449
8. Any developmental or modification works on critical fish habitats in vembanad
lake should be done with proper impact assessment studies.
9. A democratic institution should be set up with ample representation for the traditional stakeholders and local panchayaths with due legal powers for the governance of the Vembanad lake and associated socio-ecological system.
14.5 Restoration of Coastal Water Bodies
The climate and easy transportation in coastline of India has resulted in an increasingly large human population. The natural landscapes of the area have been
greatly modified to provide a setting for development. Coastal marshes have flat
topography and occur near waterways. These attributes have made them prime
sites for commercial development. Seventy five percent of the southern India
coastal wetlands have been destroyed by development (Lonzarich et al. 1992).
Changes in the watershed and levels of pollution have altered these remaining
areas as well (Lonzarich et al. 1992). These losses have a catastrophic effect on
the migratory waterfowl utilizing the area. These habitat losses are especially
critical because stopping places for waterfowl are rare in the arid landscape of east
and west coast of India. In addition, losses and alteration of wetlands have resulted
in dissected marshes with barriers to animal movements in the estuary region.
Barriers include increased noise levels, buildings, and changes in water circulation and quality. These barriers have hampered the ability of birds to reach alternate resting and feeding sites near tidal wetlands like Chilka wetlands ecosystem.
In addition, barriers are preventing the dispersal of plants (Zedler 1982). Human
caused disturbance has occurred for so long and to such a great extent that it is
difficult to distinguish natural and unnatural features in coastal marshes. There are
no pristine examples of coastal wetlands left in India to use as a template to reconstruct marshes (Zedler 1982). Nevertheless, restoration projects have been undertaken. This paper will discuss the use of beach nourishment as a restoration
technique in southern east coast of India.
Coastal salt marshes occur in the intertidal zone of moderate to low energy
shorelines along estuaries, bays, and tidal rivers. The coastal marshes of southern
and central east coast are very distinct from the marshes found on the other coastal
areas (Lewis 1982a).
The principal value of southern east coast wetlands is providing habitat for the
several plant, animal, vertebrate, and invertebrate species that depend entirely on
their estuaries. Providing habitat for these species helps to maintain biodiversity in
the area. Nitrogen is an important aspect of wetland function. Its availability and
supply affects plant biomass, reproduction, productivity and quantity of plant species. Vertebrate and invertebrate animal species are in turn affected by how nitrogen
inadequacy alters primary productivity, decomposition, and the food chain hierarchy. Approximately 6% of marsh nitrogen requirement is met by nutrient poor tidal
import. Though floodwaters are high in nitrogen content, they are infrequent and
14 Coastal Wetland Restoration: Concepts, Methodology, and Application Areas…
8. Any developmental or modification works on critical fish habitats in vembanad
lake should be done with proper impact assessment studies.
9. A democratic institution should be set up with ample representation for the traditional stakeholders and local panchayaths with due legal powers for the governance of the Vembanad lake and associated socio-ecological system.
14.5 Restoration of Coastal Water Bodies
The climate and easy transportation in coastline of India has resulted in an increasingly large human population. The natural landscapes of the area have been
greatly modified to provide a setting for development. Coastal marshes have flat
topography and occur near waterways. These attributes have made them prime
sites for commercial development. Seventy five percent of the southern India
coastal wetlands have been destroyed by development (Lonzarich et al. 1992).
Changes in the watershed and levels of pollution have altered these remaining
areas as well (Lonzarich et al. 1992). These losses have a catastrophic effect on
the migratory waterfowl utilizing the area. These habitat losses are especially
critical because stopping places for waterfowl are rare in the arid landscape of east
and west coast of India. In addition, losses and alteration of wetlands have resulted
in dissected marshes with barriers to animal movements in the estuary region.
Barriers include increased noise levels, buildings, and changes in water circulation and quality. These barriers have hampered the ability of birds to reach alternate resting and feeding sites near tidal wetlands like Chilka wetlands ecosystem.
In addition, barriers are preventing the dispersal of plants (Zedler 1982). Human
caused disturbance has occurred for so long and to such a great extent that it is
difficult to distinguish natural and unnatural features in coastal marshes. There are
no pristine examples of coastal wetlands left in India to use as a template to reconstruct marshes (Zedler 1982). Nevertheless, restoration projects have been undertaken. This paper will discuss the use of beach nourishment as a restoration
technique in southern east coast of India.
Coastal salt marshes occur in the intertidal zone of moderate to low energy
shorelines along estuaries, bays, and tidal rivers. The coastal marshes of southern
and central east coast are very distinct from the marshes found on the other coastal
areas (Lewis 1982a).
The principal value of southern east coast wetlands is providing habitat for the
several plant, animal, vertebrate, and invertebrate species that depend entirely on
their estuaries. Providing habitat for these species helps to maintain biodiversity in
the area. Nitrogen is an important aspect of wetland function. Its availability and
supply affects plant biomass, reproduction, productivity and quantity of plant species. Vertebrate and invertebrate animal species are in turn affected by how nitrogen
inadequacy alters primary productivity, decomposition, and the food chain hierarchy. Approximately 6% of marsh nitrogen requirement is met by nutrient poor tidal
import. Though floodwaters are high in nitrogen content, they are infrequent and
14 Coastal Wetland Restoration: Concepts, Methodology, and Application Areas…