CASE STUDY #25

Restoration of mangroves in Andra Pradesh, India

This project was launched in Andhra Pradesh with the aim of in- ducing concerted action towards conservation and sustainable management of the mangrove wetlands on the east coast of India. The restoration, with a budget of 3.010 million USD suc- cessfully restored mangroves on over 520 ha from 1997–2004. Until 1972, mangroves were clear felled in many parts of the re- gion, and these areas have not been able to regenerate due to topographic changes. Not only that, the Krishna river is one of the heavily utilized rivers in peninsular India and is exploited for a variety of purposes. As a result, there has been a reduction in fresh water flow over a period of time, which has had a telling impact on the growth and regeneration of mangroves.

Another important contributor to ecosystem degradation is the rapid siltation and pollution of Kakinada Bay, as evidenced by a recent hydrographic study. With increased developmental activi- ties and the establishment of fertilizer units, some effluents are being discharged into the bay. This has resulted in high amounts of ammonium and nitrate in bay waters, which may be contrib- uting to degradation. Furthermore, the present depth of the bay is very low, and there is hardly any lateral mixing of waters. Therefore, there is a lot of stagnation in the bay which may also be affecting the mangroves. A variety of anthropogenic activi- ties has compounded these environmental conditions and has helped hasten the decline of the mangroves. Coastal villagers utilize mangroves for their basic needs such as firewood, fodder, fencing, house construction, thatching and fishing poles. Man- grove forests are also being converted into aquaculture ponds, salt pans and paddy fields with increasing frequency.

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The project employed canal techniques, instead of simple plantation of seedlings, and a fish bone pattern of canals was utilized. This fish- bone design was shown to be a more efficient method of facilitating tidal flushing than the rectangular pattern used by the Forest De- partment. Thus, this technique has now been adapted and recom- mended by the Government of India for other restoration projects.

The bio-diversity of the area has been positively impacted by the restoration. The crab population in the restored areas has increased due to the increased water regime. As biodiversity has improved and the denuded patches have been covered with mangroves, populations of larger animals like otters have also increased substantially. In addition to this, the bird population has shown an increase since the project began.

With the improvements made in hydrology, further degradation of mangroves has stopped. Mangroves are now naturally regenerating, and the canopy cover has become denser, as evidenced by remote sensing images taken recently. The newly established water regime has increased the population of edible crabs in the restored areas, and this is a benefit for the livelihood of local communities. There has also been good growth of fodder grass which has helped the local community in feeding their livestock. The newly established water regime has increased the population of edible crabs in the re- stored areas, and this is a benefit for the livelihood of local commu- nities. There has also been good growth of fodder grass which has helped the local community in feeding their livestock.

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