partenn I Strtcl c o n w a l l o n ofexlrllng mangroves 2 Fenced offplots ~ 8 t ntl h extcmal dtsturbancc Natural regeneratton cnduccd 3 N u m r y armangrove rpcclcr present and Vanrplanllng ~n respccllrc zuncr I m slru canrenat~onl----f Naural rcgncrauon enhanced 4 Channels cut along proper g n d ~ c n l swhich am rlte rpec~lic lnundat~onenhanced progrerr~vrlvtouardr land 5 Vcgmtlvc propagallon tlrsuc culture mtcropropagation 3 Spcclen multlplcatlon > ldentcfier cand~datcgcncr xhlch habe adapttrc potcntlalr lo chang~ng 6 Malaular btology ~ncludmgrecent advanced technlquer enr~mnmenl 7 Pmvt~nonofaltcrnat!re fvcl and fodder mvolr!ng local #nhah#tantsb\ ) Rcdurcr human nnduced prerrum on mangro\er agmfamtr) and antmal hurbmdr) programmer j mhanrcd k planltng programmer tnvolvlng local people 8 Awarc-on c o n v n a t ~ o nf w l a r g n t groups at all lc%rtr eg (loremmen1 local Ic\cl elc -----Conwr\at~on

d~radvantagc- perslstcncc o f rucrwd envsroment +range o f opttmal tolcrancc caused

(rnortl) no" b#degmdablel

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I 1 I mangraves I II I Dlrchargcofral~dwancs

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I Salt balance affected 2 Destructton of mangrows 3 Regnerarton potent,alr affected 4 1 ang term derlructlon of

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a t P ~ c h a v a r a mand m a n a g e m e n t s t r a t e g y t h a t c a n c o n s e r v e t h e e x i s t l n g m a n g r o v e s b e t t e r

OVERALL RESULT extmctton due to dccreaslng rpeclcs haerogcnlt, oser \ears Local Strcswd envsronmca advantage - dcvclopmcnt of stress tolcrant rpecles cg rtuntcd mature A%tccnn8ospcclrs

5

ofproblems

NATURE OF PROBLEMS

d e p ~ c t i n gn a t u r e

N A T U R A L (REACTOR I )

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32 Flow c h a r t

I ShtR ~n coasllnne 2 lnsu~liclcntx d ~ m e nyteld t

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