453
technique with ‘fish bone’ design is preferable for restoration; and, in the high tidal
amplitude area, restoration will be made by direct seed sowing and seedling planting in the mud flats. Wherever communities are willing and can undertake restoration operations, the communities may be mobilized and funds may be transferred to
them. In other areas, where communities are not involved or not dependant on the
mangroves, the Government departments may have to step in to undertake restoration operations.
Coastal sand dunes (CSD) floras were under constant anthropogenic and natural
pressure due to rapid elimination of sand dunes and its associated vegetation; as a
result, its associated indigenous knowledge with them is also gradually disappearing. Such biodiversity rich and useful ecosystems need immediate restoration and
conservation actions. Cuddalore coastal area is prone to both anthropogenic and
natural disaster. Cyclone Thane hit Cuddalore coast on 29th and 30th of December
2011 with wind speeds of up to 135 kmph (83 mph) and tidal surges reaching 1.5 m
(5 ft), is worth mentioning apart from the tsunami hit during December 2004.
Industrialization has occupied nearly 500 acres of Coastal land which causes pollution and destruction of sand dune vegetation. Restoration of degraded area by propagation of plants (Ipomoea pescaprae and Spinifex littoralis (which are natural sand
binders) by plucking a portion of the creeper from the denser area and planting it in
pits dug at a depth of 30–40 cm. The planting of creepers was made at an interval of
2 m distance each in six pits. The restoration work was started from October 2012,
90% survival was found during the restoration study. The best season for this program in this area was between October and January. After 3 months, 30 cm of
growth was observed in the plants. As that of mangroves restoration programmes
this sand dune vegetation flora should also be encouraged by all the countries in the
world.
14.6 Conclusion
Restoration is solely applicable to degraded ecosystems. Although it can be used as
an effective tool to return the degraded coastal ecosystem to a pre-disturbance stage,
coastal wetland restoration is also an important tool for preventing environmental
degradation in India. In India, two coastal wetland ecosystem were restored with the
ambient natural conditions. One is salinity is restored and another one is fish population is restored. Strengthening structural and functional elements through restoration can be helped to improve a coastal ecosystem’s health. India also witnessing the
coastal restoration programms are under way in the coastal states of India.
14 Coastal Wetland Restoration: Concepts, Methodology, and Application Areas…
technique with ‘fish bone’ design is preferable for restoration; and, in the high tidal
amplitude area, restoration will be made by direct seed sowing and seedling planting in the mud flats. Wherever communities are willing and can undertake restoration operations, the communities may be mobilized and funds may be transferred to
them. In other areas, where communities are not involved or not dependant on the
mangroves, the Government departments may have to step in to undertake restoration operations.
Coastal sand dunes (CSD) floras were under constant anthropogenic and natural
pressure due to rapid elimination of sand dunes and its associated vegetation; as a
result, its associated indigenous knowledge with them is also gradually disappearing. Such biodiversity rich and useful ecosystems need immediate restoration and
conservation actions. Cuddalore coastal area is prone to both anthropogenic and
natural disaster. Cyclone Thane hit Cuddalore coast on 29th and 30th of December
2011 with wind speeds of up to 135 kmph (83 mph) and tidal surges reaching 1.5 m
(5 ft), is worth mentioning apart from the tsunami hit during December 2004.
Industrialization has occupied nearly 500 acres of Coastal land which causes pollution and destruction of sand dune vegetation. Restoration of degraded area by propagation of plants (Ipomoea pescaprae and Spinifex littoralis (which are natural sand
binders) by plucking a portion of the creeper from the denser area and planting it in
pits dug at a depth of 30–40 cm. The planting of creepers was made at an interval of
2 m distance each in six pits. The restoration work was started from October 2012,
90% survival was found during the restoration study. The best season for this program in this area was between October and January. After 3 months, 30 cm of
growth was observed in the plants. As that of mangroves restoration programmes
this sand dune vegetation flora should also be encouraged by all the countries in the
world.
14.6 Conclusion
Restoration is solely applicable to degraded ecosystems. Although it can be used as
an effective tool to return the degraded coastal ecosystem to a pre-disturbance stage,
coastal wetland restoration is also an important tool for preventing environmental
degradation in India. In India, two coastal wetland ecosystem were restored with the
ambient natural conditions. One is salinity is restored and another one is fish population is restored. Strengthening structural and functional elements through restoration can be helped to improve a coastal ecosystem’s health. India also witnessing the
coastal restoration programms are under way in the coastal states of India.
14 Coastal Wetland Restoration: Concepts, Methodology, and Application Areas…