Comprehensive Management Action Plan for Conservation of Oussudu Sanctuary, Puducherry Final Report (November 2010 – March 2011) Submitted to The Department of Forests and Wildlife, Government of Puducherry Submitted by Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Moongilpallam, Anaikatti (PO), Coimbatore – 641 108, Tamil Nadu 2011 Comprehensive Management Action Plan for Conservation of Oussudu Sanctuary, Puducherry Final Report (November 2010 – March 2011) Submitted to The Department of Forests and Wildlife, Government of Puducherry Project Team: B. Anjan Kumar Prusty PR Arun S Bhupathy M Murugesan Rachna Chandra Submitted by Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Moongilpallam, Anaikatti (PO), Coimbatore – 641 108, Tamil Nadu 2011 CMAP for Oussudu Sanctuary Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................. - 1 - 1.1. Origin of the study............................................................................................ - 3 - 1.2. Objectives ......................................................................................................... - 3 - 2. OUSSUDU SANCTUARY ................................................................................................................ - 4 - 2.1. Location ............................................................................................................ - 4 - 2.2. Geology and Physiography .............................................................................. - 6 - 2.3. Hydrology......................................................................................................... - 6 - 2.4. Land Use and Land Cover ................................................................................ - 8 - 2.5. Climate ........................................................................................................... - 10 - 2.6. Livestock and animal husbandry .................................................................... - 10 - 2.7. Human, industrial and other developmental activities around the lake ......... - 12 - 2.8. Vegetation of the area .................................................................................... - 13 - 2.9. Current status.................................................................................................. - 13 - 3. METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................................... - 15 - 3.1. Vegetation Sampling ...................................................................................... - 15 - 3.2. Faunal Sampling ............................................................................................. - 17 - 3.2.1. Butterflies .............................................................................................. - 17 - 3.2.2. Avifauna ................................................................................................. - 18 - 3.2.3. Herpetofauna ......................................................................................... - 18 - 3.2.4. Mammals ................................................................................................ - 18 - 3.2.5. Ichthyofauna .......................................................................................... - 19 - 3.3. Socio-economic Survey.................................................................................. - 19 - 4. ECOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS .............................................................................................. - 20 - 4.1. Biodiversity of the lake .................................................................................. - 20 - 4.1.1. Floral Analysis ....................................................................................... - 20 - 4.1.2. Faunal Analysis ...................................................................................... - 29 - 4.2. Depth profile of the lake................................................................................. - 41 - 4.3. Socio-economic status .................................................................................... - 42 - 4.3.1. Public perception on Oussudu sanctuary ............................................ - 45 - 4.4. Ecological significance and Ecosystem services ........................................... - 46 - 5. ECOLOGICAL ISSUES .................................................................................................................. - 48 - 5.1. Poaching of birds ............................................................................................ - 48 - 5.2. Unsustainable Fishing .................................................................................... - 49 - 5.3. Weed infestation ............................................................................................. - 49 - 5.4. Dumping of solid wastes on the lake embankments ...................................... - 50 - 5.5. Vehicular movement, noise and other pollution ............................................ - 50 - 5.6. Waste water discharge .................................................................................... - 53 - 5.7. Agrochemicals ................................................................................................ - 54 - 5.8. Soil erosion and siltation ................................................................................ - 55 - 5.9. Tourism activities ........................................................................................... - 55 - 6. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN ....................................................................... - 56 - 6.1. Water Management ........................................................................................ - 56 - 6.2. Fishing ............................................................................................................ - 58 - 6.3. Vehicular movement and boating .................................................................. - 59 - 6.4. Boundary demarcation and prevention of encroachment ............................... - 60 - 6.5. Mounds within the lake .................................................................................. - 61 - 6.6. Bridge and watch tower .................................................................................. - 61 - Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History i CMAP for Oussudu Sanctuary 6.7. Walk-way improvement ................................................................................. - 64 - 6.8. Dumping of solid wastes on the lake embankments ...................................... - 64 - 6.9. Disposal of Sewage ........................................................................................ - 65 - 6.10. Weed infestation ......................................................................................... - 67 - 6.11. Automobile exhaust and pollution .............................................................. - 67 - 6.12. Construction debris and other disturbances ................................................ - 68 - 6.13. Soil erosion and siltation ............................................................................ - 68 - 6.14. Maintaining cleanliness near lake............................................................... - 68 - 6.15. Water and land use planning ...................................................................... - 69 - 6.16. Ecofriendly/organic agriculture .................................................................. - 70 - 6.17. Nature education and interpretation centre ................................................. - 70 - 6.18. Training and awareness programmes ......................................................... - 70 - 6.19. Information Management System .............................................................. - 71 - 6.20. Public participation ..................................................................................... - 71 - 6.21. Plantation for habitat improvement ............................................................ - 72 - 6.22. Butterfly Park ............................................................................................. - 73 - 6.23. Sustainable lake management through community participation ............... - 73 - 6.24. Formation of anti poaching camps and Rehabilitation of Narikkurava community ................................................................................................................ - 75 - 6.25. Database on Biodiversity ............................................................................ - 76 - 6.26. Eco-friendly approach ................................................................................ - 77 - 6.27. Environmental Monitoring and Management Cell ..................................... - 77 - 6.28. Inter-state environmental panel .................................................................. - 79 - 6.29. Budget provisions ....................................................................................... - 79 - 6.29.1. Abstract estimate ............................................................................... - 79 - 6.29.2. Detailed estimate ............................................................................... - 80 - 6.29.3. Justifications for the budget provisions with specifications .......... - 84 - 6.29.4. Post Implementation Scenario ......................................................... - 90 - 7. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY