Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust
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TRUSTEES OF GULF OF MANNAR BIOSPHERE RESERVE TRUST 1. Chairperson Chief Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu 2. Vice Chairman Principal Secretary to Government, Environment and Forests Department 3. Official Member Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Chennai 4. Official Member Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Chief Wildlife Warden, Chennai 5. Official Member Principal Secretary to Government, Rural Development Department, Chennai 6. Official Member Principal Secretary to Government, Finance Department, Chennai 7. Official Member Chairman, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Chennai 8. Official Member Secretary to Government, Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries Department, Chennai 9. Official Member Secretary to Government, Tourism & Culture Department, Chennai 10. Official Member Joint Secretary to Government, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, New Delhi (Representative of Government of India) 11. Official Member Inspector General, Commander, Coast guard region (East), Chennai 12. Official Member District Collector, Ramanathapuram 13. Official Member District Collector, Thoothukudi 14. Official Member Deputy Commissioner, Customs and Central Excise Department, Ramanathapuram 15. Official Member Conservator of Forests, Virudhunagar Circle, Virudhunagar 16. Official Member Director of Fisheries, Chennai 17. Special Invitee Wildlife Warden, Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, Ramanathapuram. 18. Special Invitee Programme Analyst, Energy Environment Unit, UNDP, New Delhi. 19. Special Invitee Assistant Country Director & Programme Head, Environment and Energry Division, UNDP, New Delhi. 20. Non Official Member Executive Director, M.S.Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai. 21. Non Official Member Executive Director, DHAN Foundation, Madurai. 22. Member Secretary Chief Conservator of Forests & Trust Director, Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust, Ramanathapuram COMPENDIUM OF RESEARCH FINDINGS ON BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE IN GULF OF MANNAR BIOSPHERE RESERVE VOLUME - 2 March 2012 Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust Ramanathapuram - 623 504, Tamil Nadu, India This publication has no commercial value. It is for circulation among various stakeholders and researchers. March 2012 Published by Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust Ramanathapuram - 623 504, Tamil Nadu, India Typeset and Printed by Rehana Offset Printers, Srivilliputtur - 626 125, Phone : 04563-260383, E-mail : [email protected] Debendranath Sarangi, I.A.S., Secretariat Chief Secretary Chennai - 600 009 T R S U H TH P A UM LONE TRI MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN I am immensely pleased to learn that the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust (GOMBRT), an organization specially created to facilitate conservation and sustainable management of coastal and marine biodiversity in Gulf of Mannar region, has caused publication of "Vol-II Compendium of Research findings on Bio-diversity conservation and sustainable use in Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve" at this juncture when UN has declared the theme for the International Biodiversity Day of 2012 as "Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Conservation". The publication also gains significance as the parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) would meet later this year at Hyderabad, India to resolve issues concerning integration of coastal and marine biodiversity management with issues of Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation. The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve is a mega coastal and marine biodiversity hot spot in the entire continent inhabiting over 4000 species of marine flora and fauna, besides undiscovered microbes like marine viruses. The Trust was commissioned by the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in the year 2002 to establish partnership with fisherfolk and other stakeholders in conserving this globally significant assemblage of biodiversity. The Trust has since been spearheading a community movement on awareness creation and capacity building of all stake holders, especially of women and marginalized fishing communities. The Trust has, since inception, commissioned 25 numbers research and monitoring projects on coastal and marine biodiversity conservation and its use. Findings of these studies are disseminated to the fishers who are engaged in the primary production system and the knowledge, thus, gained enables the fishing community to manage the marine resources sustainably. The Trust published its first volume of the Research Compendium last year which dwelt on the habitat management of sea grasses, corals and fishery resources of the region. Volume-II of the Compendium, now released showcases vital research findings pertaining to conservation and management of corals, pearl fishery, molluscs and seaweeds. It also advocates scientific fishing practices to be adopted in the region besides suggesting legislative provisions for Natural Reserve Conservation. This is an outstanding collection which provides a comprehensive review of the unique nexus of high biodiversity environment and many programmes working to sustain them. I fervently believe that findings of these research initatives of the Trust will enhance the capacity of the fishing community and other stakeholders in sustainably managing the rich, but fragile coastal and marine eco-system of Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve. I congratulate the scientists and the staff of the Trust for having brought out this practical and useful publication with significant level of field applicability and adaption. I.A.S., C.V. Sankar, Environment and Forests Dept. Principal Secretary to Govt. & Secretariat Vice Chairman, T Chennai - 600 009 Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust R S U H TH P A UM LONE TRI FOREWORD The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust (GOMBRT) came into existence as a result of the Millennium Development Goal 7 (Ensure Environmental Sustainability) with the aim of integrating the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes and to reverse the loss of environmental resources. In addition to being a national priority, the Gulf of Mannar also assumes global significance and importance as this area falls in the Indo-Pacific region, which is considered to be one of the world's richest marine biological resource spots. Consequently, the Gulf of Mannar has been chosen as a biosphere reserve because of its unique biology and ecology. The GOMBRT is a special purpose vehicle to work on the theme of conservation and was established in 2002 with a focus on the documentation of the marine resources of this region. The project titled "Conservation and Sustainable use of the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve's Coastal Biodiversity" came into vogue keeping in view the overall objective to conserve the Gulf of Mannar's globally significant assemblage of coastal and marine biodiversity and to demonstrate, in a large biosphere reserve with various multiple uses, ways and means to integrate biodiversity conservation into coastal zone management plans. The Trust awarded and funded projects to 24 reputed Marine Research Institutions in the country. The research findings of the first 10 of these projects was complied and brought out as a Compendium of Research Findings Vol. I in 2011. The outcomes of the remaining 14 projects are now being brought out as Vol. 2. I congratulate GOMBRT for bringing out a publication of this nature to create awareness on the plant and animal life of the Gulf of Mannar region and the threats they face. I would like to make special mention of the efforts of Dakshin Foundation, Bangalore in compiling these research findings and also express my heartfelt appreciation to the Technical Staff of GOMBRT for editing these scientific documents. (C.V. SANKAR) Principal Secretary to Government Environment and Forests Department õ k | A Ì µ ª _ Chennai - 15. Gautam Dey, I.F.S., u Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Á ® õ´ ø ¾ ©÷¯ öÁÀ MESSAGE Tamilnadu has a coastline of 980 kms. that supports livelihood of over 9 lakh fisher community. Gulf of Mannar, situated in the Indo-Pacific region from the south of Pamban pass, is a global repository of coastal and marine bio-diversity with over 4000 floral and faunal species, many of which are endemic and endangered. Due to over harvesting of marine resources by the fishing community - whose livelihood is solely dependent on the marine eco-system - the gulf region was losing its richness and health in recent decades. To facilitate conservation and use of marine diversity sustainably through community participation, the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust (GOMBRT) was commissioned by the Government, with UNDP-GEF funding in the year 2002, to create awareness and build capacities of all stakeholders, chiefly the fisher folk. The Trust has conducted research studies on various thrust areas of marine eco-system management and has published this Compendium of research findings - Volume II dealing with conservation and management of corals, sea grasses, molluscs and seaweeds. I am pleased to observe that these research findings would enhance the capabilities of the fisher folk and other stakeholders in managing these resources sustainably. I congratulate the scientists and officials of the Trust in their endeavor. CHENNAI 15. (GAUTAM DEY, I.F.S.) õ k | A Ì µ ª _ O/o. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Rakesh Vasisht, I.F.S., u Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Panagal Maaligai, Saidapet Á Chennai - 600 015 and Chief Wildlife Warden ® õ´ ø ¾ Phone : 24321738 ©÷¯ öÁÀ E-Mail : [email protected]