Jalaplavit(ISSN 2321-1881)_June_2019

Pied Stilt in Vadodara, Vol.9, No.2. June 2019 Gujarat World Environment Day-2019 Special ISSN 2321-1881 Najafgarh Lake: A Bird Sanctuary within a Drain Vandiyur Lake: Conservation and Protection Wetland Conservation History and Effectiveness in the United States

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881) Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 Jalaplavit, Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 Editorial (World Environment Day-2019 Special) Dr. Ketan Tatu……………………………………………………………….3 Some observations on Pied Stilt (Himantopus leucocephalus) from Vadodara District, Gujarat, India Hiren Patel, Keyur Naria, Hitesh Ameta, Karnalee Patel & Dr. Geeta Padate…………………………………………...4 Wetland Conservation History and Effectiveness in the United States Katharine Lewis……….………………………………………………..10 Founding Editor: Dr. Ketan Tatu Najafgarh Lake: A Bird Sanctuary within a Drain Priyanka Verma and Dr. Pamposh Bhat…………………….19 Principal Technical Advisor: Prof. James T. Anderson, USA Vandiyur Lake: Conservation and Protection Dr. Surendran Appasamy & Dr. Joseph Thatheyus Senior Advisor: Dr. Raju Vyas Antony…………………………………………………………………………26 Editorial Core Team Pallikaranai – A Slow Transition from Wetland to Directors, Foundation for Ecological Welfare(FEW) Dryland Dr. Surendran Appasamy & Dr. Joseph Thatheyus (a not-for-profit Foundation) Antony…………………………………………………………………………35 Foundation Layout & Design Human-Animal Conflict in Kaniyachira Wetland of Pugmark Qmulus Consortium Kasaragod District, Kerala Amaneesh C.……………………………………………………………….43 Design for the present issue Ketan & Amita Tatu India’s Perspective on Ramsar Convention-An International Agreement to Save Wetlands Front Cover Photo (by Avichal Tatu) Kanchan Puri & Dr. Ritesh Joshi……………………………….47 A Glimpse of Coastal Waterbird Study Purple Heron Preying on a Common Quail at Training by GEER Foundation, Wadhwana Wetland, Gujarat State, India Gandhinagar, India. Dr. Anika Tere, Kartik Upadhyay, Rahul Bhatt & Neel Solanki……………………………………………………………….53 Back Cover Photo (by Avichal Tatu): Yamuna River between Chakrata & Masoori Views expressed by the contributors in ‘Jalaplavit’ are not necessarily those of editorial team. Editorial Team is not responsible for any kind of plagiarism by any author.

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol.9, No.2, World Environment Day-2019 Special EDITORIAL Ketan Tatu Ketan Tatu of WED 2019- “Beat Air Pollution”-had relevance in the context of wetlands too. Dear Wetland Enthusiasts, How wetlands get affected by air? Well, Since 1974, the World Environment Day some rain-fed wetlands (known as ombrotrophic (WED) is celebrated every year on 5th June all over wetlands) are sensitive to nitrogen deposition. the world. The central theme of the very first WED Here, Nitrogen deposition refers to the influx of was “Only One Earth”. And the theme for the 2019 reactive nitrogen from the atmosphere to the WED is “Beat the Air Pollution”. Owing to the WED biosphere in the forms of gases (dry deposition) celebration since over four decades, the humanity and in precipitation (wet deposition). Increased all over the world has certainly become more deposition of reactive nitrogen is a result of global aware and sensitized about importance of emissions of oxidized nitrogen (NO, NO2 and environmental status and various threats being HNO3 etc.) from fossil fuel combustion faced by our environment and need for protection and reduced N from agricultural sources. It is also of its quality. However, much more is to be done believed that some wetlands are impacted by yet. atmospheric ozone too and it may lead to altered species composition. A large number of people equate environment protection to environment pollution It is widely known that wetlands play great abatement. They should realize that the word role as carbon sinks. They provide suitable natural environment means our physical, biological and environment for the sequestration and long-term chemical surrounding that include innumerable storage of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. natural and man-made entities. Wetlands are one Wetland plants contribute their bit in this as they of them. need atmospheric carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. Our wetlands are inherent and important part of environment. One may presume that Let’s not forget wetlands, when we think wetlands affect and get affected only by aquatic and talk about “Beating Air Pollution”! component of the environment. But, in actuality they are also linked with the atmospheric/air - Ketan Tatu, Ph.D. component of the environment. Thus, the theme 3

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 Some Observations on Pied Stilt (Himantopus leucocephalus) from Vadodara District, Gujarat, India 1Hiren J. Patel, Keyur H. Naria, Hitesh M. Ameta, Kirnalee N. Patel and Geeta S. Padate Email of Corresponding Author1: [email protected] Introduction potential north-western range Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus extension. Here we report its presence from Vadodara district, Gujarat. himantopus) is a common resident bird in Gujarat. During non-breeding Fig.1 Pied Stilt (H. leucocephalus) season, Gujarat receives massive Pied Stilt (Himantopus invasion of its migrant population (Ali & Ripley, 1987; Rasmussen & leucocephalus), also known as White- Anderton, 2012; Ganpule, 2016). headed Stilt or Black-naped Stilt, is Plumage variations are complex and resident in Southern Sumatra, Java, are not well known even through field Sulawesi and most of Australia, New guides such as Kazmierczak (2000), Zealand and Papua New Guinea. There Grimmet et al. (2011) and Rasmussen are non-breeding populations in Sri & Anderton (2012). Parasharya et al. Lanka, the Philippines and New (2010) described plumage variations in H. himantopus and eliminated the 4 possibility of presence of Australian (White-headed/Pied) Stilt (H. leucocephalus) as it needs further monitoring in the Indian subcontinent. Nevertheless, there are few reports of H. leucocephalus from Sri Lanka (Kotagama & De Silva, 2009). Rasmussen & Anderton (2012) considered it as a hypothetical species for the Indian subcontinent. Later Parasharya et al. (2014) reported the occurrence of H. leucocephalus from four locations in Gujarat and revealed

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 Guinea. It is a vagrant to offshore Fig. 2 Pied Stilt (on left) foraging islands and Christmas Island (Gould, 1837; Seebohm, 1886, 1888; Kotagama alongside Black-winged Stilt & De Silva, 2009; Hayman et al., 2011; Rasmussen & Anderton, 2012). It was (H.himantopus). first described by John Gould in 1837 (Gould, 1837). It can be differentiated Considering this character, we from H. himantopus by white upper tried searching for the same in mantle and slightly longer black hind- recognized field guides such as those neck feathers, which form a raised by Kazmierczak (2000), Grimmet et al. hind-neck ridge (Gould, 1837; (2011) and Rasmussen & Anderton Seebohm, 1888; De Silva, 2002; (2012), but found that none of them Hayman et al., 2011; Rasmussen & had mentioned this plumage. Anderton, 2012) (Fig. 1). During further literature Observations review, we came across a paper on At 14:55 hours on June 8, 2018, plumage variation of Black-winged Stilt by Parasharya et al. (2010), where we observed a stilt with a distinct all of their observations were in winter morph at Timbi Irrigation Reservoir season and they reported that this (22.318161 N, 73.283374 E). The bird type of stilt may be migrant to the was foraging with H. himantopus. As it region. Later, we found another paper was the breeding season for H. by Parasharya et al. (2014), which himantopus, we thought that it could reported the occurrence of H. be some breeding plumage as it was an leucocephalus from Gujarat and after adult bird (Fig.2). detailed investigation of illustrations provided in Hayman et al. (2011)’s On 12 June 2018 at 14:35 hours, “Identification Guide to the Waders of while birding at Timbi Irrigation the World”; we confirmed the species Reservoir, we again came across an as H. leucocephalus (Figs. 3 & 4). unusual looking stilt. 5 On detailed observation, we found that the unusual looking stilt had a readily noticeable black patch on hind-neck.

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 Fig. 3 Food consumption by Pied Stilt. did not carry a camera, we were unable to photograph the bird in this Fig. 4 A foraging Pied Stilt. area. Both the individuals were seen at Later, on June 20, 2018 at 08:50 different locations. The details of our sightings are given in Fig. 5. hours, again while birding in the farmlands around Timbi Irrigation Discussion Reservoir(Vadodara), a stilt was seen Subsequent to Parasharya et al. foraging in inundated ploughed field. On closer observation, we saw a black (2014) reporting its occurrence in patch on its hind-neck and identified it Gujarat, this may be the second report as an adult of H. leucocephalus. As we of the species from Gujarat. Grimmet et al. (2011), Ali (2012) and Ganpule (2016) have not reported this species from Gujarat. Neither does Padate et al. (2001) report it from Vadodara district. Rasmussen & Anderton (2012) has stated occurrence of H. leucocephalus to be hypothetical in the region while Inskipp et al. (2011) reported it as a separate species split from Black-winged Stilt (H. himantopus). Hayman et al. (2011) considered it as synonymy of H. himantopus i.e. H. h. leucocephalus. Nevertheless, all these identification aspects are based on the morphological characters. 6

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 Fig. 5 Map showing locations of sightings of Pied Stilt at Timbi Irrigation Reservoir in Vadodara District (Gujarat, India). Previously H. leucocephalus had its presence coinciding the breeding been reported from Sri Lanka (De Silva, season of H. himantopus. The species 1996, 2000; Kotagama & De Silva, was occasionally observed in pairs, 2009) which is located in the Indian which indicate the possibility of subcontinent. The individuals tend to breeding in the area. The occurrence visit India during the winter season of H. himantopus in the same area (Lopez and Mundkar, 1997; Kotagama, might also lead to possible cross- 2005). Kotagama & De Silva (2009) breeding between H. himantopus and have stated that in both the countries, H. leucocephalus. Thus, birdwatchers H. leucocephalus may be arriving from of Gujarat are requested to carry their home ranges, which are farther forward further observations during east and they might be expanding their the breeding as well as non-breeding home ranges to Oriental region. This season. expansion might be a part of a post- breeding dispersal. Here we observed 7

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 Acknowledgements Subcontinent (Second edition). We are thankful to Dr. B. M. Parasharya and Dr. Bhavik Patel (BNHS) Oxford University Press and for helping in Pied Stilt identification. Christopher helm, London. pp. 1- References: Ali, S. (2012). The Book of Indian birds. 528. Thirteenth edition revised by J. Hayman, P., J. Marchant and T. Prater C. Daniel, Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai. pp. 1- (2011). Shorebirds: An 326. Ali, S. and S. D. Ripley (1987). Compact identification guide to the waders handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan (2nd edition), of the world. Christopher helm, Oxford University Press, Bombay. De Silva, R. (1996). The Australian Stilt A&C Black, London. pp. 1-416. in Sri Lanka. Malkoha, 3(1): 4. De Silva, R. (2000). An Australian Inskipp, T. P., N. J. Collar, S. P. Wader Himantopus himantopus leucocephalus, in Sri Lanka. Mahood and J. D. Pilgrim (2011). Loris, 22(3):15-17. De Silva, R. (2002). A note on neck Species level and other feathering in Stilts. Loris, 23 (1&2): 27-28. interesting changes suggested for Ganpule, P. (2016). The Birds of Gujarat: Status and Distribution, Asian birds, 2010. Birding ASIA, Flamingo, 8 (3) – 12 (4): 2-40. Gould, J. (1837). A Synopsis of the 16: 51–61. Birds of Australia and the Adjacent Islands. John Gould, Kazmierczak, K. (2000). Birds of India, London. Grimmett, R., C. Inskipp and T. Inskipp Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, (2011). Birds of the Indian Bhutan, Bangladesh and the Maldives. Om Books International, Noida. Kotagama, S.W. (2005). A Tilt to the Stilt story. Loris, 24 (1&2): 28. Kotagama, S.W. and R. I. De Silva (2009). Status of White-headed Australian Stilt Himantopus leucocephalus in Sri Lanka. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 106(1): 98-99. Lopez, A. and T. Mundkur (Eds). (1997). The Asian Waterfowl Census 1994-1996: Results of the Coordinated Waterbird Census and Overview of the Status of 8

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 Wetlands in Asia. Wetlands Rasmussen, P. C. and J. C. Anderton International, Kuala Lumpur. (2012). Birds of South Asia. The Padate, G. S., S. Sapna and R. V. Ripley Guide. Vols. 1 & 2. Second Devkar (2001). Status of birds in Edition, National Museum of Vadodara District (Central Natural History - Smithsonian Gujarat). Pavo, 39: 83-94. Institution, Michigan State Parasharya, D., B. Patel and B. M. University, Lynx Edicions, Parasharya (2010). Plumage Washington D.C., Michigan and variations in Black-winged Stilt Barcelona. pp. 1061. Himantopus himantopus. Indian Birds, 6 (4&5): 98–99. Seebohm, H. (1886). A Review of the Parasharya, D., J. Teli and B. Species of the Genus Parasharya (2014). Birds showing Himantopus. Ibis, 28(3), 224–237. characteristics of Australian (white-headed) Stilt (Gould, Seebohm, H. (1888). The geographical 1837) reveal potential north- distribution of the family western range extension. Stilt Charadriidae, or the plovers, The Journal for the East Asian- sandpipers, snipes, and their Australasian Flyway, 66: 52-54. allies. Henry Sotheran and Co., London. About the Authors Hiren J. Patel (First from left) has done post-graduation in Zoology from the M. S. University of Baroda and is deeply interested in Avian Ecology, Mammalian diversity and Entomology. Keyur H. Naria (Second) has done graduation in Zoology from the M. S. University of Baroda. He is also a para-taxonomist and deeply interested in mammals, avian ecology and behaviour. Hitesh M. Ameta (Third) has completed post-graduation in Zoology from the M. S. University of Baroda and has done a dissertation on mammalian diversity around Timbi Irrigation Reservoir. Kirnalee N. Patel (Fourth) has completed post-graduation in Zoology from the M. S. University of Baroda and has done dissertation on status of seven species of urban birds in Vadodara City. Dr. Geeta S. Padate (Fifth from left) is a Professor at Department of Zoology, the M. S. University of Baroda. 9

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 Wetland Conservation History and Effectiveness in the United States Katharine Lewis Email for correspondence: [email protected] Wetland background anurans, mammals, and invertebrates. Historically, wetlands throughout Wetlands also provide more general ecosystem services such as nutrient North America were drained and cycling, water filtration, and storm developed over as they presented an surge protection. impediment to the rapid growth of the History of wetland conservation conterminous United States. Wetlands were drained as a means of disease Due to the long history of wetland control by removing mosquito breeding drainage and development and their habitat in addition to draining for ecological importance, there is a development. One of the largest and significant history of North American far-reaching reasons for past wetland wetland conservation and management. drainage has been drainage due to The earliest pushes for wetland agricultural development. Wetland soils conservation came from duck hunters tend to be nutrient-rich and therefore who noticed a downward population provide a good substrate for crop growth trend of waterfowl. This downward (Sucik and Mark 2017). As a result, over trend was ultimately attributed to 50% of wetlands in the United States habitat loss. With the Migratory Bird have been lost within the last 200 years Treaty Act of 1918, hunting seasons (Dahl 2011). were established for game species such as waterfowl and protections were put While being some of the most in place for migratory birds. Waterfowl degraded habitats worldwide, wetland conservation provided in the act ecosystems provide crucial services eventually extended to include habitat biologically. They provide critical conservation with the Federal Duck wildlife habitat for a myriad of sensitive Stamp in 1934. Purchase of this stamp and endangered species including birds, 10

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 was necessary for hunters who wished to expanded to include the conservation of hunt migratory waterfowl, and the funds soils and water on agricultural land generated from those purchases (Votteler and Muir 2002). continues to support the provisions of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act of Today there are several federal 1929 which preserves wetlands for agencies that regulate wetlands waterfowl (Smith and Rose 1996). including the NRCS. Federal protection of the waters of wetlands is covered The Dust Bowl of the 1930s acted under Section 404 of the Clean Water as another catalyst for the development Act of 1972. This section prohibits the of wetland protections. The Dust Bowl release of pollutants into United States was partially a result of overgrazing waters and through this regulation cattle and wetland drainage. As a means indirectly covers wetlands (United of establishing sustainable farming States Environmental Protection Agency practices and preventing another dust 2017). The 1985 Farm Bill provided bowl, the Soil Conservation Service further incentives to farmers to refrain (SCS) was established in 1932 under the from draining wetlands by denying United States Department of Agriculture government subsidies on crops grown on (USDA). Ultimately, this organization drained wetlands (Heimlich and Langer became the Natural Resources 1986). Conservation Service (NRCS) and Wetland Restoration in USA Wetland Restoration refers to the manipulation of physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of a degraded wetland or wetland which existed in the past in such a way that its natural functions are returned. Re-establishment (i.e., the rebuilding a formerly existing wetland) and Rehabilitation (i.e. repairing the functions of a degraded wetland) are two types of Restoration practices. Restoration efforts are carried out either in a regulatory manner or voluntary manner. Regulatory restoration, which is a part of compensatory mitigation, results from federal, state, tribal, or local laws and regulations that prohibit, condition, or compensate for permitted impacts to existing wetlands. On the other hand, voluntary restoration comprises the activities that are not required by statutes or regulations. But, both regulatory and voluntary wetland restoration play a role in implementation of Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act programs of USA.[Adopted by Editor for awareness creation from:https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/basic-information-about-wetland-restoration-and-protection] 11

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 Fig.1 Conservation Easement boundary sign located in West Virginia. The current wetland conservation Program (ACEP) to better reflect its programs through NRCS include a few more broad reaching conservation programs that have been enacted to initiatives. Today, ACEP provides target specific ecosystems. The Wetland private landowners with the technical Reserve Program (WRP) was created to and financial assistance to restore specifically focus on restoring and wetlands on their property in the form establishing wetlands on private land. In of conservation easements (Votteler and 2014, the WRP was renamed the Muir 2002). Agricultural Conservation Easement 12

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 Fig. 2 Two restored wetlands created through the NRCS Agricultural Conservation Easement Program in West Virginia. Fig. 3 Two natural wetlands located in West Virginia. 13

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 Created and restored wetlands versus several wetland obligate species— naturally occurring wetlands namely avian, anurans, and invertebrates. Wetland conservation and management at the federal level exists Balcombe et al. (2005A) found through actions such as wetland that general avian use of a suite of restoration and mitigation. Wetland mitigated and naturally occurring mitigation is a process whereby wetland wetlands throughout West Virginia were ecosystems are restored or created as similar between the two wetland types. compensation for developing on or Particularly, bird richness, diversity, draining an existing wetland (United and abundance were similar at both States Environmental Protection Agency mitigated and reference sites (Balcombe 2017). Mitigated or restored wetland et al. 2005A). Froneman et al. (2001) sites, especially those that are created studied a comparable system in South in a new location, tend to be younger Africa, and found that human-made and more isolated than naturally farm ponds contributed significantly as occurring wetlands. Therefore, these waterbird habitat. Wintering waterfowl sites have different successional stages use of man-made and managed coastal and potentially different wildlife impoundments was higher than use of communities, vegetative communities, natural tidal wetlands in South Carolina and ecosystem functions overall. (Gordon et al. 1998). An evaluation of managed versus unmanaged wetlands With the long history of wetland originally created under the wetland destruction and subsequent reserve program determined that conservation, it has become important waterbird abundance was higher on to evaluate whether wetland managed wetlands than unmanaged in conservation and management practices the autumn in New York (Kaminski et al. are effective. One of the ways to 2006), which could indicate that there is evaluate the ecological functional no important difference in created ability of a wetland is to study the versus natural wetlands, but rather how wildlife use and biological functions of the wetland is managed. To that effect, the site. There are innumerable studies waterbirds used semi-permanent evaluating the wetland community of 14

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 wetlands that were actively managed communities, mitigated wetlands more than passively or unmanaged wetlands in Illinois (O’Neal et al. 2008). supported a productive In one study, frog species richness macroinvertebrate community and abundance were higher in mitigated sites. This could be due to the newly (Balcombe et al. 2005B). Litter mitigated wetland sites tending to have more open water than established decomposition at a regionally similar set natural wetlands, which is a more ideal habitat for anurans (Balcombe et al. of sites in West Virginia reflected that 2005A). However, another study in a similar region of the country found that both mitigated and natural wetlands anuran occupancy was similar between human-made and beaver-made were comparable (Gingerich and wetlands (Strain et al. 2016). This could be because both human-made and Anderson 2011). beaver-made wetlands have higher proportions of open water than natural Because most of the differences wetlands. between created or restored wetlands Macroinvertebrate assemblages are also important indications of and natural wetlands can be attributed wetland functionality. They contribute to the overall food web as well as play to vegetative communities and an important role in litter decomposition. Balcombe et al. (2005B) successive stage, there are also studies determined that a set of mitigated and natural wetland sites had similar concerning the vegetation structure and macroinvertebrate communities and biomass. The observations indicated composition of created versus natural that though there were small differences in the invertebrate wetlands (Balcombe et al. 2005C). In their study of mitigated and reference wetlands in West Virginia, Balcombe et al. (2005C) found that plant coverage was the same across mitigated and natural wetlands; however, mitigated sites had higher species diversity and more early-successional species owing to their younger age than the natural sites. This higher diversity of plant species could contribute to a more diverse wildlife community as different vegetative types fulfill different habitat requirements for a myriad of species. Conover et al. (2014) evaluated the 15

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 avian species richness and diversity on conservation and management. This several different Conservation Reserve multifaceted approach is a crucial Program practices in an agricultural component of any large-scale landscape and found that bird density management plan. was highest in areas with diverse vegetation. References Balcombe, C.K., J.T. Anderson, R.H. The nationwide practice of Fortney, and W.S. Kordek. 2005A. wetland drainage effectively eliminated Wildlife use of mitigation and reference crucial wetland ecosystems throughout wetlands in West Virginia. Ecological most of the history of United States Engineering 25: 85-99. expansion. Through several federal programs and policies, wetland habitat Balcombe, C.K., J.T. Anderson, R.H. has begun to be restored and conserved, Fortney, and W.S. Kordek. 2005B. especially on agricultural land. Based on Aquatic macroinvertebrate assemblages the extensive studies conducted in mitigated and natural wetlands. comparing mitigated, restored, created Hydrobiologia 541: 175-188. and natural wetlands, there appears to be general similarities in wildlife, Balcombe, C.K., J.T. Anderson, R.H. invertebrate, and plant communities. Fortney, J.S. Rentch, W.N. Grafton, and W.S. Kordek. 2005C. A comparison of The similarities across created, plant communities in mitigation and restored, and natural wetlands in the reference wetlands in the mid- United States can serve as valuable Appalachians. Wetlands 25(1): 130-142. information for other countries. Because there has been success throughout North Conover, R.R., S.J. Dinsmore, and L.W. America, other countries can implement Burger, Jr. 2014. Effects of set-aside similar methods to restore their conservation practices on bird wetlands. Coordination across state, community structure within an intensive federal, and private stakeholders agricultural landscape. American invested in wetland conservation Midland Naturalist 172: 61-75. enabled widespread and successful implementation of wetland 16

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 Dahl, T.E. 2011. Status and trends of <https://naldc.nal.usda.gov/download wetlands in the conterminous United /CAT10694287/> States 2004 to 2009. U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Kaminski, M.R., G.A. Baldassarre, and Washington D.C. A.T. Pearse. 2006. Waterbird responses to hydrological management of Froneman, A., M.J. Mangnall, R.M. wetlands reserve program habitats in Little, and T.M. Crowe. 2001. Waterbird New York. Wildlife Society Bulletin assemblages and associated habitat 34(4): 921-926. characteristics of farm ponds in the Western Cape, South Africa. Biodiversity O’Neal, B.J., E.J. Heske, and J.D. and Conservation 10: 251-270. Stafford. 2008. Waterbird response to wetlands restored through the Gingerich, R.T. and J.T. Anderson. Conservation Reserve Enhancement 2011. Decomposition trends of five plant Program. Journal of Wildlife litter types in mitigated and reference Management 72(3): 654-664. wetlands in West Virginia, USA. Wetlands 31: 653-662. Smith, M., and S. Rose. 1996. The federal duck stamp and its role in the Gordon, D.H., B.T. Gray, and R.M. history of wetlands conservation. United Kaminski. 1998. Dabbling duck-habitat States Fish and Wildlife Service. associations during winter in coastal <https://www.fws.gov/mountain- South Carolina. Journal of Wildlife prairie/pressrel/96-06.html> Accessed 5 Management. 62(2): 569-580 Oct 2017. Heimlich, R.E. and L.L. Langner.1986. Strain, G.F., P.J. Turk, A.N. Tri, and Swampbusting: wetland conservation J.T. Anderson. 2016. Anuran occupancy and farm programs. United States of created wetlands in the central Department of Agriculture. Accessed 5 Appalachians. Wetlands Ecology and Oct.-2017. Management 25(3):369-384. 17

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 Sucik, M.T. and E. Marks. 2017. The About the Author status and recent trends of wetlands in the United States. United States Katharine Lewis, a graduate student Department of Agriculture [USDA] from West Virginia University(USA) has Natural Resources Conservation Service studied the wintering habitat [NRCS]. associations of wetland avian species <https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/ on wetland conservation easements FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb1262239.pdf> located throughout West Virginia, USA. Accessed 5 Oct 2017. United States Environmental Protection Agency [EPA]. 2017. Wetlands protection and restoration. https://www.epa.gov/wetlands> Accessed 5 Oct 2017. Votteler, T.H. and T.A Muir. 2002. Wetland management and research: Wetland protection legislation. U.S. Geological Survey. <https://water.usgs.gov/nwsum/WSP2 425/legislation.html> Accessed 5 October 2017. 18

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 Najafgarh Lake: A Bird Sanctuary within a Drain 1Priyanka Verma and Pamposh Bhat Email of Corresponding Author1: [email protected] History went down and the area became more Najafgarh Lake is located in the arid (Jain, 2009; INTACH, 2017). south west part of NCT Delhi covering c Najafgarh Block and north western part of Gurugram district, Haryana. It is a 7 a km stretch that is straddling the Delhi b Haryana border equally. The area of 5 sq. km. remains under water d perennially. Before the 1960s, Najafgarh jheel used to be a vast lake with an area Fig. 1. a: Outline map of India showing of about 220 sq. km. (as per Delhi Gazetteer 1883) in south-west part of Delhi. b: Geographic map of Delhi Region Delhi in Najafgarh district (DIFC, 2014). with main emphasis on Najafgarh drain Drainage from Bahadurgarh, Jhajjar and Rewari falls into Najafgarh jheel area (Source: Center for Science and through outfall no. 8 through Dhansa Enviornment). c: Enlargaed view of the Barrage. It represented extremely rich wetland ecosystem and was considered area from Dhansa to Chhawala. d: as a haven for avian fauna. Soon after Najafgarh Lake. the floods of 1964 and 1977, the Flood and Irrigation Department widened the Apathy about this drain Najafgarh drain which was once ecologically rich in pretext of saving Delhi’s major surface drains Delhi from severe flooding. It had highly include Najafgarh, Shahadra, Burari and altered the microclimate of that area. Barapullah. Najafgarh drain is the Due to drainage, the water table also dirtiest and filthiest. According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), it is positioned in the list of 13 worst polluted drains under the category ‘D’ (CPCB, 2003). Najafgarh drain tops the 19

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 list of thirty-three critically polluted to major urbanization and land use land hubs having the score of 70-80 in cover change; water level all over Delhi Comprehensive Environment Pollution has gone extremely down especially in Index (CEPI). It covers an area of 51 km south and south west districts (Khan and from Dhansa to Wazirabad where it falls Bajpai, 2014). Yamuna’s flood plain is into the Yamuna. Out of the 51km the only region which has been acting as stretch of the drain, nearly 31km stretch a source of freshwater. Najafgarh drain from Dhansa to Kakraula passes through is an offshoot of Yamuna River which is southwest district (Jindal, 1975). Thus, fed by Sahibi River and can act as a nearly 60% of the length of Najafgarh groundwater source for both Delhi and drain flows through southwest district of Haryana (Khan and Bajpai, 2014). NCT Delhi and this entire stretch of the drain is unlined. Moreover, from Dhansa Besides the anthropogenic activity, to Kakraula, very few (may be 2–3) water hyacinth is another havoc that has subsidiary drains join and subsequently been deteriorating the lake ecosystem. after Kakraula, nearly 22 big and small It creates an impenetrable olive green drains join it. Total 17,288 industries mat which obstructs the large portion of pour their effluents into it making its the water body. Water hyacinth is a fast conditions beyond restoration with each growing invasive species that clogs the passing day (WAPCOS, 1999; Shekhar open surface water. Every year flood and Sarkar 2013; DDA, 2017). The Delhi and Irrigation Department spends a lot segment of Najafgarh basin contributes of money to clean up this menace to around 55-60% of pollution of Yamuna keep the flow uninterrupted (CPCB, with a combined discharge of 2000 MLD. 2003). Construction activities such as building of sectors 106, 107 and 108 on the flood Flora and fauna plain of Najafgarh drain on Gurugram’s side can cause unusual flooding if the The drain was much widened in past monsoon off-shoots. An alarming with mud embankments to protect the situation will be created if construction area from the flood. A forested area is on Delhi’s side will not be stopped. Due created on both the sides to provide habitat to remnant local wildlife. This 20

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 semi-agrarian wilderness nearby dwell numbers and gave a complete miss in 2016. The birds are now visiting common foxes, jackals, hares, wildcats, Najafgarh Lake and marshlands instead of Okhla Bird Sanctuary and Sultanpur nilgai, porcupines and various reptiles Lake. It is estimated that around 2000 Greater Flamingos have been visiting and snakes including dreaded cobras, this water body every year (Sinha, 2017). Najafgarh drain has become the many local birds including water birds. haven for the birds in past years. In 2017 migratory birds from Mongolia in Central Dalbergia sissoo, Prosopis juliflora, Asia, North and East Asia occurred here. Apart from these, eleven different Azadirachta indica and Acacia nilotica species of Indian resident resident- migratory birds have been recorded at are the most commonly found upland the lake. These include Knob-billed Duck, Red-naped Ibis, Black-headed species. Very limited diversity of Ibis, Large Egret, Grey Heron, Indian Moorhen, Western Spot-bill Duck, Red- aquatic species is found which mainly wattled Lapwing, Black-winged Stilt, Greater Flamingo and Painted Stork. includes Hydrilla verticillata, Construction activities, human interferences, deforestation and sewage Eichhornia crassipes, Wolffia sp., disposal have been choking the Najafgarh drain. The lake almost dries Spirodela sp. and Lemna sp. up in winter season which may worsen the future conditions and will drastically Bird Sanctuary within a drain reduce the number of birds visiting the lake. It is important to understand the Najafgarh Lake and the value of birds in ecological food chain surrounding marshes harbour resident thereby maintaining the ecological and migrant birds. According to eBird balance. data, over 440 bird species have been recorded in last 20 years. A total of 274 21 bird species are found at Najafgarh Lake and 207 near the drain area (eBird India). They include resident birds, local migrants and summer breeding visitors as well as winter migrants that arrive with the onset of the cold season and return in spring. According to Asian Bird Census 2016, due to degrading habitat and extensive urbanization Greater Flamingos which used to visit Okhla Bird Sanctuary had been highly reduced in

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 2a. PriyankaVerma Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF & CC), no 2b. PriyankaVerma construction should take place on the Fig. 2a. Bar-headed Geese 2b. Greylag banks of Ganga or its tributaries and Goose active flood plain area. Yamuna is the Save the land under water tributary of Ganga and Sahibi River (Najafgarh drain) is the off-shoot of Presently, the drain is being Yamuna. Therefore, automatically it anthropocentrically ruined. With each falls under that category. Illegal passing day, it has been reaching the construction occurring on the flood condition where it will be beyond plains of both sides should be stopped as rectification. As a result, the ecological soon as possible as it has been reducing health of the lake will also be further the basin area of the lake. The “Wetland affected. Earlier, the governments of Rules” of India calls for the protection both the states were not responsive to of wetlands, but the same Rules also the presence of the lake. Later, they affirm that only identified and notified have agreed on the revival of the lake as wetlands should be protected. soon as possible. According to the Unfortunately, Najafgarh wetland is still not identified as a priority wetland for conservation under “Wetland Rules”. Recently, Haryana Government has proposed to construct a bund near the lake as during the floods, eight fields remain submerged under water and farmers are unable to use their land for agricultural practices. According INTACH, the bund will be hydrologically destructive for the wetland and can cause depletion of ground water of Gurugram. 22

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 Recommendations Watershed approach should be adopted, taking into consideration Undoubtedly, the human- important factors such as topography, induced stressors such as drainage, drainage and hydrology. All the private ownership and unsustainable important components should be development are worsening the addressed viz., pollution reduction, conditions of the wetland along with the wetland conservation, recharge zone climate change. Restoration of and aquifer maintenance, maintenance Najafgarh Lake which possesses all the of storm water channels as natural qualities of a wetland will help in revival discharge and ecological corridors. of the floral and faunal species which will further ameliorate water Monitoring is another important purification, ground water recharge, aspect of the ecosystem management flood control, microclimate regulation which will help us to understand the and aesthetics. Revival is important present conditions and visualize the because according to Central Ground future circumstances efficiently. It may Water Board, the groundwater of be used as an initial step to understand Gurugram will be exhausted. But, the the baseline conditions and variability lake may become the extra recharge within a system which will further assist zone (CGWB, 2006). Sewage network us to identify appropriate and and water treatment should be inappropriate changes. There should be improved as 50% of it is not collected a regular check on hydrological and then passed through the drain which alterations (water withdrawal and further contaminates the groundwater. inflow changes) by the Flood and The area of this wetland can be Irrigation department. Further increased by acquiring some nearby construction activities should be ceased fields as it is the only area in the vicinity in order to increase the flow of storm of Gurugram which serves as an outlet of water into the lake and upsurge flood water and can also be useful for groundwater recharging. Regular groundwater recharge. monitoring can help in improving the water quality for irrigation and drinking 23

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 water which would be beneficial for it should be declared as a Bird sanctuary both the states. The upper part of the or a wetland. It has a huge ecotourism drain, Dhansa to Chaawala is relatively potential and can generate revenue for cleaner as compared to the other parts its further protection and restoration. of the drain. This stretch is important as Being anthropogenically pressurized, every year during monsoon and winter this water body allocates valuable season different species of birds are ecosystem services which can be used visiting this wetland. In order to for the betterment of the society. protect, conserve and manage this lake, References PriyankaVerma Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) (2006). Department of Irrigation and Flood Control Hydrogeologic Framework of NCT Delhi. (DIFC) (2014). Flood Problem due to Sahibi Report, Ministry of Water Resources, River, Government of NCT of Delhi, India. Government of India. Jain, A.K. (2009). River pollution: regeneration and cleaning. A.P.H. Pub. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) Corp. New Delhi. (2003). Biomonitring of Wetlands. Report. Jindal, M. C. (1975). The groundwater Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate conditions around Najafgarh Jhil in parts of change, Government of India. Delhi and Haryana State; Report, Government of India, Central Ground Water Delhi Development Authority (DDA) (2017). Board, Ministry of Water Resources, North Master plan of Delhi-2021. Report. Government of NCT of Delhi, India. 24

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 western Region, Chandigarh. shallow aquifers in vicinity of Najafgarh drain of NCT Delhi. Journal of Earth System. Khan, A. and V. N. Bajpai (2014). 122, 43-54. Constriction of the river Yamuna floodplains within Delhi region since 19th century: A Water and Power Consultancy Services serious concern. International Journal of (India) Limited (WAPCOS) (1999). Pre- Research in Engineering and Technology, 3, feasibility study for construction of a 430-436. parallel channel to intercept the flows from nallas out falling into river Yamuna between Shekhar, S. and A. Sarkar (2013). Wazirabad barrage and Okhla Barrage: Hydrogeological characterization and Second interim report. assessment of groundwater quality in About the Authors Priyanka Verma (Left) Priyanka Verma is currently pursuing Ph.D. from University School of Environment Management, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi. She is currently working on nutrient dynamics of wetlands. Her main area of research interest includes biochemical and ecological outlook of wetlands. Pamposh Bhat (Right) Dr. Pamposh Bhat, an Assistant professor at University School of Environment Management, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi. She has an eleven years of teaching experience at Masters Level and Undergraduate level. She has supervised around twenty students in their M. Sc. dissertation work. She has worked as a Consultant (Environment & Forests Division), Planning Commission, Government of India (Oct 2005-June 2008). She also has a research experience of five years with Wetlands International - South Asia, New Delhi. Her research interest includes ecological, biochemical and hydrological aspects of wetlands. 25

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 Vandiyur Lake: Conservation and Protection Surendran Appasamy and 1Joseph Thatheyus Antony Email of Corresponding Author: [email protected] Abstract Wetlands offer habitats to many species of plants, animals and microbes. They are important as they offer many ecosystem services. In Madurai, Vandiyur Lake is an important aquatic system which serves as a water storage system. Though it plays an important role as a wetland system, it is subjected to various problems like pollution, habitat loss, encroachment and bio-invasion. Measures have to be taken to protect Vandiyur Lake in Madurai. Key words: Aquatic systems, Conservation, Madurai, Vandiyur Lake, Wetland Introduction wetlands (Ten brick et al., 2012; Space Applications Centre, 2011; Wetlands are most important Ghermandi et al., 2008; Lehner and Doll, 2004). productive ecosystems in the world. Madurai is a historical city in At the same time, they are highly southern Tamil Nadu, India. It is located on the banks of the river sensitive to ecological changes. All Vaigai. The place was declared a municipal town in the year 1857 with over the world, the area of wetland an aerial extent of 6.63 sq.km and a population of 41,600. In 2001, its area ecosystems ranges from 917 million /extent had increased to around 51.82 sq.km with a population of hectares to more than 1275 million more than one million. During this urbanization process, around 13 hectares. They offer many ecological adjoining revenue villages had become part of Madurai city. As services and many products to human Madurai was known for its prospering beings. India is very rich in wetland 26 ecosystems that are endowed with various distinctive habitats. Based on hydrological, ecological and geological nature, wetland ecosystems are classified into marine, estuarine, lactustrine, riverine and palustrine. Lake are the lactustrine

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 agriculture, there were large only very few can be identified now. networks of channels originating from The Vandiyur Lake, Madakkulam and the Vaigai and Girudhumal rivers. Mariamman Teppakulam are the These channels fed several tanks in visible reminds of the glorious past. and around the city. The river, The disastrous impact of vanishing supplied water to 75 tanks in the waterbodies is the depletion of region in the past. Historic evidence groundwater table. The present study shows that tank irrigation prevailed in gives brief outline of the present Madurai in as early as 300 A.D during status of Vandiyur Lake. It also the Pandya period. Many villages were explains the possibility of named after the tanks abutting them improvement of Vandiyur Lake that (Alguraja et al., 2010; Sankar, 2002). could be used for storing more water. An attempt is also made to evolve a The demands of a growing holistic plan for its sustainable population and a fast paced maintenance with participatory urbanization have resulted in usurping approaches (Fig. 1). of waterbodies by man. There were 46 irrigation tanks in Madurai of which Fig. 1. A distant view of Vandiyur Lake, Madurai (Tamil Nadu State, India). 27

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 Fig.2. Location of Vandiyur Lake (Source: Google Map & https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vandiyur). Study Area – Vandiyur Lake ft. capacity and its maximum flood Vandiyur Lake is situated on discharge is 4059 cusecs (PWD, 2006). the left bank of Vaigai river near The Vandiyur Lake has no Vandiyur village in Madurai north water supply from the river Vaigai, taluk, Tamil Nadu, India and it has but the surplus water of the tank source supply from Sathaiyar channel reaches Vaigai. The lake receives run and upper tanks. This lake is located off from Sathiyar dam which comes at 9° 54′ 37″ N, 78° 9′ 37″ E (Fig.2). from upper catchment area. Surplus The lake belongs to Vandiyur village water from Parasurampatti tank, in Madurai North taluk and Madurai Sambakulam tank and S. Kodikulam East block. The length of the bund is tank flows through Parasurampatti 2077m and it has 10.24 sq.km free surplus channel. Managiri surplus catchment area and 96.89 sq.km channel carrying water from combined catchment area. It has Athikulam tank, Kosakulam tank and three sluices, the tank has 107.03 mc Thallakulam tank has been closed 28

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 now. During rainy season flooding affecting the quality of water affects the encroached residents. especially from the viewpoint of domestic use. Already, many sources Observations and Inferences of water near the urban centers of developing countries have been As human activities increase, severely contaminated, thus impairing their potential use. more and more waste products Under the National Lake contaminate available sources of Conservation Programme (NLCP), lakes in Tamil Nadu have been water. Contaminants consist of selected for eco-restoration. untreated or partially treated sewage, agricultural chemicals and industrial effluents. These contaminants have been seriously Fig. 3. Spreading vegetation on the banks. Fig. 4. Hydrophytes in open waters. Fig. 5. Aquatic weed proliferation. 29

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 Fig.6. Encroachment for cultivation of short-term crops Fig. 7. Accumulation of solid wastes Fig. 8. Wastes near sluice gates They are selected based on NLCP degraded waterbodies, initiating it guidelines as model lakes. These lakes with the lakes (Reddy and Char, are situated near main roads and 2006). Vandiyur Lake as a wetland spread across the concerned cities. ecosystem that offers habitat to The plan is to renovate all the highly vegetation. Its banks and littoral zone 30

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 are used for cultivating vegetables Oreochromis mossambicus (Tilapia), Parambassis sp. (Glass fish), Puntius like cucumber. The trees in the terio (Onespot barb), Labeo rohita (Rohu), Cirrhinus mrigala (Mirghal), surrounding area provide nesting and Ctenopharyngodon idella (Grass carp) and Catla catla were observed roosting sites for many aquatic bird in Vandiyur Lake. Among these species of fish, P. pardalis, O. species. But many of them were cut mossambicus, Parambassis sp., P. terio and C. punctatus originally recently causing damage to breeding existed in the wetland and were not introduced. P. pardalis feed in the of waterbirds. Introduction of wastes ditchy areas and damage the nets while fishing. They are also capable from buildings, hospitals and of modifying the bank structure and disrupting the aquatic food-chains. commercial complexes increase The feeding behaviour and burrowing activities produce significant pollution load and cause shrinkage of disturbances to the aquatic life. They may also compete with native fish its area at present. Disposal of solid (Wakida-Kusunoki, 2007; Hossain et al., 2008). wastes including plastics pose danger The macrophytes such as to flora and fauna (Figs. 3-8). Ceratophyllum demersum, Hydrilla verticillata, Otellia alismoides, At low water level, the lake is Eichhornia crassipes and Vallisneria natans were also noticed. These used for cultivation of cucumber and aquatic macrophytes are known to contribute to the primary production spinach. The quality of Vandiyur Lake and detritus formation. They also serve as substrate for periphytic water is affected by the disposal of algae, bacteria and macro- solid and liquid wastes from 31 industrial, hospital, agricultural and municipal sources. The Vaigai river and other streams bring pollutants from the landscape to the lake, wherein they concentrate. These pollutants have significant impact on the living organisms of the lake. The pollution can reduce the diversity of fauna and flora in the lake. During the present study, the fish species such as Channa striatus (snakehead), Pterygoplichthys pardalis (Tank cleaner), Channa punctatus (Spotted murrell),

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 invertebrates. Ceratophyllum Acknowledgements harboured The authors are thankful to the Oligochaeta, macrofauna like authorities of the American College, mayflies. Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India for the Chironomids and facilities and encouragement. Conclusion People, who cannot afford cost of land to build their homes, often References occupy the banks, bunds and even Alaguraja, P., S. Durairaju, D. portions of basin areas of the urban Yuvaraj, M. Sekar, P. lakes. Sometimes, the Government’s Muthuveerran, M. Manivel and development activities also encroach A. Thirunavukkarasu (2010). wetland areas for building hospitals, Land use and land cover school buildings and housing board mapping – Madurai district, flats under various development Tamilnadu, India using schemes. Moreover, the city's remote sensing and development did not concentrate on GIS techniques. International landuse pattern. Unplanned growth of Journal of Civil & Structural the city created public/civic Engineering, 1(1), 91-100. problems. Untreated domestic water Ghermandi, A., J.C. Van den Bergh, entry is a common scenario in all L.M. Brander and P.A. Nunes major Municipalities and (2008). The economic value of corporations. The urban wetlands are wetland conservation and more polluted than the rural creation: A meta-analysis. wetlands. Thousands of wetlands have Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, already been disappeared due to Milan, Italy. urbanization and the remaining Hossain, M. Y., M. M. Rahman, Z. F. wetlands are polluted with waste Ahmed, J. Ohtomi and A. B. M. water and solid wastes. The S. Islam (2008). First record of remaining wetlands, including lakes the South American sailfin like Vandiyur lake, should be catfish Pterygoplichthys conserved for the future generation. multiradiatus in Bangladesh. 32

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 Journal of Applied Ichthyology. National Wetlands Atlas. Indian 24: 718-720. PWD (2006). Detailed project report Space Research Organisation, for the work of “Ecorestoration” in Vandiyur Ahmedabad. tank of Madurai, North taluk of Madurai district. pp: 1-67. Ten Brink, P., T. Badura, A. Farmer Reddy, M. S. and N.V.V. Char (2006). Management of lakes in and D. Russi (2012). The India. Lakes & Reservoirs: Research & Management,11(4), economics of ecosystem and 227-237. Sankar, K. (2002). Evaluation of biodiversity foe water and groundwater potential zones using remote sensing data in wetlands: A brief note. Upper Vaigai river basin, Tamil Nadu, India. Journal of the Institute for Europian Indian Society of Remote Sensing, 30(3), 119-129. Environmental Policy, London. Space Applications Centre (2011). Wakida-Kusunok, A., T. Armando, R. Ruiz-Carus, and E. Amador-del- Angel (2007). Amazon sailfin catfish, Pterygoplichthys pardalis (Castelnau,1855) (Loricariidae), another exotic species established in southeastern Mexico. Southwestern Naturalist. 52(1): 141-144. 33

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 About the authors The first author, Dr. Surendran Appasamy is Assistant Professor, Department of Food Science & Nutrition, The American College, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. He did his doctoral studies on biocontrol of mosquitoes using recombinant bacterial strains. He has fifteen years of experience in teaching as well as in research. He is very much interested in research activities associated with environment. The second author, Dr. Joseph Thatheyus Antony is Head & Associate Professor, PG & Research Department of Zoology, The American College, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. He has more than 25 years of experience in teaching and research. He is one of the well known scientists in the field of environmental toxcicology in South India. He has been contributing to education and environment awareness activities through his research and publications. 34

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 Pallikaranai – An Example of Slow Transition from a Wetland to Dryland Surendran Appasamy and 1Joseph Thatheyus Antony Email of Corresponding Author1: [email protected] Abstract Wetlands, including marshlands, are one of the dynamic ecosystems on earth which provide several ecosystem services. They provide shelter to several living organisms. In Chennai, Pallikaranai marshland is an imperative wetland that has been acting as a source of water throughout the year. However, for the past few years, it has been facing several challenges that have been making it difficult to retain its original quality as a wetland ecosystem. So, it is very essential to take appropriate preventive and regulatory measures to protect this wetland from degradation. Key words: Ecosystem, Encroachment, Pallikaranai, Pollution, Wetland. Introduction as drinking water, purification & Marshes are among the storage of water, recharge of ground water, erosion control and shoreline dynamic ecosystems that are found stabilization (Agarwal, 2007). In India, all over the world. Physically significant losses of wetlands marshes, like some other natural (including marshlands) have resulted wetlands, represent the combination from conversion to industrial, of land and water. However, water, a agricultural and various other feature that can be either seasonal or developments. As a result of this, the permanent; saline or fresh, is a conservation and maintenance of dominating factor (Maltby, 1986). marshlands and other several These are the ecosystems transitional wetlands has become a challenging between the terrestrial and aquatic process. The nature of wetlands has systems (Black, 2016). been changed day by day due to the addition of harmful wastewaters and Marsh is a type of Wetland. other illegal activities. So, there is an Wetlands play a crucial role in the urge for periodic monitoring and human civilization and also help to fulfill the needs of human beings such 35

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 maintenance of the quality of the Thoraipakkam to the Buckingham aquatic systems including wetlands Canal, which on the other side (Bobbink et al., 2006). releases into the Kovalam estuary. In earlier days, the wetland was spread Study Area – Pallikaranai wetland over 40 sq.km⎯50 sq.km. Construction The study area (a marshland) is and other development activities have reduced original surface area to situated in southern part of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India (Fig.1). It lies Fig.1 Location map of Pallikaranai between 80°06’E & 80°14’E Marshland (Source: Google Map) longitudes and 12° 55’N & 12°59’N a small fraction of the original area latitudes (Fig.1). The topography of the study area is plain with an (Azeez et al., 2007). average altitude of about 5m above mean sea level. The substrate in the The wetland receives more whole area is made up of the weathered Charnokite rock bed, amount of water during monsoon surrounded by the layer of alluvial soil of varying thickness. period every year. Drainage canals In this area, the major rainfall from Velachery, Madipakkam and occurs during northeast monsoon (September - November) and partially Kilkattlai are the major water bays. from southwest monsoon (June – August). Temperature fluctuates Water from the Velachery Lake comes between 35°C to 42°C in summer and 25°C to 34°C in winter (Raj et al., through canals existing below the 2010). bridge near MRTS on the Velachery – The catchment area of Pallikaranai wetland is around 235 Tambaram road. Water from sq.km which includes Velachery, Pallikaranai and Navalur (so, also Ullagram, Puzhudivakkam, referred to as Pallikaranai wetlands). It exhausts through Okkium Maduvu in Krishnanagar and Balaji nagar flows through the drain across Velachery- 36

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 Tambaram road adjacent to the south nutrients and toxic wastes in the of the Velachery Bridge. The storm aquatic systems. The water entering water runs from the areas of the protected area may accelerate Tirusulam, Old Pallavaram and the ecological succession and may Madipakkam reaches the wetland over show the way to drying up of the another canal situated south to the wetlands (Figs. 2, 3, 4 & 5). Kilkattlai⎯Thoraipakkam Road. Waters from Kilkattlai, Narayanapuram and Pallikaranai wetland is one of vicinity enters into the wetlands the most important wetlands of India. through a canal next to the National It is listed as a priority wetland for Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT). conservation. It has more than 50 On the other hand, all canals that plant species. Among the grass receive water open into an uncovered species, Cynodon barberi and area, which is almost separated from Iseilemea enthephroides, are very the covered area by the K. T. Link well noticed as endemic to Peninsular road that intersects the Pallikaranai India. A wild variety of rice (Oryza wetland (Karpagavalli et al., 2012). sp.) is also found in this area. Some exotic floating plants such as water Observations and Inferences hyacinth and water lettuce are also In recent times, numerous present, which are forming a thick layer over the top of the water and research activities with more or less are also growing so fast (Patnaik and similar kind of purposes have been Srihari, 2004; Dada et al., 2016). carried out in Pallikaranai wetland. The Pallikaranai wetland is Even though Pallikaranai inhabited by different species of wetland receives more water from invertebrates as well as vertebrates. different canals, most of the water is Various species of mammals, birds, released into unprotected area. This reptiles, amphibians, fish, butterflies, kind of situation leads to high flood crustaceans and mollusks inhabit the level at the time of monsoon period in wetland area. The Shannon diversity the unprotected areas of wetlands as index for birds was found to be 3.27, well as surrounding areas of them. which indicates good avian profile in It also facilitates the addition of more this wetland area. 37

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 Fig.2 Solid Waste Dumped in Pallikarnai wetland Fig.3 Habitat for aquatic birds 38

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 Fig.4 Encroachment by buildings Fig.5 A view of Pallikaranai marsh 39

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 Apart from them, it also offers the wetland from the degradation. Integrated wetland management habitat for distinct creatures such as programme is an ideal tool to save the wetlands and their surrounding White-spotted garden skink, area from the harmful activities. Windowpane oyster, Mud crab, Conclusion Pallikaranai wetland originally Mullet, Half beak and Green chromide represented an important wetland (Chandramohan and Bharati, 2009; ecosystem offering habitats to a variety of species. The wetland area Rajagopal and Davidar, 2008). facilitates various ecosystem services. But, in the modern times, it is being Even though the Pallikaranai subjected to anthropogenic activities which may lead to its transition to wetland has high biological wealth, it terrestrial ecosystem. Hence measures have to be taken faces several problems in recent immediately to restore it as a wetland. time-frame from different sources. Acknowledgements The wetland area has been occupied The authors thank the authorities of the American College, Madurai, Tamil illegally for the construction of houses Nadu, India for the encouragement. and industrial sectors. Dumping of 40 solid wastes is another major problem faced by these wetlands in recent times. This activity leads to release of toxic substances into the aquatic system, which in turn, affects the water quality as well as aquatic life. The burning of waste materials has been a frequent phenomenon in this area, which further leads to the release of toxic carcinogens and some chemicals into the wetland area and air respectively. Reduction in wetland area and deterioration of water quality and soil quality can lead to the loss of biodiversity (Tajuddin, 2018). So, it is mandatory for the government, NGOs and general public to take necessary action to protect

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 References tropical wetland earthworm, Agarwal, N. (2007). Wetlands: Future on Libyodrilus violaceus stake. In Proceedings of Taal2007: (Beddard). Iranica Journal of The 12th World Lake Conference Energy and Environment, 7(3): (Vol. 1312), p. 1314. 247-254. Azeez, P. A., S. Bhupathy, J. Ranjini, R. Karpagavalli, M. S., P. Malini and A. Dhanya and P.N. Raj (2007). Ramachandran (2012). Analysis of Management Plan for the Eco- heavy metals in dying wetland restoration of Pallikaranai Reserve Pallikaranai, Tamil Nadu, Forest. Salim Ali Centre for India. Journal of environmental Ornithology and Natural History, biology, 33(4): 757-761. Coimbatore. Maltby, E. (1986). Waterlogged Wealth. Black, M. (2016). The atlas of water: Earthscan, London, 200pp. mapping the World's most critical Patnaik, D. C. and P. Srihari (2004). resource. Univ of California Press. Wetlands-A development paradox: Bobbink, R., D.F. Whigham, B. Beltman The dilemma of South Chennai, and J.T. Verhoeven (2006). India. Wetland functioning in relation to Raj, P. P. N., J. Ranjini, R. Dhanya, J. biodiversity conservation and Subramanian, P. Azeez and S. restoration. In Wetlands: Bhupathy (2010). Consolidated Functioning, Biodiversity checklist of birds in the Conservation, and Restoration, Pallikaranai Wetlands, Chennai, Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. India. Journal of Threatened Chandramohan, B. P. and D. Bharati Taxa, 1114-1118. (2009). Role of Public Governance Rajagopal, B. and P. Davidar (2008). On in the Conservation of Urban the population and breeding Wetland System: A Study of aspects of catfish in fresh water Pallikkaranai Marsh. wetlands of Tamilnadu, Peninsular In Proceedings of The Indian India. Electronic Journal of Society for Ecological Economics Ichthyology, 1: 18-30. (INSEE). 5th Biennial Conference, Tajuddin, N. (2018). Leveraging socio- Ahmedabad, India. cultural networks: local Dada, E. O., K.L. Njoku, A.A. Osuntoki adaptation strategies to bring and M.O. Akinola (2016). Heavy about flood resilience in Chennai metal remediation potential of a metropolitan area, India. 41

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 About the authors The first author, Dr. Surendran Appasamy is the Assistant Professor, Department of Food Science & Nutrition, The American College, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. He did his doctoral studies on biocontrol of mosquitoes using recombinant bacterial strains. He has fifteen years of teaching and research experience. He has a keen interest in research associated with environment. The second author, Dr. Joseph Thatheyus Antony is the Associate Professor, PG & Research Department of Zoology, The American College, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. He has more than 25 years of experience in teaching and research. He is one of the well known scientists in the field of environmental toxicology in South India. He has been contributing to environment education and awareness activities through guest lectures, environmental camps etc. 42

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 Student Slot Human-Animal Conflict in Kaniyachira Wetland of Kasaragod District,Kerala Amaneesh C. Email: [email protected] Ramsar Convention on Wetlands diversity. These areas will act as critical (1971) has defined wetlands as \"areas of breeding sites for different species of marsh, fen, peatland or water. whether birds, includes inland birds and natural or artificial, permanent or migratory.Avian diversity present are temporary, with water that is static or having a varied role in for the proper flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, functioning of these ecosystems (Green including area of marine water the et al., 2014). Bird population are mainly depth of which at low tide does not found in the areas where the resources exceed six meters” (Ramsar handbook, needed by them is available in sufficient 2016). Wetlands can be considered as amounts. the lungs of our earth because of their important role in regulating the climatic Wetlands have been facing many conditions on the earth. These threats like climate change, pollution, ecosystems can be broadly classified draining, dredging, filling, conflict into two major types, i.e. natural and between humans and wetland animals artificial. Since these are the transition (human-animal conflict) etc. zones between the aquatic and the terrestrial ecosystems, they host a Among all the threats, human- relatively high level of floral and faunal animal conflicts is a less studied one. diversity (Wall et al., 2001). Better Quite often, humans select a wetland access to basic resources makes these site for their socio-economic or areas suitable for the living organisms to livelihood activities and the site would find their shelter and multiply (Haig et also be preferred by waterbirds or other al., 2019). One of the major classes of wetland animals for fulfilling their life mammals found in the wetland is avian requisites and such situation can finally lead to conflicts. I came across a human-animal conflict in Kaniyachira 43

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 wetland, one of the major wetlands in Material and Methods Kasaragod district. This study used a combination of Study Area direct field observations of Grey–headed Swamphen (Porphyrio policephalus) in Kasaragod is a district located in the winter season, which is the yielding the northern Kerala at 12° 30' 27.5148'' season of paddy. N latitude and 74° 59' 17.5668''E longitude and it has an area of 1991 Results and Discussion sq.km. An annual average rainfall of 3500 mm makes this district suitable for Human-animal conflict is highly agriculture. There are about 13 Major visible at Kaniyachira wetland due to wetlands and many minor wetlands in sharing of the wetland area by local this district. Out of these, 2 are people and Grey–headed Swamphen freshwater wetlands and remaining ones (Porphyrio policephalus). Grey–headed are the coastal wetlands. Kaniyachira Swamphen is a chicken sized bird with wetland is a freshwater area with a large bright plumage, red bill and legs with proportion of marshyland in it. The main long toes. It belongs to the order features of this wetland is the presence Gruiformes and family Rallidae and it is of agricultural land around it and categorized as a Least Concern(LC) bird occurrence of different types of resident species as per the IUCN Red List of and migratory birds in it throughout the Threatened Species. It is found mainly in year (e-bird, Cornell library). marshy, vegetated freshwater bodies such as swamps, rivers, and lakes. Fig.1 Kaniyachira wetland Fig.2 Grey-headed Swamphen, Kaniyachira wetland (Source: e-Bird India). 44

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 This bird feeds on paddy grains just like continues and spreads adjacent to the the domestic hens and destroy the wetland, the natural wetland habitat crops. According to a farmer from quality will also be adversely affected. Kaniyachira, this bird species consumes The cases related to the human-animal a large portion of annual paddy yield. conflict will also increase. Government Therefore, farmers have to find novel authorities and NGOs has an important methods to protect their crops from this role to play in finding solutions to the bird species. Farmers use objects which issue of man-animal conflict in the can make loud sounds. They also tie wetland ecosystem. Paddy farmers- glossy ribbons which reflect the light swamphen conflict is a good example of and disturb the birds. But In some it and should be taken care of. instances farmers and swamphens indulge into the direct conflict. The Avichal Tatu ultimate result often goes against the Fig. 3. A pair of Grey-headed Swamphen population of this and other birds. Birds as a shallow wetland (India). like Grey-headed Swamphen are not to blamed for the conflict as paddy is 45 originally a wetland plant and, in a way, paddy is waterbirds’ natural food. One cannot force the birds like the swamphens to keep distance from natural food that has been manipulated by humans (farmers) as crop for their socio-economic survival. Novel management techniques are required in such situations to avoid direct conflict between farmers and swamphens as wetlands and swamphens are part of nature and man cannot harm them for his socio-economic needs on ethical and ecological grounds. If paddy cultivation

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 References About the Author Anonymous (2016): An introduction to the Convetion on Wetlands. Ramsar Amaneesh C. Convention Secretariat, Gland, Amaneesh C. has recently completed post- Switzerland. graduation in Environmental Science from Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod, Green ,A.J& J.Emberg (2014). Ecosystem India. He had done dissertation work on the services provided by waterbirds . topic “A study on Avian Diversity in Biological Reviews: 89(1):105-22. Wetlands of Kasaragod district, Kerala”. He is deeply interested in studies related to Haig,S.M., S.P. Murphy, J.H. Mathews, I. wetlands and birds. Arismendi & M. Safeeq (2019). Climate altered wetlands challenge waterbird use and Migratory connectivity in arid landscapes. Scientific Reports: 9(1):4666. Wall D.H., M. A. Palmer and P. V. Snelgrove (2001). Biodiversity in critical transition zones between terrestrial, freshwater and marine soils and sediments-Processes, linkages and management implications. ECOSYSTEMS, 4(5), 2001, pp. 418-420. 46

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 India’s Perspective on Ramsar Convention-An International Agreement to Save Wetlands 1Kanchan Puri and Ritesh Joshi Email of Corresponding Author1: [email protected] Wetlands are lands transitional reservoirs, altering the water quality between terrestrial and aquatic as well as the natural population of systems where the water table is several sensitive species, increasing usually at or near the surface or the urbanisation and infrastructure land is covered by shallow water. development (https://nrcd.nic.in). Wetland ecosystems are located at the interface of land and water, and are Wetlands are vital for our water recognized as among the world’s most and food security. As ‘kidneys of productive ecosystems. The society’s landscape’, wetlands receive flows of ecological as well as economic security water and waste from upstream is linked with wetlands. Yet, these are sources. India is endowed with a rich one of the most rapidly degrading diversity of wetlands ranging from high ecosystems due to various causes like altitude wetlands of Himalayas, conversion for agriculture, changes in floodplains of mighty rivers like water use and availability, discharge Ganges and Brahmaputra, lagoons and of water and industrial effluents into mangrove swamps on the coastline and reefs in the marine environments. Life support systems, Ensuring water cycle Recharge Wetlands Cleanse groundwater polluted waters aquifers Protect shorelines Fig.1 Some functions of wetlands. 47

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 As per National Wetland Atlas enumerated and measures to published by SAC(ISRO) in 2011, nearly safeguard them are identified). 4.7% of India’s geographical area is under wetlands. Dr. Ritesh Kumar, of The Convention on Wetlands of Wetlands International has stated that International Importance, signed in the National Environment Policy of Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, is an 2006 identifies wetlands as important intergovernmental treaty which component of ‘freshwater resources’ provides the framework for national and recommends integration of action and international cooperation wetlands within development planning for the conservation and wise use of and management of these ecosystems wetlands and their resources. The through prudent use strategies. Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of [Source: “Jalaplavit”, Vol.7, No. 1]. International Importance was developed as a means to call Further, in line with the international attention to the rate at Convention on Biological Diversity which wetland habitats were Strategic Plan 2011-2020, India has disappearing (www.ramsar.org). As on formulated 12 National Biodiversity date, the Convention has 169 Targets. Wetlands find direct Contracting Parties, who have reference under Target 3 (Strategies designated over 2,200 Ramsar Sites for reducing rate of degradation, covering an area of 214 million fragmentation and loss of natural hectares, making it one of the world’s habitats are finalized and actions put largest conservation area network. in place by 2020), Target 6 Ramsar Convention is the only global (ecologically representative areas on environment treaty dealing with a land and in inland waters, as well as particular ecosystem. coastal and marine zones, especially those of particular importance for The ‘wise use’ approach of species, biodiversity and ecosystem Ramsar Convention is globally services, are conserved effectively and recognized. Conventional Protected equitably), and Target 8 (by 2020, Area management approaches, which ecosystem services, especially those exclude humans and use of natural related to water, human health and resource, are not suitable for livelihoods and well-being are managing a large category of wetlands. It is in this backdrop “wise 48

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 use” principle has been developed as Government and respective State guiding approach for wetland management. Governments. The programme aims to Major obligations of countries promote mainstreaming of wetlands in which are party to the Convention are: developmental processes within the a. Designate wetlands for inclusion in the List of Wetlands of States by supporting formulation and International Importance. implementation of integrated b. Promote, as far as possible, the wise use of wetlands in management plans, capacity their territory. development and research c. Promote international cooperation especially with regard to (Source:https://nrcd.nic.in). transboundary wetlands, shared water systems, and shared species. Management plans for over 150 d. Create wetland reserves. wetlands have been supported under India is a party to the Convention since 1982 and the country the erstwhile National Wetland is committed to the Ramsar approach of wise use of wetlands. Twentysix Conservation Plan (NWCP) and sites covering an area of 6,89,131 ha distributed over 15 States have been National Lake Conservation designated as Ramsar Sites from India till date (Table 1). The Ministry of Programme (NLCP), which have been Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF & CC) is the nodal merged since 2011 within a unified ministry for the Convention in India. For conservation and management of scheme called National Plan for identified wetlands in the country, the Ministry is currently implementing the Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA) on cost (NPCA). Further a national level sharing basis between Central regulatory framework for conservation of wetlands has been introduced by the Ministry in the form of Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 after extensive consultations within the State Governments and civil society [www.envfor.nic.in] which stipulate setting up of a wetland authority in all States and Union Territories. As general public, we need to ensure that wetlands are not used as dumping grounds of solid waste and untreated sewage, are not encroached 49

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2019 upon for housing and other purposes, authority — a body to look after the natural water inflow and outflow preservation and revival of water patterns of wetlands are not altered; bodies in the national Capital. There is and habitats of water-birds and fishes an urgent need to create awareness on are not disturbed. As per the recent the values and functions of wetlands so reports, the Delhi government’s that the valuable benefits provided by environment department proposes to wetlands to society are not exhausted. set up a wetland development Ecological factor Local bodies Nature clubs Wetland Hyrdological management factor Socio- economic factor RWAs, Civil Society Fig.2 Wetland management. 50