COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS AND HUMAN WELLBEING IN TAMIL NADU
Transcript of COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS AND HUMAN WELLBEING IN TAMIL NADU
COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS AND HUMAN WELLBEING IN
TAMIL NADU
Paul P. Appasamy and Prakash Nelliyat
Madras School of Economics, Chennai
MSE Seminar Series
October 24, 2007
ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN WELLBEING IN TAMILNADU
•State Human Development Report (TNSPC)
•Linkage between ecosystems andhuman wellbeing
•State level Analysis
– Secondary Data
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
HUMAN WELLBEING INDIRECT DRIVERS OF CHANGE
* Material * Economic * Health * Sociopolitical
* Security * Technological * Demographic ECOSYSTEM SERVICES DIRECT DRIVERS OF CHANGE
* Provisioning * Changes in Land Use * Regulating * External Inputs (eg. Fertilizers)
* Cultural * Climate Change * Natural disaster Source: Millenium Ecosystem Assessment – Summary
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
Provisioning – Food, water, fuel wood, medicinal products, genetic resources.Regulating – Climate, Floods and droughts,
disease- Influence health and vulnerability to shocks- Soil formation, nutrient recyclingCultural – Spiritual, cultural, tourism
DEGRADATION OF ECOSYSTEMS
Excessive demand due to economic/demographic driversOver utilisation or mismanagementDegradation of land and waterLoss of biodiversityPollution of air, water and land
Impact on Poor – Vulnerable to change- Greater reliance on ecosystems - “Ecosystem People”
Non Poor – Defensive Measures- Substitutes
ECOSYSTEMS – TAMIL NADU
Rural Ecosystems – Agricultural Land, Water Bodies, Wetlands
- Common Property ResourcesForest Ecosystems – Forests, Biodiversity, Wildlife, Forest Products (major and minor)Coastal Ecosystems – Marine Fisheries, Beaches, Mangroves, Coral ReefsUrban Ecosystems – Urban Centres (Housing and Institutions) Industries, Urban Transport Systems.
TAMIL NADU COAST1076 km of Coast lineBeaches – Littoral DriftMangroves – Pichavaram, VedaraniyamLagoonsCoral Reefs Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park
COASTAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES
Ports – Chennai, Tuticorin (major)– Cuddalore, Nagapattinam (medium)– Six minor ports
Settlements – Metropolitan city (Chennai)– Union Territory (Pondicherry)– 4 Municipalities– 20 Townships– Rural settlements/Fishing Villages
Impact on Ecosystem – Depletion of ground water – Liquid and solid wastes– Seawater Intrusion
COASTAL ECOSYSTEM SERVICESI. PROVISIONING SERVICES
Food – Fisheries (Source of protein) - Coastal agriculture
Livelihood / Employment- Marine Fisheries- Aquaculture - Coral Mining- Fuel – Firewood
- Wind energy Medicinal Products – Sea grasses
II. REGULATING SERVICES
Bioshields – Mangroves- Coral Reefs
Waste Disposal – Wetlands- Sea grasses
Climate / rainfall – Cooling effect- Retreating Monsoon
Nutrient Cycling – Carbon, nitrogen, etc
III. CULTURAL AND OTHER SERVICES
Tourism – Natural, Heritage Religious Importance – Pilgrim CentresBird Sanctuaries Beaches – RecreationBiodiversity
MARINE FISHERIES INDICATORSCoastal Districts – 13Coast line – 1076 kmNo. of fishing villages – 591No. of fish landing centres – 362Fisherfolk population – 6.98 lakh (1%)Active Fishermen – 2.62 lakhFish production – 381,148 tonees (2003-04)
Marine Fish Production in Tamil Nadu (Tonnes)
81700134250
317904395531 373661
477360
1950-51 1960-61 1970-71 1980-81 1990-91 2000-01
Year
Fish
Pro
duct
ion
* Growth in Nineties
Fish and Fishery Products Export from Tamil Nadu (Current Year Value - Rs. in Million)
2502980
974013500
20710
1969-70 1979-80 1989-90 1999-2000 2003-04
Year
Expo
rt
* Rapid growth in exports
Active Fishermen Population in Tamil Nadu
80035101869
225722262000
1978 1986 1994 1998
Year
Popu
latio
n
*160% increase between 1986 and 1998
Substantial growth in nineties in catch due to mechanization and technological advancesIncrease in exports in ninetiesSupply response to price increase in exportsPercapita fish catch shows declining trends signalling over-fishing.Sustainability of fish stock is a concernEmployment potential has declined – youth are moving out of the sector.
(Karunaharan and Thangamuthu, 2006)Spatial and Temporal Bans on Trawlers
MONSOON BAN (2001)
• 45-day trawling ban (April – May)• Objectives
• Conservation of fisheries• Consistency with other states
• Not clear if the ban has been effective- Ban has not led to increase in landings in
Tamil Nadu unlike Kerala• Support fisherfolk during the ban
(Compensation)
AQUACULTURE
4,500 ha – shrimp culture844 shrimp farms (mostly less than 5 ha)Hatcheries and feed millsPollution ProblemsConversion of agricultural landRegulation by Aquaculture Authority - Limit conversion of agricultural land - Control pollution from Shrimp farms
CORAL REEFS5000 hectares of reef area in Tamil Nadu – Gulf of Mannar has rich coral reefsNutrient cycling Maintenance of water quality.Natural barrier (bioshield)Degradation of reef due to:– Destructive fishing methods– Coral mining– Coastal development /ports– Industrial development/pollution
Loss of ecosystem services due to degradation Payment to protect coral reefs?
MANGROVES2500 hectares – Vedaraniyam, Muthupet & Pichavaram (mostly reserved forests)Ecosystem Services– Mitigate the adverse impact of storms, cyclones– Reduce coastal erosion– Breeding ground for prawns, fish– Enhance the fisheries potential– Estimated at $9800 per hectare (Constanza, 1997)
Anthropogenic Pressure– Tourism, cultivation– Firewood for local communities
Payment to protect mangroves?
TOURISM
Ecological Assets – Mangroves, Coral Reefs, Bird Sanctuaries, LagoonsBeaches - RecreationPlaces of religious significanceTourists - 10.8 million domestic(2004) - 0.6 million foreign
* Need for eco-tourism strategy
DEGRADATION OF COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS
Over-Extraction- Marine Fisheries- Coral Reefs, Seaweed, Mangroves
Coastal Pollution - Industries, Sewage, Port Wastes
Coastal Development- Land Use changes- Harbour Development- Shipping Lanes (SSC)
Aquaculture Tourism Impact Need for Coastal Zone Management
OTHER COASTAL THREATS
Climate change – Vulnerability to Sea level RiseCoastal Cyclones Tidal WavesTsunamiDamage to PropertyLoss of livesNeed for adaptation strategies to counter threatsTamil Nadu coast is less developed compared to the West Coast.
TSUNAMI DAMAGE IN TAMIL NADU
Loss of lives – 7995 (mainly Nagapattinam)Population Affected – 691,000Penetration – 1 to 1.5 kmWave Height – 7 to 10 mDwelling Units Lost – 91,000Total Damage - $ 438 millionReconstruction Costs - $ 868 millionNeed for insurance systems
SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS
Coastal Zone Management – CRZ Regulations CZM AuthorityAquaculture RegulationBay of Bengal Programme – LivelihoodAlternative occupations/skills for fisherfolkInsurance systems against damageEIA for Coastal ProjectsCompensation to protect ecosystemsEco-Tourism StrategyAdaptation to Climate Change