ABSTRACT

A preliminary study has shown that the marshy terrain and brackish water bodies associated with mangrove forests contributed profuse breeding of
mosquitos in Vypeen island, causing a severe menace to the island population. A total of 14 species belonging to four genera viz, Aedes, Anopheles,
Armigeres and Culex was recorded from different habitats. Culex sitiens was found to be the predominant mosquito in all the perennial breeding
habitats. The extent of different habitats in the production of mosquitos, and its possible abatement, using environmental and/or biocontrol methods are
discussed.

The oceanarium project proposed at Puthu Vypeen has run into fresh trouble, with the ambitious plan getting caught in a legal
wrangle.

Besides the legal dispute over the holding for compensatory mangrove afforestation, the recent statement by the National Green
Tribunal that compensatory afforestation is illegal and not permissible under the law, may put hurdles before the project.

Though the Kerala State Coastal Zone Management Authority (KSCZMA) gave conditional clearance under the Coastal Zone
Regulation for the project on the assurance that compensatory mangrove afforestation should be carried out, the authorities could
not take the project any further as the land proposed for afforestation was locked in a legal dispute.

It was nearly two years ago that the Rs. 450-crore project secured the conditional clearance for the project. It was earlier
estimated that mangrove vegetation on 25.16 acres would be destroyed for the project. The authorities had suggested mangrove
afforestation on 40 acres at appropriate locations within the Vembanad-kole wetland system. They had also identified
Valanthakkadu in Maradu village as the area for the compensatory planting.

The afforestation campaign could not be taken up as 15 cases were filed in courts. Of this, 14 have been settled and the remaining
one was under the consideration of the Land Board. The centre could not be approached for the final nod for the project as the
details regarding the compensatory afforestation could not be furnished. Once the holding where the compensatory afforestation
is planned is cleared, the centre would be approached, he said.

Meanwhile, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had recently termed the compensatory afforestation programmes for mangroves
as illegal in a case related to the Sewage Treatment Plant of the Kochi Corporation at Mundamveli.

Incidentally, it was on September 25, 2011, that the authority cleared it. The KSCZMA, observed the NGT, which has a right
only to recommend its views to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change chose to pass an order on December 13,
2012, accepting the proposal subject to the condition that there shall be mangrove afforestation. The tribunal further observed
that permitting compensatory mangrove afforestation was illegal and not permissible in law.

At the same time, the official hoped that the oceanarium would get the CRZ clearance as it was a project that required sea
frontage. Though the oceanarium was not in the list of projects for which the CRZ notification gave clearance, it would come
under the other projects that could be considered for clearance, he said.

Mangroves of the coastal belts assume utmost conservation significance for its unique biodiversity
content and multifarious ecological services. The mangroves are constituted by an assortment of
medium trees and shrubs that are adapted to grow in saline coastal sediment habitats. The massive
root system of mangroves is efficient at dissipating wave energy. The mangrove swamps protect the
coastal areas from erosion and storm surge, especially during hurricanes and tsunamis. Mangrove
forests and estuaries also serve as breeding and nursery grounds for a number of marine organisms
including the commercially important shrimps, crabs and fishes. Hence, loss of mangroves will cause
direct and indirect repercussions which are ecologically and economically significant. A substantial part
of the study area is occupied by inland water bodies with a network channels and ponds, mainly
associated with the Vembanad Lake.
Apart from the other ecosystem services, mangroves play very important roles in sustenance of fishery
resources. They act as feeding, breeding and hiding place for many species of fishes. Mangroves also act
as nursery grounds for many fin fishes and shell fishes. They play very important role in contributing to
the primary productivity of the aquatic environment. Despite their benefits, mangrove forests in
Kerala have experienced extensive deforestation over the last few decades due to increased demand for
commodities. This phenomenon is likely to persist, given the continued increase in population and
urbanization