Livelihood in Idukki and Pathanamthitta Districts
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KERALA STATE BIODIVERSITY BOARD IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF FLOOD/LANDSLIDES ON BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM OF PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICT AND TRIBAL LIVELIHOOD IN IDUKKI AND PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICTS CENTRE FOR MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT THIRUVANANTHAPURAM 695 014 KERALA JULY 2019 KERALA STATE BIODIVERSITY BOARD IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF FLOOD/LANDSLIDES ON BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM OF PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICT AND TRIBAL LIVELIHOOD IN IDUKKI AND PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICTS CENTRE FOR MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT THIRUVANANTHAPURAM 695 014 KERALA JULY 2019 CONTENTS PAGE CHAPTER TITLE No. 1 INTRODUCTION 1 2 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 3 3 MATERIALS AND METHODS 4 3.1 BIODIVERSITY OF PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICT 4 TRIBAL SETTLEMENTS IN IDUKKI AND 3.2 9 PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICT 3.3 SURVEY METHODOLOGY 10 4 RESULTS OF STUDY 13 IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF FLOOD/LANDSLIDES ON 4.1 13 BIODIVERSITY IN PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICT IMPACT ON FLOOD/LANDSLIDES ON TRIBAL 4.2 LIVELIHOOD IN IDUKKI AND PATHANAMTHITTA 38 DISTRICT IMPACT ON SOIL AND WATER OF 4.3 68 PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICT 5 CONCLUSION 103 6 SUGGESTED INTERVENTIONS 106 7 LIMITATIONS OF STUDY 110 8 REFERENCES 112 9 CONTRIBUTORS /TEAM MEMBERS 113 ANNEXURE 1 114 ANNEXURE 2 119 LIST OF ANNEXURES 441 LIST OF TABLES 442 LIST OF PICTURES 446 LIST OF FIGURES / MAPS 448 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION The unprecedented floods during the monsoon season in 2018 have brought havoc in Kerala causing destruction to human life, property and economy in general. This has affected the way of living of the people especially in their vocation and avocation. The flora and fauna bore brunt of havoc in an irreparable fashion. It was the worst flood that Kerala had witnessed during the last 100 years. According to the Kerala government, one-sixth of the total population of Kerala had been directly affected by the floods and related incidents. In this context, the Kerala State Bio Diversity Board has entrusted the Centre for Management and Development for carrying out the Impact Assessment of Flood/Landslides on Biodiversity and Ecosystem on Pathanamthitta District and tribal livelihood in Idukki and Pathanamthitta district. The disturbances caused by floods and landslides have brought in major temporal and spatial heterogeneity in the structure and dynamics of natural communities and ecosystems. Being a slope-modifying process, landslides and floods induced changes in the spatial heterogeneity through erosional and deposition processes, with areas of exposed parent material with humidity deficit (e.g. upper scarps of landslides), and lower/downstream water-logged areas with colluvial deposition. These slope-processes further resulted in the movement of many nutrient elements, like calcium and phosphorus, along the altitude gradient to downstream areas. These catastrophic events, particularly landslides, flooding and erosion have an important role in distribution of nutrients. Landslides reset ‘pedogenic clock’ of the affected areas, causing retrogressive ecological succession processes. Consequently, the effects of landslides end up in terrain modification. They create habitat discontinuities in natural systems, like forests and grasslands, causing an increase in spatial and functional diversity. However, the increase of structural heterogeneity, driven by landslides and floods, is not always perceived as beneficial in maintaining biodiversity. Centre for Management Development, Thiruvananthapuram 1 Some studies emphasized that these events cause the installation of invasive alien (as also nomadic) plant species which affects the food web and functional dynamics of the system. It is therefore imperative to study the impact of landslides and floods on biodiversity of the affected area. Geographical location of an affected area is important and location-specific studies need to be undertaken with a multidisciplinary approach. Western Ghats is one of the vulnerable areas of the State where landslides are common particularly in Idukki District. Severe floods ravaged Kerala during July and August 2018 consequent on incessant heavy rainfall. About 164 per cent excess rain has been reported during the month of August, triggering the floods. Changes in fauna and flora along with their impact on agriculture and livelihood modified the bio-resources and the way of living of the local community. Centre for Management Development, Thiruvananthapuram 2 CHAPTER 2 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The proposed study shall assess the impact of Flood/ Landslides on Biodiversity in selected areas of Pathanamthitta District, and on Tribal Livelihood in Idukki and Pathanamthitta Districts. I. The specific objectives for impact of flood/ landslide on Bio-Diversity in Pathanamthitta district are:- • Assessment of Impact on Floral Biodiversity • Assessment of Impact on Faunal Biodiversity • Assessment of Impact on Agro Biodiversity • Assessment of Impact on Ecosystem • Assessment of Environmental Impact • Assessment of Socio-Economic Impact. II. The specific objectives for tribal livelihood in Idukki and Pathanamthitta district are: 1 To identify post flood/landslide and socio-economic conditions of the tribes and the Government interventions to enhance their livelihood opportunities. 2 To identify and prioritize the livelihood issues of tribal population due to the recent flood/ landslide. 3 To study the disparities, if any, among tribal communities in terms of livelihood opportunities after the flood/landslides in 2018. Centre for Management Development, Thiruvananthapuram 3 CHAPTER 3 MATERIALS AND METHODS 3.1 Study Site 1: PATHANAMTHITTA 3.1.1 Coverage of the Study The study covered Flood/ Landslide affected areas in Pathanamthitta District. The study was conducted in representative panchayats/ areas to assess the impact of flood on the biodiversity and ecosystem in the region. The map of the Pathanamthitta district is given in Figure 1. Pathanamthitta Figure 1: Map of Kerala with Pathanamthitta district inset Centre for Management Development, Thiruvananthapuram 4 The Grama Panchayats for the study were selected on the basis of the flood impact map of Pathanamthitta district by the Kerala State Biodiversity board (KSBB). Figure 2: Flood impact map of Pathanamthitta Figure 3 depicts the Grama Panchayats selected for the detailed study. Centre for Management Development, Thiruvananthapuram 5 Kerala State 1. Aranmula 8. Kozhencherry 15. Peringara 2. Ayiroor 9. Kulanada 16. Ranni 3. Cherukole 10. Kuttoor 17. Ranni-Angadi 4. Chittar 11. Mallapuzhasserry 18. Ranni-Pazhavangadi 5. Eraviperoor 12. Nedumpram 19. Ranni-Perunad 6. Kadapra 13. Niranam 20. Seethathodu 7. Koipuram 14. Pandalam 21. Thiruvalla 22. Thottapuzhasery Figure 3: Grama Panchayats selected for the study in Pathanamthitta Centre for Management Development, Thiruvananthapuram 6 3.1.2 About the Study Area Formed on the 1st November 1982, Pathanamthitta nestles its head on the slopes of the Western Ghats and stretches to the low-lying rice fields bordering Alappuzha District. The district consists of three natural divisions viz., the Lowland, the Midland and the Highland. The highland stretches through the Western Ghats and descends midland in the centre, to the lowland on the western borders of Alappuzha district. The topography of the district is highly undulating. 3.1.3 Agro-biodiversity of Pathanamthitta district - Pre-floods/ Landslides-2018 Agro-diversity refers to the many and dynamic ways in which farmers use the natural diversity of the environment for livelihoods, including not only choice of crops but also management of land, water and bio resources as a whole. Agro- diversity integrates biological, technological and institutional components that offer flexibility and resilience to local farmers in adapting to climate and ecosystem change. ‘Agro diversity’, refers to interactions between agricultural management practices, farmers’ resource endowments, bio-physical resources, and species. Majority share of the economy of Pathanamthitta district is dependent on agriculture. 75 per cent of the population are engaged in agriculture related livelihood. The hilly terrain makes the area favorable for rubber plantation. Paddy, coconut, banana, tapioca, pulses, pepper, ginger, cashew, pineapple, sugarcane, cocoa and tree spices form the major crops cultivated in the district. The district has a unique position in the inland fisheries map of Kerala State with its freshwater resources like rivers, reservoirs, streams, ponds, quarries and paddy fields. The fisheries activities in this region started with the establishment of a Fresh Water Survey Station. The district has an ornamental fish breeding resource centre and a National Fish Seed Farm. There are many fishermen depending on this sector for their livelihood. Centre for Management Development, Thiruvananthapuram 7 3.1.4 Post-flood/ landslide scenario in Pathanamthitta district Preliminary report indicated large scale destruction in Pathananthitta district. There were extensive landslides in these regions. Degradation of ecosystems as a result of heavy rain and landslides can severely alter the ecosystem dynamics. During heavy floods, there is severe soil disturbance. Heavy floods resulted in loss of soil nutrients. The highlands and midlands might have been bereft of topsoil and/or subsoil. Thousands of trees had been uprooted. This would definitely result in dead wood accumulation. Usually landslides result in fragmented vegetation, and total/partial removal of native woodlands. This kind of severe destruction must have indisputably resulted in loss of habitats for animal